Tourism based on interactions with wildlife is increasing in popularity across the world. This trend leads to increasing pressures on the visited ecosystems. In this paper the reader is introduced to the issues surrounding sustainability and authenticity of wildlife-based attractions and tourist’s expectations on a wildlife-based holiday, possible impacts of human – wildlife interactions on the wildlife are explored and solutions to conflicts arising from these interactions are shown. This paper aims to show that providing an authentic experience of wildlife to large numbers of visitors is mutually exclusive to ensuring the sustainability of the wildlife-based attraction visited.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Preface
- Introduction
- Wildlife Tourism
- Sustainability
- Authenticity
- Tourist's expectations on a wildlife-based holiday
- Impacts of human – wildlife interactions on wildlife
- Disturbance and accidental killing
- Habituation
- Habitat destruction
- Possible solutions to conflicts
- Visitor Management
- Physical Separation
- Fines and Fees
- Limiting Visitor Numbers
- Education
- Fear
- Managing Wildlife
- Physical Separation
- Attracting Wildlife
- Hazing
- Culling
- Visitor Management
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the challenges of balancing the increasing popularity of wildlife tourism with the need for sustainability and authenticity. It explores the conflict between tourists' desire for authentic wildlife experiences and the potential negative impacts of those experiences on the wildlife and their habitats.
- The definition and scope of wildlife tourism.
- The concept of sustainability in wildlife tourism.
- The meaning and measurement of authenticity in wildlife experiences.
- The impact of human-wildlife interactions on wildlife populations.
- Potential solutions for managing conflicts between tourism and wildlife conservation.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Preface: Introduces the pervasive nature of human-wildlife interaction in tourism, highlighting the growing tension between tourists' desire for authentic experiences and the stress placed on wildlife populations.
Introduction: Establishes the lack of clear definitions for key terms like wildlife tourism, sustainability, and authenticity, setting the stage for the paper's exploration of these concepts.
2.1 Wildlife Tourism: Defines wildlife tourism, encompassing various types of human-wildlife interactions within a tourism framework, focusing primarily on non-consumptive activities.
2.2 Sustainability: Discusses the general understanding of sustainable tourism, emphasizing the need for economic viability, ecological preservation, and social acceptance.
2.3 Authenticity: Explores the multifaceted nature of authenticity, contrasting the concept of an original, unchanged state with the subjective perception of an authentic experience.
3. Tourist's expectations on a wildlife-based holiday: Examines the motivations of wildlife tourists, highlighting the desire for authentic experiences and the potential conflicts between this desire and the need for infrastructure and accessibility.
4. Impacts of human – wildlife interactions on wildlife: Details both direct (disturbance, accidental killings) and indirect (habituation, habitat destruction) negative impacts of tourism on wildlife.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Wildlife tourism, sustainability, authenticity, human-wildlife interaction, ecotourism, visitor management, wildlife management, conservation, tourist expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main conflict in wildlife tourism?
The main conflict lies between the tourists' desire for authentic, close-up experiences and the necessity of ensuring the ecological sustainability and safety of the wildlife.
How does tourism negatively impact wildlife?
Impacts include direct disturbances, accidental killings, habituation (loss of natural fear of humans), and the destruction of vital habitats.
What are the strategies for visitor management?
Management strategies include physical separation, limiting visitor numbers, implementing fines/fees, and providing conservation education.
What does "authenticity" mean in wildlife tourism?
Authenticity can refer to the original, unchanged state of nature or the subjective perception of a tourist having a "real" encounter with animals in the wild.
Are large-scale tourism and sustainability mutually exclusive?
The paper argues that providing an authentic experience to large numbers of visitors is often incompatible with maintaining the long-term sustainability of the attraction.
- Quote paper
- Stephan Weidner (Author), 2006, The quest for authentic experiences in wildlife tourism - a review of issues, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/122989
