Private tourism in public parks

Abstract

Parks are under many pressures, and tourism is one of these. Different countries have very different histories of recreation and tourism, both in public protected areas and other land tenures. Patterns in any one country, especially those which are a legacy of past politics, are not necessarily good models globally. Commercial tourism operations in public protected areas include: small low impact mobile tours and outfitters; campsite concessions; heritage buildings; historic hotels on legacy leases; whole of park recreation management concessions; specialist viewing or access structures; remote area lodge leases; private enclaves; and parks villages and gateways. These may be classified according to scale, risk, and level of control. Parks possess very valuable natural resources in high demand from the commercial tourism industry. Parks agencies need to exercise caution in political negotiation, and apply practical tests of sincerity to tourism enterprises who want to operate there.