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Tourism, Recreation & Coral Reefs. Elizabeth Halpenny Nature 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
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Tourism, Recreation & Coral Reefs Elizabeth Halpenny Nature 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 • 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 • 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 Studies • Florida: 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 Outreach • Monitoring • Increased understanding of tourism and recreation sector • Guidelines • Financing
Thank you Elizabeth Halpenny Nature Tourism Solutions / University of Waterloo Email: ehalpenny@sympatico.ca & The International Ecotourism Society Web: www.ecotourism.org