110 Tourism and Protected Areas

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Tourism and protected areas Advantages and disadvantages of

tourism in parksWorkshop on Transboundary Protected Areas

12. 13. September 2011 ALBANIA

MARTIN OLAR


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To whom belong the protected area?To a man?

- A protected area belongs to thenature.

- The man is here only a guest.- Man has to behave accordingly to the

rules of nature and respect them.


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Basis for protected area is unique natureand cultural landscape.


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The basis for quality tourism andexploring the environment is also an

unspoilt nature.


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Nature protection (protected areas)and tourism have common source.


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What is a national park?The IUCN definition defines thenational park as protected areaintended for nature protection andrecreation activities. Similar is for theprotected lanscapes - nature parks.


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Some facts about tourism in the parks:- tourism in most of the parks already

exists for decades.


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- Parks tourism is increasing.

- In many cases it means an importantsource for the local economy.

- The public see the protected areas asa public goods or national value andthey have filling that parks belong tothem.


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- The park staff (natureconservationists) see the tourism as athreat.


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- Tourism sector seethe parks as a valuefor tourism

development but inmany cases theydisagree withlimitations for touristactivities.


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- Importance and role of tourism andrecreation are not unified in the systemof protected areas objectives.

- But they are certainly among importantaims of the protected areas - in somealmost the main...


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A brief overviewabout the role andalso legislation

background abouttourism in theparks.


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For the enjoyment and benefits for thepeople.

Yellowstone - 1872


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- Austria: aim of the park is to ensurenature exploring in the parks.

- Germany - NP Bavarian forest:beside nature protection aim is to offer visitors possibilities for recreation.


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All important protected areas networkstake tourism in important account bysetting parks main objectives:

IUCN Parks for Life programme:parks should be open for visitors,tourism must be connected with

environmental education.


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- Europarcs Charter for sustainabletourism

- criteria for European Diploma- new networks as PAN Parks


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We have the clear answer natureprotection and tourism are compatibleif we manage the tourism in the parkson the proper way.

HOW?


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-The importance and role of tourism inparks depend on the type of protectedarea and its protection and management

goals.- In general the tourism in protected

areas is tolerated to the extent whichdoes not exceed the primary natureprotection purpose in the park.


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- Ecotourism (sustainable, green,soft) should be the suitable form of the tourism in the parks.

- In parks we should discussed aboutimpact of tourism.


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Tourism in parks has advantages anddisadvantages for:

- protected area,- local people and society,

- tourism sector.


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Advantages for protected area andnature itself:

- through different programmes staff,visitors and locals gain higher consciousness, raise awareness andget better knowledge of importance of the parks.


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- through the contacts to visitors theefforts of a protected areamanagement become public,

- improved conservation becausetourism sector see the unspoiltenvironment as its basic source.


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- political support which can help toattract funding and support thedesignation of new parks,

- additional finance from the touristsector and tourists.


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Advantages for the local people andsociety:

- economic benefits for the localcommunity (tourism create new jobs,common income in the region ishigher),- using tourist development of theregion to raise living quality.


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Information centre providing jobs for locals.


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Advantages for the local people andsociety:

- improvement of the localinfrastructure,

- improved physical and psychologicalhealth of people,

- promotion of harmony betweenpeople from different areas.


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Advantages for the tourism sector:- support for business and

employment,- development of new, high quality,

environmentally-sound products,- improvement of company image.


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Disadvantages for protected areaand nature itself:

- environmental damages (direct andindirect) as erosion, wildlifedisturbance, garbage and trafficproblems- high pressure on the last remnantsof unspoilt nature.


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Disadvantages for protected areaand nature itself:

- visitor pressure,- pollution,

- managing tourism consumesresources and diverts attention from

other park management objectives.


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Disadvantages for protected area andnature itself:

- lower investments in the nature(investment in parks tourist

infrastructure causes less money for nature conservation actions),

- using nature as marketing tool canlead to the feeling that nature can bebought.


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Disadvantages for local people:- disturbance of their traditional life and

changing in social structure (special jobs for tourism)

- higher costs- missing financial support for the

locals and park administration.


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Disadvantages for local people:- tourism might lead to elitism.

(to avoid mass tourism infrastructurefor a small number of wealthy visitors

is developed - local people do notrealise their own area as their ownnatural heritage anymore)


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Disadvantages for the tourism:- sustainable tourism might be anindication for mass tourism (after sustainable development appetites of

the involved easily grow - tourismdevelopment can destroy its ownbasis.


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Disadvantages for the tourism:- changes in the market and in thetourist offer through fashion trends(new activities or new destinations

become popular over night andtourist stream can not be controlled).


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Thank you for your attention!

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110 Tourism and Protected Areas