Tourism in National Parks:

An international perspective

Guy Castley

International Centre for

Ecotourism Research

National Parks

Cat I (a,b) - Strict NR; Wilderness

Cat II - National Parks

Cat III - Natural monument

Cat IV - Habitat / species

Cat V - Protected landscape

Cat VI - Sustainable use

IUCN Classification

IUCN Classification

National Parks

Protect natural biodiversity (form and function) &

promote education and recreation

Synonymous ?

Mass tourism

Nature-based

tourism

Ecotourism

Specialist tourism

Responsible tourism

Sustainable tourism

Tourism ?

Tourism as Threat

Global tourism trends

Visitor impacts

Infrastructure and re-zoning

Diminishing visitor experience

Politics, values and user conflicts

Climate change and travel

Commercialisation

6% contribution

UNWTO Statistics

US$ 1.2 trillion

Balmford et al. (2009) – PLoS Biol 7(6): e1000144

Nature-based Tourism Trends

Disturbance to birds

69 Studies

88%

Negative effects

50

Conceptual relationship between level of human disturbance and the likely

ecological significance or its effect on bird populations

Disturbance Threshold

Eco

log

ical sig

nif

ican

ce

Low High

Benign

Significant

e.g. short term noise

Ph

ysio

log

ical

resp

on

se

e.g. approaching birdsB

eh

avio

ura

l

resp

on

se

e.g. habitat impacts

Ran

ge u

se

resp

on

se H

ab

itat

su

itab

ilit

y

resp

on

se Bre

ed

ing

resp

on

se

e.g. high

intensity, long

duration

activities

Disturbance Threshold

Eco

log

ical sig

nif

ican

ce

Low High

Benign

Significant

e.g. short term noise

Ph

ysio

log

ical

resp

on

se

e.g. approaching birdsB

eh

avio

ura

l

resp

on

se

e.g. habitat impacts

Ran

ge u

se

resp

on

se H

ab

itat

su

itab

ilit

y

resp

on

se Bre

ed

ing

resp

on

se

e.g. high

intensity, long

duration

activities

Steven et al. (2011) – J. Env. Manage 92: 2287-94

Infrastructure

95% of the park is wilderness

Wilderness

Adventure

Wildlife

Isolation

Nature

Experience

Values

Commercialisation

in National Parks

Tourism Benefits

Tourism revenue

Benefits beyond boundaries

Community empowerment

Park establishment / expansion

Awareness and appreciation

Commercialisation

>5% for >50% of species

>15% for one fifth

Up to 66% in some

Double-edged sword

Threatened mammals –

Buckley et al. (2012)

PLoS ONE 7(9): e44134

>60% frogs within PAs

Global range protected by

tourism 0.8 – 99%

> 5% for 115 species

Critically End. Frogs –

Morrison et al. (2012)

PLoS ONE 7(9): e43757

Growth in Nature-based Tourism

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

Nu

mb

er

of

Op

era

tors

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Nu

mb

er

of

Ad

ve

rts

Operators Adverts

Concessions in

National Parks

US - NPS

Legislation - 1965

Reviewed in 1998

20 year limit

520 contracts

67 generate 85%

of revenue

20%

80%

Washington Funds specific park

“ There is no comprehensive

analysis of the costs of

concession management”

Variable Concession Contracts

** Necessary, & ** Appropriate

Service Lease Build

Tinga

Singita

Lebombo

Imbali

Safari

Rhino

Safaris

Jock

Safari

Shishangeni

Lukimbi

Skukuza

KNP – Luxury

Concessions

Kruger

Addo Elephant

2002 2010

2 parks – 8 sites 7 parks –

19 sites

Augrabies

West Coast

Marakele Kgalagadi

Table Mtn

Knysna

Wilderness

More than 40 PPPs by 2010

US$53 million in revenue: 2002-2010

8.5% of tourism revenue annually

2002-2010 Lodge /

Accom Activity Food

Retail -

KNP

No. Operators 19 5 11 2

No. Parks 7 4 10 7

Revenue (US$

million) 16.8 11.5 10.5 14.5

Economic Performance

Key Messages

Positive and Negative

Tourism management is site specific

Relative tourism demand likely to

increase

Tourism revenues = “user pays”

Reassess national park values –

utilitarian focus?

Thank

You