tourism, recreation & coral reefs elizabeth halpenny nature tourism solutions / university of...

Tourism, Recreation & Coral Reefs

Elizabeth HalpennyNature Tourism

Solutions / University of Waterloo

Overview

The “Big Picture”: impacts of tourism and recreation

Solutions & case studies

The big picture: Impacts

Tourism and recreation are:

- here to stay

- big business, largest economic sector

- US travel receipts for 2001 were US$72.3 billion

TIAA (1997) 83% of US travelers support “green” travel companies and are willing to spend on average 6.2% more for environmentally responsible travel services and products

The big picture: Impacts

Tourism and recreation are:

- here to stay

- big business, largest economic sector

- US travel receipts for 2001 were US$72.3 billion

- diverse (small and large scale companies) (broad range of activities)

The big picture: Impacts

The big picture: Impacts

Positive impacts- income generation for MPAs- income generation for local

communities- increased environmental awareness- health benefits to humans from

recreational activities

The big picture: Impacts

The big picture: Impacts

Negative Impacts

- trampling of corals

- siltation

- pollution (suntan oil, boat fuel, motor noise, sewage, etc.)

- increase fresh water runoff

- increase in fish harvesting

The big picture: Review

Tourism & recreation are:

- Big business

- Entrenched, here to stay

- Diverse and complex

- Brings positive and negative impacts

- Hard to measure, manage, or plan for

Solutions: Case Studies

Hawaii: ReefWatchers; ReefTeachers; Watchable Wildlife Project

Solutions: Case StudiesFlorida: Sea Smart, Dive Smart Program;

REEF Fish Survey Project; Great American Fish Count

Solutions: Case Studies

California: Coral Parks Program and recreationists guidelines; Protect the Living Reef campaign

Solutions: Case Studies

Kosrae, FSM: Kosrae Village Ecolodge

Solutions Overview

Education and OutreachMonitoringIncreased understanding of

tourism and recreation sectorGuidelinesFinancing

Thank youElizabeth Halpenny

Nature Tourism Solutions / University of Waterloo

Email: ehalpenny@sympatico.ca&

The International Ecotourism SocietyWeb: www.ecotourism.org