Tourism as a tool for conservation and support of protected areas : setting the agenda

The world's tourism and recreation industry provides considerable benefits to protected areas and the communities adjacent to or within them. These benefits lead to greater appreciation of cultural and natural heritage and greater knowledge of the interplay between humans and their environment. High-quality recreational, spiritual and educational experiences for park visitors will foster increased interest and commitment to the protection and conservation of biodiversity and cultural values (WCPA, 2003). And yet, such benefits are not without potentially significant costs. If poorly planned and managed, the ecological, social and cultural consequences of tourism can be considerable (McLaren, 1997; Mastny, 2001; Christ et al., 2003). Tourism can contribute to the deterioration of cultural landscapes, threaten biodiversity, contribute to pollution and degradation of ecosystems, displace agricultural land and open spaces, diminish water and energy resources, and drive local communities deeper into poverty.