Conceptual model and recreational threat analysis : a twin approach to managing visitor impacts on natural areas

![CDATA[The Conceptual Model (CM) and Recreational Threat Analysis (RTA) are useful twin-approaches to tourism planning and development. CM enables planners to both explore visitor impacts and rationalize the root causes of these impacts. RTA is a technique used in ranking recreational threats according to a range of criteria to determine which of these threats has to be given priority attention in tourism management. These methods were initially tested at Bungonia State Conservation Area (BSCA) and later modified to provide a practical and rapid field assessment of visitor impacts on natural areas. These are simple participatory planning tools that have broad application to ecotourism and natural resource management. This paper describes the use of CM-RTA approach to the assessment and management of impacts on the bushwalking trails at BSCA.]]