Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism TOOLS AND R ESOURCES FOR N ATURE-BASED  TOURISM i Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism ©2020 The World Bank Group 1818 H Street NW Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org All rights reserved. This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Rights and Permissions: The material in this work is subject to copyright. 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Editor: Simi Mishra Design: Roots Advertising Services Photo Credit: Shutterstock, iStock, Pixabay ii Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism iv Table of Contents Acknowledgments 4 Dedication 4 Abbreviations and Acronyms 5 1 Overview 6 2 Background 9 2.1 Purpose of the Review 10 2.2 Scope 10 2.3 Target Audience 12 2.4 Approach 12 3 Why is Nature-Based Tourism Important? 13 3.1 World Bank Group Initiatives on Nature-Based Tourism 14 3.2 International Agreements 15 4 Tools and Resources 18 4.1 Key Concepts of Nature-Based Tourism 19 Nature-Based Tourism and Ecotourism 19 Protected Areas 19 Wildlife Tourism 21 Hunting 22 Regional and National Guidance 22 Specific Ecosystems and Habitats 23 4.2 Enabling Policy Environment and Planning 24 Policy Frameworks 24 International Planning Guidance 25 Regional and National Planning 26 4.3 Concessions and Partnership Models 28 International Guidance 28 Regional and National Guidance 31 4.4 Destination Management 33 Different Destination Types 34 4.5 Infrastructure and Facilities 39 Accommodation 39 Visitor Infrastructure and Facilities 40 1 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 4.6 Visitor Management 41 Visitor Management Tools 41 4.7 Nature-Based Enterprise Development 45 Guidance for Varied Tourism Products 46 Regional and National Guidance 49 4.8 Impacts of Nature-Based Tourism 51 Environmental Impacts 51 Economic and Financial Impacts 54 Social and Cultural Impacts 62 4.9 Risk Management and Climate Change 63 4.10 Monitoring and Evaluation 64 5 Training Materials 68 6 Networks and Institutions 72 7 Conclusion 79 7.1 Gaps in Resources and Priorities 80 7.2 Providing a Home for Resources 82 8 Endnotes 83 Tables Table 1: Nature-based tourism terms and definitions 10 Table 2: Sustainable Development Goals and their relevance to tourism 16 Table 3: IUCN Protected Area Categories and their management approach to tourism 20 Table 4: Examples of sustainable consumption and production policy instruments in use in tourism destinations at different stages of the tourism product life cycle 25 Table 5: Ten principles of tourism and visitor management in protected areas 42 Table 6: Indicative visitor uses in protected areas 43 Table 7: List of outstanding gaps in resources 81 Figures Figure 1: Nature-based tourism topics 11 Figure 2: Types of nature-based tourism tools and resources 11 Figure 3: WWF’s Conservation Travel Readiness Scorecard 26 Figure 4: Flow diagram for deciding whether to insource or outsource 29 Figure 5: Active transportation in United States National Parks 41 2 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Figure 6: The conservation marketing equation 45 Figure 7: Cost components of safari and mountain climbing packages in Tanzania 60 Figure 8: Tourism related-threats in protected areas 63 Figure 9: Global Database Protected Areas Visitors (GD-PAVIS) 66 Figure 10: Contents of tourism and conservation – sustainable models and strategies 69 Figure 11: DestiNet’s Tourism2030 Green Travel Maps App 74 Boxes Box 1: Note on nature-based tourism and the COVID-19 pandemic 14 Box 2: Best practice guidance for snorkeling 24 Box 3: Case study: Transboundary ecotourism in the Kangchenjunga Landscape: Opportunities for sustainable development through regional cooperation (2019) 27 Box 4: Case study: Assessment of natural resources for nature-based tourism: The case of the Central Coast Region of Western Australia (2001) 28 Box 5: Case studies on joint ventures and partnerships in conservation areas 30 Box 6: Case study: Best practices on tourism concessions in protected areas from Latin America: Chile (2010) 32 Box 7: Case study: Conservation and development in Mozambique: Lessons from the Transfrontier Conservation Areas Program and new perspectives for the Mozbio Program (2015) 33 Box 8: Typology of vulnerable destinations 34 Box 9: Case study on assessing tourism potential: Assessment of nature-based tourism in South Kelantan, Malaysia (2001) 49 Box 10: Examples of good practices in nature-based tourism operations 50 Box 11: Visitor engagement in species identification & research 54 Box 12: Key findings from Economic Impact of Global Wildlife Tourism (2019) 55 Box 13: Studies on tourists’ willingness to pay for nature-based tourism 57 Box 14: Visitor spending effects from national parks in the United States in 2018 58 Box 15: The value of birding tourism in different countries and maximizing tourism potential 61 Box 16: Citizen science for monitoring of NBT 65 Box 17: Case study: Assessment of nature-based tourism business and tourist demand in Vlora Bay and Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park, Albania (2016) 66 Box 18: Use of certification to ensure best practice NBT in protected areas in Australia 67 3 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Acknowledgments This report is written by Anna Spenceley, with substantial input from Urvashi Narain. We thank Claudia Sobrevila, Hasita Bhammar, Wendy Li, Elisson Wright, Chris Seek, and Andrew Rylance for their guidance. This publication was peer-reviewed by Maurice Andres Rawlins, Andre Aquino, Hermione Neville, Tijen Arin, and Benoit Blarel. We thank the following individuals and organizations who participated in the stakeholder consultations for this report: Tharwat Abouraya, Marissa Altmann, Claudia del Valle Andreis, Daysy Angeles, Ana Baez, Jerry Bauer, Tim Bamford, James R. Barborak, Oda S. Beltran, Phil Biden, Thomas Breuer, Alejandra Carminati, Leslie Carlisle, Susan Cardenas, Enrique Cabanilla, Brian Child, Cher Chua-Lassalvy, Sarwat Chowdhury, Calvin Cottar, Tania Curry, Carla Danelutti, Richard W. Diggle, Dexter Bernhard Dombro, Andy Drumm, Randy Durband, Ehab Eid, Nihal Ellegala, Imad Farhat, Virginia Fernandez-Trapa, David Fennell, Juan Ricardo Gómez, Roxana Goldstein, Yogani Govender, Ronda Green, Stephan Grapentin, Sofía Gutiérrez, Pradeep Mahapatra, Oliver Hillel, Carl Huchzermeyer, Glen Hvenegaard, John J. Jackson III, Mike Jebson, David Kaczan, Liisa Kajala, Raymond Katebaka, Helen Klimmek, Verónica Kunze, Donald Leadbetter, Natasha Leader, Amy Chua Fang Lim, Chi Lo, Julian Matthews, Kerry Maree, Rachel McCaffery, Saquib Mehmood, Mirzonazar Mirzoev, Rob Morley, Christian Müller, Eduardo Najera-Hillman, Hermógenes Henrique Oliveira Nascimento, Germain Ngandjui, Milena Nikolova, Steve Noakes, Flavio Ojidos, Willeen Olivier, Bogdan Papuc, Jean-Yves Paille, Dan Paleczny, Claire Parfitt, Carlos Pelli, Skipper Pete, Helena Rey de Assis, Salto Morato Natural Reserve, Jessica Rizzolo, Vivienne, Solis Rivera, Angus M Robinson, Chris Roche, Katherine Ross, Mark Ryan, Carlos Luis Sandi, Fabrizio Santini, James Sano, Jeremy Sampson, Mahmoud Sarhan, Trevor Sandwith, Veronica Santamaria , Oldrich van Schalkwyk, Philipp Schägner, Richard Shepard, Gordon Sillence, Jeremy Smith, Sue Snyman, Richard Sowry, Thiago do Val Simardi Beraldo Souza, Juraj Svajda, Jamie Sweeting, Zenon Tederko, Cathy Cullinane Thomas, Ronnie K. Thiyam, Mel Turner, Louise Twining-Ward, Carlos Vasquez, Maria Cristina Weyland Vieira, Francis Vorhies, Mark Willuhn, Linda Wong, and Megan Epler Wood. Dedication This report is dedicated to Dr. Claudia Sobrevila, Senior Environmental Specialist and Global Wildlife Program Manager at the World Bank, who sadly passed away during its production. Dr. Sobrevila provided insightful guidance and helped conceptualize this report. 4 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Abbreviations and Acronyms CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CI Conservation International CoP Community of Practice EEN European Ecotourism Network EU European Union EUR Euro GD-PAVIS Global database protected areas visitors GDP Gross Domestic Product GEF Global Environment Facility GEN Global Ecotourism Network GIS Geographical Information System GSTC Global Sustainable Tourism Council GWP Global Wildlife Program IFC International Finance Corporation IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MEET Mediterranean Experience of Eco-tourism NACSO Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organizations NBT Nature-based tourism NGO Non-governmental organization NPS National Park Service (United States) PA Protected Area PATA Pacific Asia Tourism Association PPP Public Private Partnership SADC Southern African Development Community SDG United Nations Sustainable Development Goals TAPAS Group IUCN WCPA Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group TIES The International Ecotourism Society TRAFFIC Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNWTO United Nations World Tourism Organization VERP Visitor experience and resource protection framework VMAT Visitor Management Assessment Tool WBG World Bank Group WCPA World Commission on Protected Areas WCS Wildlife Conservation Society WHS UNESCO World Heritage Site WTP Willingness to pay WTTC World Travel & Tourism Council WWF World Wildlife Fund All dollar amounts are in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated. 5 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 1 Overview 6 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism N ature-based tourism (NBT) plays an important role and institutional frameworks and arrangements and in sustainable development. It can support poverty planning toolkits for NBT. alleviation, economic growth, and biodiversity 3. Concessions and Partnership Models: Guidelines conservation and contribute to key global agreements and and tools for enabling partnerships, including those frameworks, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable with the private sector, to deliver tourism in protected Development. NBT’s singular potential to create jobs and areas (PAs). growth, while protecting wildlife and ecosystems, makes 4. Destination Management: Guidelines, best it an enticing prospect for developing countries seeking to practices, and case studies to support NBT planning align those interests. for destinations. 5. Infrastructure and Facilities: Resources to guide Yet, the relationship between NBT and poverty reduction is the development of infrastructure that supports not straightforward. The implementation of nature-based conservation objectives. tourism and safeguarding of underlying natural assets 6. Visitor Management: Principles and frameworks depends on a diverse set of conditions. NBT practitioners, for managing visitor use to avoid or reduce adverse researchers, and stakeholders are continuously developing impacts from tourism. and refining tools, guidelines, and practices and learning 7. Nature-Based Enterprise Development: Information from previous efforts in order to realize its optimal benefits. for individuals and enterprises that want to plan, design, and operate sustainable NBT, including on The World Bank has been investing in nature as an asset product development, market segmentation, and that creates jobs to support economic development and marketing and communications. promote environmental conservation. In response to the 8. Impacts of Nature-Based Tourism: Analyses of the growing demand from countries in recent years, the World impacts of NBT on natural habitats, biodiversity, local Bank’s Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy economies and livelihoods, skills, culture and society, (ENB) Global Practice has invested in an $800 million and tourists. portfolio of projects with NBT components. 9. Risk Management and Climate Change: Strategies for analyzing and reducing risk, including that from This report is a comprehensive review of the tools, climate change. resources, institutions, and platforms available to help 10. Monitoring and Evaluation: Guidance and tools nature-based tourism practitioners, including World Bank for monitoring and evaluation for NBT, including staff, prepare and implement projects. Trusted resources standards, indicators, statistics, and certification covering the core components of NBT were identified systems. through a desk and literature review and consultations 11. Training Materials: Training courses, manuals, and with over 100 tourism experts. The resultant compilation materials including webinars on key NBT topics. provides guidance for NBT practitioners at every stage 12. Networks and Institutions: Networks, institutions, of a project – from preparation to implementation and and information platforms that provide support for evaluation. NBT internationally. Resources are organized into the following themes, with The compilation demonstrates that substantial work has many covering multiple topics: been done, reflecting the importance of nature-based tourism for conservation and development across the 1. Key Concepts of Nature-Based Tourism: Key world. But despite the diversity and depth of the resources concepts and best practices for different regions, identified, many of the resources currently available are not ecosystems, and types of NBT, including ecotourism widely known or used, and gaps remain as a consequence. and wildlife tourism. The report is therefore complemented by an e-book and 2. Enabling Policy Environment and Planning: Legal resource database, a one-stop platform for NBT tools 7 Overview and resources that is comprehensive and searchable by overtourism and undertourism, climate change and keywords. Practitioners can easily find and access materials NBT, and hunting. The cross-cutting issues of gender by topic or type. The e-book will be hosted by the Global and digital technology have considerable potential Wildlife Program (GWP) and readers are invited to help to support wider benefit distribution and enterprise maintain it by contributing links to new resources. competitiveness in NBT and should be studied further. Focusing efforts and resources on filling these The review also found that while certain priority themes knowledge gaps can enhance the potential for NBT are emerging for NBT practitioners, they remain under- projects to maximize their contributions to poverty researched and are therefore not sufficiently covered reduction and biodiversity conservation. in this compilation. These knowledge gaps relate to 8 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 2 Background 9 Background Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 2.1 Purpose of the Review 2.2 Scope The Nature-Based Tourism (NBT) Community of Practice NBT describes all forms of tourism that use natural resources (CoP) was launched in December 2017 as an internal in an undeveloped form. NBT is motivated by the enjoyment World Bank Group (WBG) community, whose focus is of wildlife or undeveloped natural areas and may incorporate to help develop the NBT agenda within the Environment, natural attractions including scenery, topography, waterways, Natural Resources and Blue Economy (ENB) Global vegetation, wildlife, and cultural heritage, and activities such Practice. as hunting or white-water rafting.1 A number of different terms are used to describe NBT, including ecotourism, wildlife The NBT CoP has facilitated collaboration and learning tourism, and geotourism (see Table 1). Successful NBT requires through a mix of knowledge products and services. the ability to develop and market tourism products based on The NBT CoP commissioned a comprehensive review the assets offered by the protected area (PA), and the ability of the tools and knowledge resources that could be to maintain the quality of these assets for ongoing future used by practitioners in the field of NBT, to prepare use. The tourism potential of any PA depends on a variety and implement projects that promote sustainable NBT of factors, including location, accessibility, market demand, practices and policies. proximity to other popular tourism destinations, marketing, presence of local tourism businesses, and infrastructure (e.g., accommodation, catering, tourist guiding, etc.).2 Table 1: Nature-based tourism terms and definitions Term Definition Forms of tourism that use natural resources in a wild or undeveloped form. Nature-based Nature-based tourism tourism is travel for the purpose of enjoying undeveloped natural areas or wildlife.3 Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, socially and economically Ecotourism sustains the well-being of the local people, and creates knowledge and understanding through interpretation and education.4 A form of nature-based tourism that includes the consumptive and non-consumptive use Wildlife tourism of wild animals in natural areas.5 Wildlife tourism is centered around the observation and interaction with local animal and plant life in their natural habitats,6 as with safari tourism. Tourism that sustains or enhances the distinctive geographical character of a place: its Geotourism environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its residents.7 The World Bank Group further emphasizes that NBT Where possible, the materials sought were authored should contribute to poverty reduction and promote by NBT professionals, published by well-established environmental sustainability.8 The United Nations World institutions, easily accessible (e.g., Open Source), Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines sustainable and available for free or at low cost (e.g., less than tourism as: “Tourism that takes full account of its $100). Materials in their developmental stages were current and future economic, social, and environmental also identified and added to the e-book database. impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, The primary language sought was English, but those the environment, and host communities.”9 The identified in other languages were also collected. types of NBT topics explored relate to the range of issues that practitioners need to draw on during the design or implementation of projects and programs (see Figure 1). 10 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Figure 1: Nature-based tourism topics Enabling policy Governance and Concessioning Destination Infrastructure environment institutional and management and facilities arrangements partnership models Visitor Nature-based Impacts of Risk Monitoring and management enterprise nature-based management evaluation development tourism and climate change Figure 2: Types of nature-based tourism tools and resources Information resources: Certification systems for Toolkits and how-to • Books and e-books protected areas and tourism tools, including: • Technical reports service providers, including: • Financial assessment and • Case studies • Standards and criteria evaluation tools • Best practice guidance, • Indices and ratings • Research tools guidelines, and codes of conduct • Indicators • International agreements Online platforms: Training and capacity NBT-related institutions building resources, including: • Online booking systems with and networks: sustainability ratings • Nonprofit organizations • Online courses • Databases and resource • Research institutions • Training materials and platforms manuals • Networks and alliances • Websites hosting relevant • Webinars resources 11 Background Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism All resources identified that fit the scope are presented governments, PA authorities, private sector within this report for further reading. Note that they stakeholders, tourism destination management have not been prioritized but are categorized under a organizations, and non-governmental organizations; series of sub-headings to assist readers in finding specific and stakeholders that participated in the consultation information. Practitioners can access the source materials process and who provided materials to populate the through an e-book. report database. 2.3 Target Audience 2.4 Approach The intended audiences for this report and collated This analysis was prepared through a combination of resources are: an internet-based literature review10 and stakeholder consultation. The consultation included an online • World Bank Group staff and consultants working on questionnaire that received 112 responses from NBT project design, implementation, and evaluation; practitioners in the field. In all, over 360 resources were • WBG clients and partner organizations, including identified during this process. 12 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 3 Why is Nature-Based Tourism Important? 13 Toolsis Why Nature-Based and Tourism Resources for Important? Nature-Based Tourism P 3.1 World Bank Initiatives rior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism sector was expected to grow by 3.9 percent per year globally over the next 10 years, according on Nature-Based Tourism to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). In 2018, travel and tourism contributed $8.8 trillion, or 10.4 Since 2015, the World Bank has ramped up efforts and percent, to global GDP, and the industry supported one reengaged in tourism through new initiatives due to a in ten jobs (319 million) across the world (also see Box growing demand from countries to alleviate poverty 1).11 NBT is the one of the fastest growing tourism sectors through jobs and growth, while protecting wildlife and plays an important role in sustainable development. and conserving ecosystems. The relationship between It can support poverty alleviation, economic growth, and nature-based tourism and poverty reduction is not biodiversity conservation. NBT can be a significant source straightforward. This is because:16 of income for local communities and rural households, • Local communities near PAs sometimes carry a large who often live in marginalized areas with few pathways share of their costs in the form of restricted access to out of poverty. Proponents argue that where local land and natural resources and crop damage due to communities benefit from NBT, they may be more likely raiding wildlife. to conserve wildlife and nature (for example, poachers • There is often a mismatch between the high-skill labor- who become employed as tour guides).12 However, local related demands of the tourism industry required to communities near PAs sometimes bear a large share realize tourism potential of natural assets and the skill of the costs of protected area management in the form levels within local communities. of restricted access to land and natural resources and • In rural areas, there may be few businesses that can human-wildlife conflict.13 adequately provide the necessary products and services to support the tourism sector (e.g., food, drink, transport, craft and décor), and so these are either sourced from urban centers or imported. • Local people are not always the owners of tourism Box 1: Note on nature-based tourism and the businesses, and so business profits are retained by COVID-19 pandemic14 non-national owners or by national investors, who are already affluent and highly skilled. This resource guide was compiled prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Travel & Tourism Within the World Bank, the ENB GP helps countries Council (WTTC) has estimated that the pandemic can harness the potential of NBT through integrated lead to a global loss of 100.8 million jobs and $2.7 landscape approaches that better manage multiple trillion in revenue in the tourism sector in 2020.15 land-use options and layer revenue streams for both Research on the impacts of COVID-19 on nature- governments and communities. There is an increasing based tourism, conservation, and local livelihoods emphasis on tourism along coasts, as well. ENB’s portfolio and ways to recover the sector is ongoing. For a recent includes projects that support biodiversity conservation, review, see the International Union for Conservation strengthen PA management, and tackle wildlife poaching, of Nature’s (IUCN) Editorial Essay: COVID-19 and while incorporating carefully designed private-sector Protected and Conserved Areas (2020). The NBT concessions and local benefit-sharing arrangements. e-book and database will also be regularly updated Brazil, Cambodia, Mozambique, Nepal, and Tanzania with research and resources. At the same time, the are some countries where the World Bank, through its report provides information on a wealth of resources projects, is investing in NBT through policy enhancements, that will be useful as the sector recovers. infrastructure development, tourism planning, and supporting communities in benefiting from tourism. 14 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Additionally, the Global Wildlife Program (GWP),17 led by to ensure that they are maintained. Revenues will be the World Bank and funded by the Global Environment short-lived if the tourism venture exceeds the carrying Facility (GEF), also promotes NBT through a component on capacity of the natural ecosystems, resulting in natural wildlife-based economies. resource degradation. • Grow the business: The natural site must attract a “There are a lot of entry points and many small tourism sufficient number of visitors and generate sufficient components in projects, but most importantly . . . there revenues to be economically viable and attractive to are opportunities and the potential to do a lot more in the private sector. nature-based tourism,” said Urvashi Narain, World • Share the benefits: Local communities must benefit Bank ENB Global Practice Lead Economist. directly from the tourism activity, be it through jobs and other economic opportunities, revenue-sharing “We need to find creative solutions to protect wildlife and arrangements, or the targeted provision of public build economic opportunities for local communities,” goods (e.g., schools, roads, clinics). said Claudia Sobrevila, Global Wildlife Program Manager. “This is why the Bank is in it. At the end of the day, it is about poverty alleviation.” 3.2 International Agreements “Nature-based tourism can be an effective tool to Tourism, and NBT in particular, can contribute directly promote rural development,” said Mark Lundell, to the objectives of global international agreements, World Bank Country Director for Mozambique, the including from the United Nations, the Convention on Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles.18 Biological Diversity (CBD), UNESCO, and UNWTO. In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda A portfolio review in 2017 identified nearly 25 ENB projects, for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable totaling over $800 million, with a nature-based tourism Development Goals (SDGs). The agenda established a component or activity. An additional seven projects global framework to end extreme poverty, fight inequality with investments of more than $115 million are in the and injustice, and remedy climate change. Building on pipeline.19 The World Bank Group supports interventions the Millennium Development Goals, 17 SDGS and 169 that strengthen the linkages between nature-based associated targets were agreed upon. Tourism is included tourism and poverty reduction. Three main components within the targets for Goal 8 on decent work and economic are emphasized:20 growth; Goal 12 on responsible consumption and production; and Goal 14 on life below water. However, • Protect the assets: The natural assets underlying the tourism has the potential to contribute, directly or nature-based tourism sector need to be well managed indirectly, to all of the goals (see Table 2).21 15 Toolsis Why Nature-Based and Tourism Resources for Important? Nature-Based Tourism Table 2: Sustainable Development Goals and their relevance to tourism22 Goal Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) How tourism has an impact 1. No Poverty End poverty in all forms everywhere Tourism fosters economic growth and development and provides income through employment, promoting entrepreneurship, and empowering disadvantaged groups. 2. Zero Hunger End hunger, achieve food security Tourism can spur agricultural productivity by promoting the and improved nutrition and promote production, use, and sale of local produce, and its full integration sustainable agriculture into the tourism value chain. 3. Good Health and Ensure healthy lives and promote well- Tourism’s contribution to economic growth can have a knock-on Well-Being being for all ages effect on health and well-being. Tourism philanthropy can also play a role here; as can the benefits of tourism to the health of the tourist. 4. Quality Education Ensure inclusive and equitable quality Tourism can provide incentives to invest in education and education and promote lifelong learning vocational training, since the sector requires specific skills. opportunities for all 5. Gender Equity Achieve gender equality and empower all Tourism can empower women in many ways, especially through women and girls jobs and other income-generating opportunities. 6. Clean Water & Ensure availability and sustainable Tourism can play a role in achieving water access and security, as Sanitation management of water and sanitation for well as hygiene and sanitation for all. all 7. Affordable and Ensure access to affordable, reliable, Tourism can accelerate the shift towards renewable energy, Clean Energy sustainable, and modern energy for all as well as providing information on renewable energies to communities. 8. Decent Work and Promote sustained, inclusive, and Tourism is one of the driving forces of global economic growth Economic Growth sustainable economic growth, full and and provides access to decent work opportunities. productive employment, and decent work for all 9. Industry, Build resilient infrastructure, promote Tourism development relies on good public and private Innovation and inclusive and sustainable industrialization, infrastructure and an innovative environment. Tourism can Infrastructure and foster innovation incentivize government to upgrade infrastructure. 10. Reduced Reduce inequality within and among Tourism can be a powerful tool for community development and Inequalities countries reduction in inequalities if it engages local populations. It is an effective means for developing countries to participate in the global economy. 11. Sustainable Make cities and human settlements Tourism has potential to advance urban infrastructure and Cities and inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable universal accessibility, promote regeneration of areas in decay, Communities and help preserve cultural and natural heritage. 16 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Goal Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) How tourism has an impact 12. Responsible Ensure sustainable consumption and Tourism can develop resource efficient initiatives that result in Consumption and production patterns enhanced economic, social, and environmental outcomes. Production 13. Climate Action Take urgent action to combat climate By lowering energy consumption and shifting energy usage change and its impacts to renewable energy sources, tourism can help reduce climate impacts. 14. Life below Water Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, Coastal and marine tourism relies on intact and healthy marine seas, and marine resources for sustainable ecosystems, which presupposes their conservation. development 15. Life on Land Protect, restore, and promote sustainable Tourism can play a role in conserving biodiversity through use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably reducing waste and consumption, conserving native fauna and manage forests, combat desertification, flora, and related awareness-raising activities. halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 16. Peace, Justice Promote peaceful and inclusive societies Tourism can foster multicultural and inter-faith tolerance and and Strong for sustainable development, provide understanding, through the interaction of visitors and hosts, and Institutions access to justice for all, and build effective, the interpretation of cultural heritage. accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels 17. Partnerships for Strengthen the means of implementation Due to its cross-sectoral nature, tourism can strengthen public- the Goals and revitalize the global partnership for private partnerships and engage multiple stakeholders. sustainable development The United Nations General Assembly adopted a contribute financially and technically to the establishment, resolution on the Promotion of sustainable tourism (2014), operations, and maintenance of protected areas through recognizing the contribution of sustainable tourism to appropriate tools” such as concessions and public-private poverty eradication, community development, and the partnerships. The report to the 2018 CBD Conference of protection of biodiversity. The resolution calls on the UN the Parties on implementation of this and other tourism to promote sustainable tourism and ecotourism as a tool decisions, Mainstreaming biodiversity into tourism for achieving global development goals. development (2018), demonstrates considerable efforts to realize the agreement internationally. In relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), NBT contributes to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity The NBT sector also contributes to the Muscat Declaration 2011–2020 (2010), and the plan’s Aichi Biodiversity Targets on Tourism and Culture (2017) from UNWTO and UNESCO, that relate to conservation (Targets 11 and 12), community which includes commitments to create “a clear vision development (Target 18), and public awareness (Target and defined frameworks at local, national, regional, 1).23 At the 12th Conference of the Parties to the CBD, and international level that foster the coordination and Decision XII/11 on Biodiversity and Tourism Development cooperation between tourism and culture stakeholders (2014) was adopted, inviting parties to provide very from public and private sector as well as local communities” specific support to NBT, and ‘‘build the capacity of national and to integrate “natural and cultural heritage policies and and subnational park and protected area agencies... to management in sustainable tourism development”. engage in partnerships with the tourism industry to 17 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 4 Tools and Resources 18 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism M any tools and resources on tourism in protected protection (2013) is a further compendium of reports and and natural areas have been developed by presentation papers from a United Nations meeting on academics, development agencies, and non- the topic. Themes covered included financing ecotourism governmental organizations that can be used to guide investments and their markets, planning, marketing, and project design and implementation. This section provides destination management, assessing socio-economic an overview of tools that can be broadly used for planning impacts and poverty reduction, enhancing environmental NBT initiatives; it then highlights tools on specific topics. protection, and partnerships for international cooperation. Several textbooks provide a good underlying 4.1 Key Concepts of understanding of NBT and, in particular, ecotourism best Nature-Based Tourism practices. The book Nature tourism (2017) describes the benefits and pitfalls in recent developments of NBT, There are several resources that introduce key concepts tracing the history in development, highlighting the that underpin different types of sustainable NBT and ecological impacts, and showcasing current practices. The highlight best practices for any planning and design publication includes discussions on specific tourist markets process. Some of these have global relevance, while others from holistic viewpoints, embracing lessons learned focus on specific countries or regions. from various destination countries and continents. The International handbook on ecotourism (2013) provides an Nature-Based Tourism and overview of ecotourism issues, concepts and challenges, behavior and visitor experiences, and practices, such Ecotourism as chapters relating to the planning and certification of A briefing document on NBT issues and an overview of ecotourism. Ecotourism: Principles and practices (2008) relevant WBG projects can be found in Ramping up nature- is a broad-based textbook that provides a basis for based tourism to protect biodiversity and boost livelihoods studies on NBT, with topics such as policy and planning, (2017). From the CBD and the United Nations Environment business, products, marketing, guiding and interpretation, Programme (UNEP) comes A good practice guide: Tourism and impacts on conservation, communities, and the for nature and development (2009), which aims to provide economy. Ecotourism: Transitioning to the 22nd century stakeholders with the tools to make the tourism sector (2018) is another broad-based textbook on the topic more biodiversity-friendly and more socially equitable. It that addresses sustainability, the enabling environment, introduces public decision-makers to the available toolbox natural resource management, professionalization of of techniques, technologies, and procedures that optimize the sector, interpretation, communities, marketing, and the social and environmental contributions of tourism and education. Ecotourism: Principles, practices and policies minimize its negative impact. The guide covers policy and for sustainability (2002) explains the components for strategy tools, legal and normative tools, monitoring and successful ecotourism, illustrated with a series of practical evaluation, market-based instruments, capacity building, case studies. and marketing and promotion. Protected Areas The Compendium of best practices in sustainable tourism The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (2014) also shares best practice case studies in sustainable (IUCN) Best Practice Guidelines Series publication on ecotourism, gathered from 17 countries, that have Tourism and visitation in protected areas: Guidelines potential for replication elsewhere. These best practices for sustainability (2018) recognizes that managing PA include destination management organizations, tour tourism is a complex technical task requiring high levels operators, accommodation, NGOs, and airlines. A report of skill and knowledge. These comprehensive guidelines from an Expert group meeting on sustainable tourism: provide information on the impacts of PA tourism on Ecotourism, poverty reduction and environmental the environment, society, and economy. They highlight 19 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism key 10 principles for planning and management, also the basis for an IUCN Massive Online Open Course on address capacity building, and provide guidance on Valorisation of protected area resources, which contains the generation and management of tourism revenues. three modules dedicated to the best practice guidelines. Table 3 summarizes the approaches to tourism and visitor The associated Online resources directory provides access use by IUCN’s PA categories. The guidelines expand to the materials used within the guidelines and additional and update a previous IUCN Best Practice Guideline on readings, and invites users to share new resources on Sustainable tourism in protected areas: Guidelines for this topic. planning and management (2002). The guidelines are Table 3: IUCN Protected Area Categories and their management approach to tourism24 IUCN Protected Area Category Primary goal and protected Approach to tourism and visitor use value(s) Ia) Strict Nature Reserve Biodiversity or geoheritage • Public access only possible through organized protection (ecological and scientific, citizen science, or volunteer service scientific values) programs Ib) Wilderness Area Protection of the natural • Low-density, self-reliant visitor use is often a character and condition of management objective unmodified or slightly modified • Restricted public access in terms of amount of use, areas (wilderness and ecological group size, activity, etc. values) • Tourism activity limited and highly regulated (e.g., through special use permits) II) National Park Protection of an ecosystem • Visitor use and experience is often a management and its large-scale ecological objective processes (ecological, recreation, • A range of recreation opportunities typically and community values) provided through zoning, facility development, and visitor services (countries have marked differences in their attitudes to tourism accommodation within PAs) III) Natural Monument Conservation of specific natural • Visitor use and experience is often a management features (ecological, recreation, objective and community values) • Recreation opportunities are typically provided to facilitate feature protection and public understanding IV) Habitat/ Species Management Conservation through • Recreation visitation and commercial tourism are Area management intervention usually management objectives (ecological, community, and • A range of recreation opportunities is provided recreation values) with associated facilities and services • Commercial tourism common for wildlife viewing V) Protected Landscape/ Landscape/ seascape • Tourism is usually a management objective Seascape conservation (community, • A range of recreation opportunities is provided ecological, and recreation values) with associated facilities and services • Commercial tourism common VI) Managed Resource Sustainable use of natural • Recreation visitation and commercial tourism can ecosystems (community, be key objectives recreation, and ecological values) • A range of recreation opportunities is provided with associated facilities and services • Commercial tourism common 20 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Books focusing particularly on PAs include Tourism Wildlife Tourism and national parks (2015), which examines how and why national parks have spread and evolved, how they The World Bank’s Supporting sustainable livelihoods have been fashioned and used, and the integral role through wildlife tourism (2018) explores innovative of tourism within them. Case study chapters include tourism partnership and investment opportunities to insights from across the world, including from the United help countries unlock smart investment and grow tourism States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, sustainably. It provides an overview of sustainable wildlife France, Sweden, Indonesia, China, and Southern Africa. tourism experiences, the types of social, economic, and Tourism in national parks and protected areas (2004) environmental impacts, community participation and describes the state-of-the-art in tourism planning and partnership models, and considerations for the enabling management in national parks and PAs and provides environment and management. guidelines for best practice in tourism operations. Based on a journal special edition of the same name, Protected The book Wilderness of wildlife tourism (2017) is a areas, sustainable tourism and neo-liberal governance collected volume of papers that addresses wildlife policies (2018) is an international collection of papers tourism’s implications for management, local communities, that explores politics, performance metrics, and the marketing, technology, education, corporations, and values that PAs have for economies, peoples, and policymaking. Wildlife tourism: Impacts, management, environments. The book Tourism and protected areas and planning (2004) is a volume of papers on wildlife (2007) provides a record of the tourism issues discussed tourism issues, including zoos, wildlife watching, hunting, at the 2003 World Parks Congress and prospective and fishing. The book considers social, economic and important issues for the following decade. environmental impacts of wildlife tourism, as well as managing the business side of the sector. 21 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism Hunting which aims to help guide visitor monitoring and management, involving stakeholders in public-private As a form of wildlife tourism, trophy hunting is often a partnerships, sustainable transport, certification, and contentious issue, with people supporting or opposing marketing approaches. Mediterranean experience it on a variety of biological, economic, ideological, or of ecotourism: Meeting the ideal. A survey of cultural bases. The book Tourism and the consumption ecotourism best practices (2014) describes 60 of wildlife (2014) addresses a range of complex issues case studies from across the world that exemplify facing the consumptive wildlife tourism sector across a best practices, and discusses their contributions number of destinations in Europe, North America, Africa, to conservation, local communities, and cultural India, Arabia, and Oceania. Issues debated include that heritage. For Finland, Metsähallitus has produced of trophy hunting of threatened species and hunting for Principles of sustainable tourism for protected areas conservation, along with the impact of hunting tourism (2016). These are intended to guide the sustainable on indigenous communities and on wider societies. The tourism operations in all national parks, nature sites, IUCN Species Survival Commission guiding principles and historical sites managed by Parks & Wildlife, on trophy hunting as a tool for creating conservation Finland. Each principle is accompanied by detailed incentives (2012) provides guiding principles on the use of objectives that help in implementing the principles trophy hunting as a tool for conserving species and their in practice. habitats, and for the equitable sharing of the benefits. Two case studies on hunting in Pakistan and Namibia are • Asia and Pacific: The UNWTO’s Compendium of included within the report. Best practices in sustainable best practices and recommendations for ecotourism hunting: A guide to best practices from around the world in Asia and the Pacific (2012) provides specific case (2008) provides a collation of research and papers on studies demonstrating ecotourism in practice in trophy hunting from researchers and NGOs drawn from the region, and illustrates how tourism operators across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The other side of the are aiming to meet the principles of sustainable ecotourism coin: Consumptive tourism in Southern Africa tourism. Nature-based tourism and conservation: (2006) discusses aspects of perception, consumption, and New economic insights and case studies (2012) is a conservation of wildlife in relation to the north-south book with Australian case studies on tourism and PAs divide relating to sport and trophy hunting in Namibia and and wildlife tourism (e.g., turtles, whales, penguins, Botswana. tree kangaroos, glow worms). The book Review of nature-based tourism (2003) covers issues in Australia including leases and licenses, accreditation, park Regional and National Guidance pricing, risk management, breaches, and interactions Guidelines and books developed for specific regions and with wildlife. countries include the following resources: • Africa: Private sector tourism in conservation areas in Africa (2019) uses 32 comprehensive case studies • Europe: Practical, profitable, protected: A starter guide from 11 countries to provide guidelines for optimal to developing sustainable tourism in protected areas benefits and sustainable NBT. The book includes (2012) is a manual on how to develop and manage descriptions of the various models for the private tourism in PAs, written for European PA managers. It sector to engage in tourism in conservation areas in includes guidance on tourism strategies and visitor Africa, and guidance on identifying the most suitable management, working together with communities private sector tourism options to promote long- and organizations, providing NBT experiences and term sustainability. Responsible tourism: Critical support infrastructure, communicating through issues for conservation and development (2008) interpretation and branding, and generating income contains case studies and analyses from across from user fees and donations. Also for Europe is the Africa, including papers on policies and institutional Guide to sustainable tourism in protected areas (2012) 22 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism activities, market demand, the economics of wildlife dolphin watching (2017) aims to assist wild whale- tourism, and tourism in transfrontier conservation and dolphin-watching tour operators and destination areas. Tourism product development interventions managers wishing to achieve best practice standards. and best practices in sub-Saharan Africa: Part 1: It also outlines scientific evidence about the impacts Synthesis and Part 2: Case studies (2010) describe and benefits of whale- and dolphin-watching. innovative and successful interventions that are Marine ecotourism (2007) is a book that examines making the most effective progress in terms of the wide range of marine ecotourism resources and sustainable tourism. The case studies include the considers the vital role of marine ecotourism in raising wildlife conservancy program in Namibia, hiking awareness of the significance of the seas and oceans tourism on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and the to sustainable coastal livelihoods. The book considers safari operators &Beyond and Wilderness Safaris. the role of stakeholders and discusses regulation and The report presents the methods, models, and collaboration within the sector. Marine wildlife and mechanisms used to leverage tourism for poverty tourism management (2007) is a book that aims to alleviation, employment generation, and enterprise demonstrate that, through scientific approaches to development in conjunction with the conservation understanding and managing tourist interactions of the environment and cultural heritage. with marine wildlife, sustainable marine tourism can be achieved. It considers the demand for marine • North America: Ecotourism case studies in the wildlife tourism, the impacts of interactions with United States (2000) is a book that illustrates country- marine wildlife, the ethical and legislative context, and specific approaches to ecotourism planning, product tourism management. The Encyclopedia of tourism development, and tourism associations. and recreation in marine environments (2008) brings • Latin America: Available in Spanish and developed together the terms, concepts, and theories related to for Mexico, Guí a par alas Mejores Prácticas de recreational and tourism activities in marine settings ecotourismo en áreas protegidas (2003) covers the as a reference guide. Coral reefs: Tourism, conservation concepts, methodologies, and verification criteria for and management (2018) takes a multidisciplinary the planning, design, and management of ecotourism approach, including coral reef science, management, projects. conservation, and tourism perspectives. It provides a global perspective of coral reef tourism issues covering • Developing countries: Ecotourism in the less many of the world’s most significant reef destinations. developed world (1998) is a book that shares Specific issues addressed include climate change, country case studies from Costa Rica, Kenya, Nepal, pollution threats, fishing, island tourism, scuba and Thailand and from the Caribbean and South diving, marine wildlife, governance, sustainability, Pacific regions. conservation, and community resilience. Specific Ecosystems and Habitats • Forest areas: Rainforest tourism, conservation and management (2017) includes four sections, namely, Some books and resources focus on best practice rainforest ecology and management, people, NBT in specific ecosystems and habitats. These include: opportunities for tourism development, and threats to rainforests. Forest tourism and recreation (1999) • Marine areas: Best practices for marine wildlife presents case studies from national parks, peri-urban watching during ecotourism activities (undated) is forestry, and wilderness management, as well as designed to help coastal tourism operators implement practitioner-oriented contributions. These illustrate responsible tourism and environmental stewardship. key issues and challenges and potential strategies and Global best practices for responsible whale and solutions. 23 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism any broader process of planning of a destination where Box 2: Best practice guidance for snorkeling this exists.26 The strategic value of tourism for parks and PA management responses to planning cycles and growing demands was the subject of the World Protected Areas Leaders’ Forum in Australia in 2019. In Getting priorities right for tourism and protected areas (2019), almost all agencies present reported managing increased visitation at popular sites and during peak periods, with many reporting overcrowding (or overtourism) as a significant challenge. The agencies believed that this appeared to be, in part, related to the rise of social media. Due to the pressures of large numbers of visitors to natural areas and visitor sites, many agencies are now looking to better balance • Good environmental practice: Snorkelling: A their primary role of conservation with the demands and practical advisory note provides guidance for challenges of tourism and increased visitation. They have managing snorkeling activities around coral a need for stronger legal and institutional frameworks to reefs for tourists and operators. establish more coherent and coordinated approaches. • The Comision Nacionale Para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO) produces Policy Frameworks guidance on good snorkeling practices within its protected areas, such as guides for Huatulco There are several examples of analyses of policy and and Cabo Pulmo National Parks in Mexico planning contexts for NBT that can be found. To illustrate, (2016). Tourism planning in natural World Heritage Sites (2017) is a research report that analyzes the level of tourism planning at 229 natural and mixed World Heritage Sites. 4.2 Enabling Policy It recommends that tourism planning in these sites be extended, ideally under a unified framework that allows Environment and Planning some consistency across areas in terms of indicators and Governments, and their enabling policy and planning methods. A report on the Impact of tourism on wildlife frameworks, provide the context for NBT to take conservation (2013) aims to support Supreme Audit place. These frameworks are critically important in Institutions, who can influence governments to make establishing the conditions for tourism, including zoning, management decisions for protecting and conserving infrastructure, and the involvement of local communities. wildlife environments. The report provides information on Laws and regulations can be used to regulate the sector, wildlife tourism, regulations and international agreements, provide direction on benefit sharing, and safeguard good practices, and audits related to tourism and wildlife. natural resources, and to fund biodiversity conservation and the management of PAs.25 Planning for NBT needs Resources relating to the policy environment for NBT include to address elements of rural development and local the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) economic development within destinations. When done Tourism concessions in protected natural areas: Guidelines well, it can provide a road map for local employment for managers (2014) which provides useful guidance on the creation, opportunities for local producers and service enabling environment, including templates for policies, providers, and for the local ownership and management of laws, and regulations. Books that include chapters relating enterprises. Such planning needs to be embedded within to policy for NBT include Ecotourism: Principles and 24 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism practices (2008), The Routledge handbook of tourism and development in developing nations,28 which outlines the environment (2017), and Nature tourism, conservation, sustainable tourism planning processes for NBT. On and development in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2003). destination level planning, it provides guidance on For an overview of policy tools, the Baseline report on the participatory planning approaches, establishing the integration of sustainable consumption and production right conditions for ecotourism, and using criteria patterns into tourism policies (2019) describes the types for sustainability. For enterprise planning, the paper of policy instruments that can be applied during different describes options for local economic benefits through phases of tourism development, and which are applicable partnerships, employment and training, procurement, to NBT (see Table 4). and corporate social responsibility. • Sustainable coastal tourism – an integrated planning International Planning Guidance and management approach (2009) explains how the tourism sector can coordinate effectively in the overall A number of resources provide guidance on planning for development of coastal zones and contribute to the NBT that can be used in a range of countries. For example: long-term sustainability of these areas. The report is practical and easy to use, and provides an introduction • The international handbook on ecotourism (2013) to the key tools to be used at different stages of the includes the chapter Ecotourism: planning for rural planning process. Table 4: Examples of sustainable consumption and production policy instruments in use in tourism destinations at different stages of the tourism product life cycle27 Types of policy Phases of tourism life cycle instrument Manufacturing Provision of Extraction of Use and and production sustainable products, natural resources consumption processes services, and works Regulatory and legal • Regulation of access • Regulations • Regulations • Regulations on instruments and activities in on water and regarding visitor management vulnerable areas, energy efficient construction and capacity cultural and natural technologies, materials and heritage sites reuse and recycling environmental of water, use of standards of renewable energy products Economic and fiscal • Fees for national • Grants, soft loans, • Funding schemes for • Tourism tax instruments parks and natural or tax credits for sustainable business earmarked for reserves, and PAs for investments in development environmental nature conservation eco-technologies action (e.g., beach as well as for other (water, energy, etc.) cleaning, waste attractions and the reduction of infrastructure, emissions awareness raising) Communication and • Public-private • Corporate social • Certification • Available voluntary instruments partnerships for responsibility in the schemes and information on sustainable tourism tourism sector guidelines for sustainability and networks responsible issues and codes of involving local operations conduct communities 25 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism • Ecotourism program planning (2002) is a book that sustainable infrastructure design, revenue generating describes the relationship between tour operators mechanisms, and visitor impact monitoring. It also and tourists and how service providers can effectively includes strategies including business considerations, plan and implement their ideas. The book includes the role of conservation managers, developing guidance on integrated ecotourism program planning partnerships with tour operators, feasibility analysis, including design, implementation, and evaluation. and business planning. • The Conservation Travel Readiness Scorecard • Ecotourism development: A manual for conservation (undated) is a spreadsheet-based model from World planners and managers; Volume II: The business of Wildlife Fund (WWF) that can help in the analysis ecotourism development and management (2004) of supporting policies for NBT. The scorecard helps outlines the business planning process for ecotourism countries to rate their existing capacity to harness in order to promote viable business partnerships with tourism as an incentive for community-based communities or private tourism operators. It includes conservation (see Figure 3). sections on zoning PAs for visitor use, site planning, Figure 3: WWF’s Conservation Travel Readiness Scorecard Conservation Tourism Conservation Value & Policy Readiness 1 Readiness 2 Travel Potential 3 WWF Country Readiness 4 TOURISM Stewardship Rights Business Climate READINESS Programmatic Fit Natural Attractions Natural Resource Destination Marketing Capacity Market Demand Management Government Commitment Commitment Safety & Security Priority Region or Species Infrastructure Partners WWF Goal Alignment Tourism Training Resources Regional and National Planning for the identification of sustainability issues faced by enterprises and destinations, and recommends actions to overcome them. It also offers marketing Certain regional and international tools have also been recommendations to position those products in the developed. Regional tools include the following: market. • Latin America: A toolkit to develop and promote • Europe: Transboundary ecotourism guidelines sustainable tourism in Latin America (2005) describes for the Sava River Basin (2013) addresses processes that can help tourism entrepreneurs transboundary tourism master planning and the improve their sustainability, by developing new management of wetlands, sustainable economic products and services, or improving existing ones. development, stakeholder involvement and Through three modules, it provides a background participation, and conserving and enhancing 26 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism biodiversity. The guidelines incorporate three For materials from specific countries, the following tools considerations for ecotourism development: 1) a and examples can be useful: shared goal for protecting the environment and encouraging sustainable development; 2) a desire • Jordan: The Experiential tourism toolkit (undated) is to create a green economy offering green jobs to intended to be functional and usable for any tourism- generate economic growth; and 3) transboundary related party interested in identifying and marketing cooperation. A series of transboundary tourism local and remote experiences. It provides a series of case studies is shared. practical tools on identifying local tourism hosts, conducting training, initial visit assessments, testing experiences, and lessons learned. • Namibia: The National policy on tourism and wildlife Box 3: Case study : Transboundary ecotourism in concessions on state land (2007) provides a practical the Kangchenjunga Landscape: Opportunities example of a national policy for outsourcing tourism for sustainable development through regional to non-state actors in the country (e.g., conservancies cooperation (2019) and the private sector). • New Zealand: The National Department of Conservation developed a Visitor strategy (1996) that aimed to support the goals of protection, fostering visits, managing tourism concessions on protected lands, informing and educating visitors, and visitor safety. • South Africa: The South African tourism planning toolkit for local government (2010) supports tourism planning at a local level. The toolkit outlines a framework for conducting basic tourism planning at the local government level with a series of practical tools to evaluate market demand, economic impact, and community involvement in order to guide decision-making. • Tanzania: Tanzania’s tourism futures: Harnessing natural assets (2015) is a World Bank analysis of a national tourism sector. It presents challenges and opportunities for linking tourism and rural economies, This paper describes work done by the International and the economic consequences of concentrated Centre for Integrated Mountain Development tourism. Recommendations to government are (ICIMOD) to assist mountain people in evaluating provided to maintain and enhance high-value low- the potential for transboundary ecotourism between density tourism, including diversification of the Bhutan, India, and Nepal. The report reviews options tourism product. Case study examples of tourism in to promote inclusive growth, strengthen connectivity, the Serengeti ecosystem and Ruaha National Park are and establish public-private partnerships in the used as illustrations. This provides a good example of region. a diagnostic study of NBT, making the case for future interventions. 27 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism Box 4: Case study: Assessment of natural 4.3 Concessions and resources for nature-based tourism: the case of the Central Coast Region of Western Australia29 Partnership Models (2001) Nature-based tourism often takes place in PAs. The authorities need to consider the level of NBT services that are provided, the method of delivery of the service, the financing for each service, and whether they are insourced, or outsourced. With insourcing, PA authority staff both deliver and finance the service, functioning like a business to provide visitor services. For outsourcing, the PA contracts a third party to deliver a service. Transferring rights to use land to other organizations can relieve public agencies from resource constraints of budget, knowledge of the market, capability, or expertise. Methods of outsourcing can include concessions, public-private partnerships, leases, licenses, and permits. Deciding whether to insource Resources for development of a nature-based or outsource depends upon current government policy tourism industry were identified and assessed in and the capabilities of the PA authority in regard to the Central Coast Region of Western Australia. An business operations (see Figure 4).30 assessment framework was developed that used checklists, matrices, and indicators to establish levels of attraction, accessibility, presence of infrastructure, International Guidance and environmental degradation. Data was gathered, Forging links between protected areas and the tourism using a checklist approach, to quantify characteristics sector: How tourism can benefit conservation (2005) is a of sites. The assessment revealed that the attraction manual meant to provide practical guidance to managers diversity in the region was high, but there was poor of World Heritage Sites and other PAs on better ways of accessibility, low levels of tourism infrastructure, and understanding the tourism industry. It shares effective moderate levels of environmental degradation. step-by-step methods that can be used by PA managers to develop links with tourism to promote conservation and 28 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Figure 4: Flow diagram for deciding whether to insource or outsource tourism operations31 Insource: Yes PA authority develops tourism Question 1: Does the PA authority infrastructure itself have money and personnel to develop tourism infrastructure? Outsource: Concession: No PA authority looks for a partner Seek a partner to invest, for development develop, and operate facility Insource: Yes PA authority manages the Question 2: Does the PA have tourism services iteself existing infrastructure and the mandate/skills/personnel to manage Lease: and maintain it? Outsource: Contract to outside No PA authority looks for a operator for use of facilities/ management partner land for a specified period Insource: Yes PA authority offers trips and Question 3: Does the PA want to offer tours itself public services, and have mandate/ License: skills/personnel to do so? Outsource: Contract to outside operator No PA authority looks for partners for use of facilities/land for a to offer trips and tours specified period Permit: Access provided for a short time to access the area site protection. The manual also describes what can be Generation Manual.33 The manual was developed following realistically expected from the tourism industry in terms of investment facilitation work by the IFC in Mozambique support for conservation. and Sierra Leone. Furthermore, there is a spreadsheet- based model that has been developed for authorities and The World Bank Group’s An introduction to tourism investors to predict commercial viability and the Internal concessioning: 14 Characteristics of successful programs Rate of Return of investments over concession periods. (2016) can be used during the conceptualization of an During the development of the CBD concession guidelines, outsourcing program to provide the right conditions for training was provided to PA managers on how to use this effectiveness. It describes the importance of key elements tool, and it became clear that it would be valuable to including conservation of the natural resource base and others, if made more widely available.34 sustainability, community participation and stakeholder engagement, the enabling policy environment and The CBD’s Guidelines for tourism partnerships and concession models, procurement procedures, market concessions for protected areas (2017) were developed viability, and management of risk. Other World Bank tools through a consultative process with PA managers and that have been developed include a more detailed step-by- tourism stakeholders. Guidance provided on partnership step guide for WBG staff, which is in draft form,32 and the types, sources of financing, legal frameworks, and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Anchor Investment sustainability is followed by a step-by-step guide through 29 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism scoping, design and feasibility, procurement and forging business linkages with local communities through contracting, and contract management. A series of links to concessions. other resources is also shared, including country-specific tools used in Africa, such as concession policies, manuals, Several of the concessioning tools address options and training resources. These guidelines are currently to maximize the level of local benefits from tourism available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. concessions. In southern Africa in particular, joint venture agreements between private operators and community UNDP’s Tourism concessions in protected natural areas: entities have been used as a tool to provide equity in Guidelines for managers (2014) provides useful materials tourism businesses to local people. Getting financed: 9 for the design and operation of concession programs. These tips for community joint ventures in tourism (2014) aims include templates (e.g., for policies, laws, and regulations); to help community-based tourism enterprises move away checklists (e.g., for human resource requirements), and from donor- and grant-funded resources towards more case study examples from across the world (e.g., revenues commercial options. The guide provides suggestions generated and fees charged). The guidelines make to reduce risks and improve joint ventures accessing linkages with safeguarding conservation interests and commercial finance. Box 5: Case studies on joint ventures and partnerships in conservation areas Private sector tourism in conservation areas in Africa (2019) includes a series of case studies including on Anvil Bay and Ndzou camp in Mozambique, Damaraland Camp and Doro Nawas Camp in Namibia, and Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge and !Xaus Lodge in South Africa. Joint ventures between communities and tourism investors: experience in southern Africa (2001) reviews experience from eight joint venture processes in Namibia within the wider regional context, to identify some key principles and challenges, such as their high transaction costs. Damaraland Camp in Namibia is a joint venture partnership between the Torra Conservancy and the safari company Wilderness Safaris. The camp is the subject of a case study that explores the venture from an inclusive business approach: Creating luxury ecotourism with the local community (2014). Phinda Private Game Reserve represents a transitional partnership model in which the private-sector partner continues to operate, manage, and market the reserve and its lodges, although a portion of the land and asset ownership has been transferred to the community. The arrangements are described in the paper Strong community partnership through long term leasing (2014). 30 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Regional and National Guidance • Europe: Sustainable tourism in protected areas: Guide for tourist companies (2019) is targeted at companies Concessioning tools developed for applications in specific operating in PAs managed by Metsähallitus Parks regions or countries for use by PA authorities and the & Wildlife Finland. It aims to ensure that there are private sector include the following: uniform practices supporting sustainable tourism, mutually beneficial and consistent interactions, and • Southern Africa: Tourism concession guidelines for high-quality marketing and communication. transfrontier conservation areas in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) (2014) provides a Tools for evaluating the financial viability of concessioning step-by-step process of development of concessions programs are particularly important for both the public in PAs shared by two or more countries. Concession and private sector. The South African National Treasury’s guidelines, policies and procedures, and contract Public-private partnership manual (2005) includes a manuals have been produced for PA authorities in module on managing the tourism PPP agreement, with Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, tools for value assessment and economic valuation. This South Africa, Swaziland, and Tanzania. Tourism has been applied to tourism concession processes in the concessions in protected areas in Mozambique: country’s national parks and reserves. Manual for operators and concessionaires (2012) provides guidance on the different concession models A number of case study examples of concessioning are and processes available in Mozambique to help them embedded within the guidelines prepared by the World work with PA authorities. Bank Group, CBD, and UNDP, while further examples can be found for Latin America, (see Box 6 below) Mozambique, • North America: Commercial services guide: National and New Zealand. For example, the paper Rethinking Parks Service commercial services program (2018) is tourism and its contribution to conservation in New a detailed step-by-step guide through the design, Zealand (2017) reviews the impacts of tourism concessions procurement, contracting, operation, and monitoring on the country’s natural capital. It looks at the challenge of outsourced services in the United States. of saving threatened species, PA budgets, regulatory • South America: Best practices on tourism concessions options for sustainable tourism, and best practices, with in protected areas from Latin America (2010) presents recommendations for improvement. a review of tourism concession components and stages, with case studies from Argentina and Chile. 31 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism Box 6: Case study: Best practices on tourism concessions in protected areas from Latin America35 — Chile (2010) Chile launched a concession program in Patagonian parks in 2003 and the Atacama region in 2007. Seven parks were opened to concession operations in Patagonia in 2003/2004. Bidders were provided with a list of permitted ecotourism activities, including fishing, skiing, skating, hiking or trekking, photographic safaris, cycling, caving, scuba diving, canoeing, canyoning and river kayaking, hotels and lodges of all classes, and restaurants including small kiosks. The criteria for judging the suitability of the proposals were as follows: • Compatibility with the Management Plan • Capability to satisfy the demand for ecotourism activities with environmental education, while meeting the norms in the Management Plan • Presentation of a variety of distinct ecotourism options that meet different niche market needs and also serve those who have reduced mobility or are of an older age • Development of a project with the highest possible involvement of local communities, including indigenous and non-indigenous peoples, via direct employment and associated services via contract, including providers of local arts and crafts • The environmental viability of the project after the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement. 32 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 4.4 Destination Management and competitive results (undated) is a resource that helps destinations put in place strategies and programs that will A tourism destination is a geographical area consisting of best tell their unique story and become an inviting host all the services and infrastructure necessary for the stay for visitors. The tool includes guidance on creating tourism of a tourist or for a tourism segment,36 such as NBT. The inventories, creating clusters, development of destination ability of a destination to manage tourism depends on management organizations, visitor information, and online the implementation of effective management strategies, presence. The guide provides a series of NBT destinations the scale of demand for visits to the site, the staff and as examples, in addition to other types of destinations. resources available for the management of tourism, Destinations at risk: The invisible burden of tourism and the legal and political environment covering nature (2019) describes how destinations need to identify and protection in the countries in which they are located.37 account for tourism’s hidden costs. It identifies the types of An example of a destination approach in Mozambique destinations that are most vulnerable (see Box 8). Although under a series of World Bank projects is described in Box 7. not specific to NBT, it provides guidance on how to protect Tourism destination management: Achieving sustainable ecosystems from the environmental impacts of tourism. Box 7: Case study: Conservation and development in Mozambique: Lessons from the transfrontier conservation areas program and new perspectives for MozBio Program (2015) This case study provides an overview of process of sequential World Bank projects on conservation and tourism that have taken place over 15 years in 18 protected areas in Mozambique. The case study includes a description of the context, pillars of activities, impacts, and lessons learned. Economic Landscape Innovative Legal Engaging Growth and Rural Approach Partnerships Frameworks Communities Development The sustainable The achievement of Innovative partnerships Legal frameworks and The conservation management of long-term sustainable are promising well-funded local and of natural resources resources and biodiversity use of natural governance models national institutions and biodiversity are conservation have resources requires a for the sustainable and with clear mandates are closely linked to the significant potential to landscape approach long-term management needed to advance the well-being of local contribute to economic that promotes linkages of Conservation conservation agenda, communities and vice- growth and rural between different Areas (CAs). These ensure long-term versa. The sustainable development. Nature- types of land uses and include partnerships funding, and achieve management of based tourism, sustainable between land actors between national and national conservation CAs should focus on forest and fisheries, and creates institutional local governments, goals. providing economic wildlife management, arrangements to private sector, NGOs, alternatives, clarifying and payment for promote coordination. and communities communities’ land ecosystem services can around natural assets rights on areas adjacent generate income for tourism and wildlife to CAs, and offering rural communities and management entities. incentives for better contribute to the national management of economy. resources. 33 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism Box 8: Typology of vulnerable destinations38 A high risk of climate change impacts A fast-growing middle class which would disproportionately affect a visitor which is driving tourism growth at unsustainable economy – for instance, island states levels – for instance, in Southeast Asia High economic dependence on tourism Local government with low capacity to for instance, in the Caribbean manage tourism development in terms of budgets and human capital – a problem that has been found in both advanced and emerging economies Different Destination Types Destination management resources that relate to types of destination specifically include: Protected Areas The paper Tourism and protected areas (2016) presents a synthesis of the body of work shared at the IUCN’s World Parks Congresses in 2003 and 2014, including some of the cutting-edge issues, best practices, and inspiring initiatives relating to sustainable tourism. Looking forward to the following decade, the paper reflects on specific challenges, gaps in knowledge, and areas for further research and outreach. World Heritage Sites: Tourism, local communities and conservation activities (2018) provides global case studies relating to economic, sociocultural and environmental impacts of 1,000 cultural and natural heritage sites. The Geoheritage tool-kit (undated) is a series of steps that has been developed to enable geoheritage practitioners to systematically identify and categorize geological features significance at all scales, and assess their level of significance for science and education. The Geopark tourism tookit for geopark managers (2018) is designed to help audit the tourist offering, and to help compile information to support informed dialogue with other tourism providers and develop marketing information. 34 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Wetlands Destination wetlands: Supporting sustainable tourism (2012) provides guidance on the associated opportunities and challenges of managing tourism in and around wetlands, working with the tourism sector, and planning and policies for wetlands and tourism. The report also shares 14 case studies of wetland tourism from across the world. Mountains For alpine areas in Europe, the Background paper on sustainable mountain tourism (2014) covers relevant policies and responsibilities of institutions, the concept of sustainable tourism in mountains, results of a survey on the topic in 10 countries, and key issues to guide such discussion in the future. 35 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism Coastal and Marine Areas Understanding tropical coastal and island tourism development (2014) provides both case studies and theoretical insights applicable to the tourism development challenges of tropical coastal and island destinations throughout the world. Topics include the shortcomings of NBT in Madagascar and successful multi-stakeholder partnerships on Indonesian resort islands. Nature-based marine tourism in the Coral Triangle: Exploring the potential for low-impact, high-value nature- based marine and coastal tourism (2015) explains the basis for an NBT project in this region. It describes global and regional trends in tourism and NBT and the participating countries (i.e., Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia) and lessons learned from other tourism destination models. The Mediterranean experience of ecotourism manual: A guide to discover the MEET approach (2016) is a guide to encourage and engage sustainable local business initiatives around the Mediterranean sea that contribute to PA conservation in the creation of an ecotourism product. The first part of the guide relates to developing the ecotourism product and the second part relates to incorporating elements of sustainability. 36 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Africa The Uganda ecotourism assessment (2006) is a technical report from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). It describes ecotourism products and services in the country, value chain actors, an analysis of economic and market aspects, technical and infrastructure aspects, environmental and biodiversity aspects, social aspects, general necessities and solutions, and concludes with general recommendations for the country. The success of tourism in Rwanda: Gorillas and more (2011), published within the World Bank’s book Yes Africa can (2011), is a case study that illustrates how Rwanda has established and managed gorilla tourism in the Volcanoes National Park to provide benefits for communities and for conservation, within the broader context of the country as a whole. 37 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism Australia The Best practice model for low-impact nature-based sustainable tourism facilities in remote areas (2005) aims to establish an independently verifiable best practice assessment system and sustainability criteria for low-impact, nature-based facilities. It provides a series of case studies of low impact facilities throughout Australia with the intention of assessing the implementation of guiding principles and to apply the assessment criteria to such facilities. Antarctica and the Arctic Tourism in the polar regions: The sustainability challenge (2007) explains the trends and impacts, proposes an agenda for sustainable tourism development and outlines principles, guidelines, and selected good practices to conserve these unique wilderness areas through the regulation and management of tourism. Arctic tourism experiences (2017) focuses on tourist experiences (e.g., marine adventures, fishing, whale watching, trails, viewing the Northern Lights) and industry provision of those experiences. 38 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 4.5Infrastructure and biodiversity impact and a series of case studies from Kenya, Costa Rica, Fiji, and Peru. The International Facilities ecolodge guidelines (2002) contain guidance on site selection, planning and design of ecolodges, including Infrastructure to support NBT can be used to provide site evaluations and selection, physical analysis, accommodation (e.g., lodges, campsites, cabins), support master site planning, site design, and planting design. access (e.g., roads, hiking trails, boardwalks, bridges, Building and operating biodiversity-friendly hotels signage), enhance the experience (e.g., cliff and treetop (2012) provides guidance around five key principles walks, mooring points, viewpoints, visitor centers), for siting and design, and suggestions for how to and provide support services (e.g., retail and catering integrate biodiversity into hotel and resort operations. facilities).39 The principles relate to an ecosystem approach to development planning, managing impacts of hotel developments, designing with nature, respecting Accommodation and supporting local communities, and collaborating There is a great deal of practical guidance available for with stakeholders. The guide also provides a series planners and investors on sustainable NBT accommodation of case studies from across the world to illustrate the (or ecolodges). These include: principles. • Biodiversity-friendly development: Ecolodges: • Accommodation in forests: Guide to best practice for Exploring opportunities for sustainable business sustainable tourism in tropical forests (2007) provides (2004) provides background on the ecolodge information on lodging infrastructure construction, marketplace (including what tourists are looking for), including on planning and design, and explains how the business case and financial viability issues, and to manage energy, water use, wastewater, solid waste, an overview of the potential positive and negative chemical waste, transport, product supplies, and the impacts on the environment and local communities. conservation of tropical forests and biodiversity. The book also provides baseline indicators for 39 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism • Accommodation in deserts: Planning, design and other destinations, and include tools for planning construction guidelines for desert ecolodges (2011) trail concepts, evaluating feasibility, standards, is a manual designed for the Kingdom of Saudi branding, community engagement, interpretation, Arabia. Intended for investors, developers, design orientation and safety, and conditions for success. professionals, and engineers, it contains illustrative Track construction and maintenance guidelines guidelines that help provide deeper insights into the (2008) discusses ways to manage the construction planning, design, and construction processes. and maintenance of tracks. Developed for application in New Zealand’s PAs, it covers a number of principles but recognizes that implementation depends upon Visitor Infrastructure and Facilities local materials, climate, equipment, and costs. Guidance is also available to help natural destinations to Similarly, for PAs in British Columbia, Canada, there develop supporting visitor infrastructure and facilities. are Guidelines and best practices for planning, design This includes: and development of summer off-highway vehicle tracks (2012). The Accessibility guidebook for outdoor • Visitor centers and interpretation material: Park recreation and trails (2006) shares detailed design and design guidelines and data (2012) aims to help British planning guidelines to improve access to PA tourism Columbia Parks staff in Canada to provide sustainable offerings. and appropriate park recreation facilities, with designs that have the least visible impact. They cover park • Active transportation: The United States National entrances, roads, parking, day-use areas, camping Park Service active transportation guidebook (2018) areas, trails, signage, infrastructure, and landscaping. aims to help develop opportunities that enhance The Association of Ecotourism in Romania shares active transportation in parks. The guidebook’s topics examples of interpretation materials, tourist maps, include planning and developing infrastructure, such and visitor centers for PAs. as pedestrian pathways and bike lanes, evaluating and improving safety for active transportation modes, • Trail development: The Guidelines for trail planning, and offering activities and programs that allow park design and management (2015) have been developed visitors to explore by foot, bicycle, or other non- for use in Australia. The guidelines can be applied in motorized means (see Figure 5). 40 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Figure 5: Active transportation in US national parks40 operators, numbers and types of tourists, working with the tourism industry, tourism revenue and charges, marketing, and visitor impact management tools (e.g., Limits of Acceptable Change, Visitor Impact Management, Recreation Opportunity Spectrum). It also challenges the concept of carrying capacity. Tourism and protected area management: Sustaining resources (2008) is a collection of technical reports from Australia on visitor management. The papers provide an understanding of changing trends and visitor preference, the role of communication in shaping and enhancing visitor satisfaction, and the potential of commercial partnerships in achieving park management goals and satisfying visitor experiences. Determinants of tourism attractiveness in the national parks of Brazil (2015) explores the relative importance of park characteristics on visitor numbers. Visitor Management Tools Visitor management tools that can be used by destination managers (including PA managers) to plan NBT sustainably include: • The Visitor use management framework (2016) is a planning tool that can be incorporated into PA authority planning and decision-making processes. It describes the development of the approach, desired 4.6 Visitor Management visitor conditions to be achieved, management strategies to achieve them, and monitoring and Visitor management is the process of tracking visitor evaluation. This is complemented with the Visitor use at a destination. There are a number of tools and capacity guidebook (2019), which helps PA managers techniques for aligning the objectives of NBT destination to collaboratively develop long-term strategies to values (such as PAs) with planning and management manage the amounts and types of visitor use to achieve responses to avoid or mitigate negative impacts from desired conditions and improve access, connect tourism. An overview of 10 principles for tourism and visitors to key experiences, and protect resources. visitor management in PAs and actions is outlined in The Visitor experience and resource protection (VERP) Table 5. framework: A handbook for planners and managers (1997) is designed to provide guidance for those Visitor management (2015) is a chapter in the book undertaking VERP planning. Protected area governance and management (2015) that provides a comprehensive introduction to visitor • A guideline on Maximizing the value of birds and management, supplemented with case study examples. wildlife for tourism (2015) focuses on tourism This resource addresses types of visitors in different businesses in the Rift Valley/Red Sea Flyway, an categories of PAs (see Table 6 below and refer to Table ecologically important bird migration area that 4 on IUCN Protected Area categories), management extends through the Middle East to Africa. After an considerations, sustainable tourism, types of tourism introduction on the relationship between tourism and 41 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism Table 5: Ten principles of tourism and visitor management in protected areas41 Principles Actions Appropriate management depends on • Ensure management plans include clear appropriate objectives, with objectives and PA values conservation primary above all • Establish and agree to objectives through public participation Proactive planning for tourism and visitor • Provide opportunities for visitors to learn about PA values through management enhances effectiveness information and programming • Be cognizant of emerging visitor activity or use pattern that may have management implications Changing visitor use conditions are • Use zoning explicitly to manage for diverse recreation opportunities inevitable and may be desirable • Use knowledge of diversity to make decisions on desirability of tourism in specific locations Impacts on resource and social conditions • Managers must ask: “How much impact is acceptable based on PA values and are inevitable consequences of human use objectives?” Managers must act appropriately to manage the acceptable level of impact Management is directed at influencing • Management actions determine what actions are most effective in influencing human behavior and minimizing tourism- amount, type, and location of changes induced change Impacts can be influenced by many factors • Education and information programs, as well as regulations aimed at so limiting the amount of use is but one of restricting visitor behavior, may be necessary many management options Monitoring is essential to professional • Enhance public engagement and visitor education by encouraging their management involvement in monitoring The decision-making process should • Decision processes should separate questions of “existing conditions” from separate technical description from value “preferred conditions” judgements Affected groups should be engaged since • Rights-holders and stakeholders of PAs should be involved in identifying consensus and partnership is needed for values of PAs and developing indicators implementation Communication is key to increased • A communication strategy is needed to support a proactive or adaptive knowledge of and support for sustainability management process 42 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Table 6: Indicative visitor uses in protected areas42 Type of visitor Type of visitor use IUCN Protected Area Categories I II III IV V VI Volunteers (officially Firefighters and search and rescue personnel       recognized and Historic site maintenance and restoration      supported) Walking track maintenance      Introduced plant removal       Fauna protection such as seasonal bird nesting site     protection surveillance Visitor service support such as volunteer campground     wardens or guides Researchers, such as those conducting a biodiversity       assessment Researchers (officially All aspects of natural heritage research including baseline       permitted) condition measurement, trends in condition and ecosystem processes, and social and cultural heritage research Commercial users Nature-based filmmakers    (officially permitted) Visitor access services including pack animals, bicycle taxi,    bus, aircraft, motor launch, snowmobile, and others Tourists and Education-focused visitors      recreationists (sustainable use) Car-based sightseers, cycling, photography, painting     Picnicking, walking, bushwalking, camping     Nature study and cultural awareness    Orienteering, cross-country running    Use of official horse riding, mountain biking, four-wheel    drive, and motorcycle routes Sustainable use (such as management-approved hunting in  private protected areas and fishing) Approved non-powered flight hang gliding, paragliding,    hot-air ballooning Water-based activities, fishing, swimming, sunbaking,    canoeing, boating, sailing, white-water rafting Snow and ice-based skiers, snowboarders, ice climbers    Mountaineering and caving     Spiritual and cultural Formal access and protected areas for spiritual, ceremonial,       users (officially and cultural reasons such as traditional access routes endorsed and supported) Commemorative users Access to protected areas for commemorative purposes     (officially endorsed and such as visitors returning to site of cultural significance supported) within a protected area 43 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism conservation, the resource discusses how to enhance NBT can provide ample opportunities for education the visitor experience and increase revenues by and interpretation and for engaging people to learn offering new experiences and attracting new tourist about nature and develop positive attitudes towards segments. It also includes information on bird-friendly conservation. The Interpretation handbook and standard practices (including certification) and protecting the (2005) is a procedural manual designed for New Zealand’s destination from tourism impacts. Department of Conservation staff, concessionaires, and volunteers. It provides best practice guidance about • The Congestion management toolkit (2014) provides communicating clearly, planning interpretation, and a list of congestion mitigation solutions and tools to guided and self-guided techniques. Wildlife interpretation address specific congestion problems and issues in guidelines (2015), developed in Scotland, aim to help tour PAs, focusing on national parks in the United States. guides, countryside rangers, wildlife conservation staff, It includes categories of tools and their evaluation, and volunteers, with examples of good practices. There implementation considerations, and cost and financial are also interpretation guidelines for specific types of information, as well as examples of where the tools wildlife tourism, such as Best practice and interpretation have been used and expected outcomes based on in tourism/wildlife encounters: A wild dolphin swim tour previous applications. example (2004). 44 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Nature-Based Enterprise 4.7 to determine whether the environmental impacts and financial performance of ecolodges are sufficiently Development positive to justify IFC’s investing in them as part of its sustainable development mission. A considerable number of resources are available to entrepreneurs and businesses that wish to develop • Tourism and protected areas: Partnerships in principle commercial NBT enterprises. These include a broad range and practice (2001) shares a selection of successful of tools specifically designed for developers and investors partnerships between commercial tourism and to help establish or strengthen their NBT businesses, such PA managers, with both public and private-sector as the following: involvement. It identifies the advantages of expanding such partnerships and the factors that contribute to • The Practical guide for the development of their success. biodiversity based tourism products (2010) provides a collection of tools and methodologies paired with • Examining the critical success factors of small step-by-step systems for local product developers and operators: Entry to the nature-based tourism sectors tour operators. The guide considers tourism products (2006) focuses on the challenges individual businesses initiated within destinations (e.g., design, timing, face and the type of support required from the early pricing, marketing, monitoring and evaluation) and stages to actual business establishment. outside destinations by international tour operators • Nature tourism: Marketing strategies (2012) describes (e.g., contracting local partners, supply chains, how to market effectively to customers, suppliers, product lifecycle), and gives examples of good market partners, and travel planners, including with practice in developing NBT products and associated media technology. tour packages. • The Conservation marketing equation is a step- • Ecolodges: Exploring opportunities for sustainable by-step decision support tool with accompanying business (2004) summarizes the findings of two worksheets that can be used to assist conservation studies that the IFC commissioned. The first study and development professionals in choosing business examined the environmental footprint of ecolodges, opportunities (products or services), that conserve while the second study evaluated the current and biodiversity while reducing poverty for marginalized projected market demand for ecolodges and assessed rural people, such as NBT (see Figure 6). their financial viability. With these studies, IFC sought Figure 6: The conservation marketing equation43 1 2 3 4 Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4: Select and define your Define product Define regulations/ Define institution/ Conservation products and market(s) quality, quantity, certification enterprise and value Product in relation to context Market and price chain intermediaries factors (conservation, socio-economic, and Readiness cultural objectives, and value chains) 45 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism Guidance for Varied Tourism Products Guidance developed for different types of NBT products include: Community-Based NBT Operations Guidelines for community-based ecotourism development (2001) includes consideration as to whether ecotourism is an appropriate option for a community, participatory ecotourism planning, developing viable ecotourism, and strengthening benefits to the community and the environment. Community nature-based tourism development (2011) provides a five-step process for development, including assessing raw materials, envisaging the finished product, planning, implementing, and evaluating success. Adventure Tourism Adventure tourism (2006) is an introductory text that looks at commercial adventure tourism products based on nature, including expeditions, rafting, kayaking, diving, surfing, skiing and snowboarding, ice climbing, horse riding, hiking, mountain biking, and safaris and wildlife. The book Adventure tourism and outdoor activities management (2019) provides case studies from successful professionals in the adventure tourism industry and guidance on managing products and customers. The book also explores sustainable tourism, changing markets, technology, corporate social responsibility, and climate change. Adventure tourism: The new frontier (2003) uses case studies to examine the product, the adventure tourist profile, and issues such as supply, geography, and sustainability. International case studies include gorilla-watching holidays, trekking on Mount Everest, diving holidays, and Outward Bound packages. 46 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Geotourism Volcano and geothermal tourism (2015) provides a global review and assessment of the sustainable use of active and dormant volcanic and geothermal environments for geotourism. There are over 1,300 active volcanoes worldwide, some of which are developed as tourist destinations, such as Mount Fuji in Japan, Teide in Spain, and Yellowstone in the United States. Marine and Water-Based Tourism A practical guide to good practice: Managing environmental impacts in the marine recreation sector (2003) is a handbook covering practical elements of marine tourism, such as anchoring, boat operation and maintenance, waste disposal, snorkeling and diving, seafood consumption and souvenirs, recreation fishing, and marine wildlife viewing. The book Marine tourism (1998) examines both successful and unsuccessful tourism in coastal and marine environments with a series of case studies. It includes an overview of the history, development, and growth of marine tourism and describes the characteristics of marine tourists and the vendors of these tourist activities, as well as management techniques to reduce negative impacts and maximize benefits. Water-based tourism, sport, leisure and recreation experiences (2007) describes a diverse range of water-based activities, such as sailing, motorized water sports, fishing, diving and snorkeling, rafting and kayaking, and the sustainability of these ventures. 47 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism Desert Tourism Tourism and deserts: A practical guide to managing the social and environmental impacts in the desert recreation sector (2006) seeks to promote desert tourism as a leading source of sustainable development. It aims to support the tourism industry in the development of deserts as tourist destinations, with respect for local populations and sustainable development criteria. Mountain Tourism Tourism and mountains: A practical guide to managing social and environmental impacts of mountain tours (2007) was created to help mountain-based tour operators and other mountain recreation professionals improve their environmental and social performance. The handbook provides an overview of mountain ecosystems and communities and a discussion of the nature and potential impacts of mountain tourism and tour activities. It also includes good practices for a range of key issues related to mountain tourism and a self-assessment checklist for operators. 48 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism landowners who are considering establishing a Box 9: Case study on assessing tourism potential: tourism or recreation enterprise. Topics include Assessment of nature-based tourism in South options for tourism and recreation businesses, product Kelantan, Malaysia (2011) development, financial plans, marketing plans, legal and regulatory issues, and safety procedures. Planning and managing agritourism and nature tourism enterprises: A handbook (2006) is a how-to manual for farmers, ranchers, and the professionals who work with them, and can also be used as a train-the-trainer tool. Green marketing trends (2009) provides an overview of green market trends using the language, research findings, and market segmentation of US-based markets to help explain wildlife-friendly products and the role of certification in branding. As a complementary tool, New and evolving web-based marketing (2009) helps enterprises to find market outlets for their wildlife-friendly products. Nature- Nature-based tourism components and features based tourism marketing (undated) provides a step- vary considerably from one destination to another. by-step guide for businesses to develop their product In Malaysia, the location, quality, and quantity of and service mix, people market identification, price, partnerships, packaging, and promotion. natural resources and their infrastructure had not been well documented. An assessment was made • Ireland: The Teagasc rural tourism booklet (2016) is a of the potential of natural tourism destinations in guideline for farmers in Ireland, providing information South Kelantan, by selecting fifteen destinations, on a range of commercial accommodation activity and attraction options. It gives guidance for business such as waterfalls and caves, as case studies. planning; strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, Based on geographical information systems (GIS) threats (SWOT) analyses; and marketing, with case application, 23 indicators for tourism destination studies. The Ecotourism handbook for Ireland assessment were investigated using observation and (undated) also provides information on the ecotourism checklist techniques. The destinations were further market, business planning and funding, certification, classified based on physical features, infrastructure, and marketing. and accessibility. The assessment found that GIS • Australia: The Queensland ecotourism development application is effective in providing higher quality of toolkit (2016) helps developers to navigate the information for natural tourism destinations and can planning and regulatory process in Queensland, be an essential tool for decision making. Australia, streamline assessment processes, and ensure that impacts on sensitive environments are mitigated. The toolkit is complemented by Best practice ecotourism development guidelines (2015) for the private sector on the development of ecotourism facilities and experiences in Queensland’s Regional and National Guidance national parks. The guidelines include best practice Regional and country-specific guidance for NBT product criteria, guidance on conducting site suitability development and marketing is also available, including for assessments, requirements for certification from an the following places: accredited certification scheme, and case studies of ecotourism operation in Australia, Costa Rica, and • United States: Making nature your business (2002) Namibia. is a step-by-step guide designed for farmers and ranchers in Texas, United States to help them start • Sri Lanka: Guidelines: Eco tourism facilities and NBT enterprises. Nature tourism: A guidebook for activities operation (undated) are designed for evaluating ecotourism opportunities (2009) helps those initiating ecotourism facilities, with guidelines 49 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism for registration and regulatory requirements, • Southern Africa: The Southern Africa Development environmental management, and minimum criteria. Community’s Guideline for cross-border tourism products (2018) provides information to guide the • Galápagos: A practical guide to good practice for step-by-step development of tourism activities that marine-based tours with a particular focus on the take place within transfrontier conservation areas and Galápagos (2008) focuses on the preservation of this across international borders in southern Africa. destination. Box 10: Examples of good practices in nature-based tourism operations Case studies in ecotourism (2003) is a book with 170 examples of ecotourism, ecolodges, private reserves, and public parks. The case studies range from the world’s best models to test cases, small and large, unique to representative and illustrate ecotourism’s achievements and constraints. Indigenous ecotourism (2006) is a book that examines the key principles of the segment from a diverse range of case studies drawn from different regions. It analyzes the key factors for sustainable development and the management of indigenous ecotourism. Private sector tourism in conservation areas in Africa (2019) uses 32 comprehensive case studies of accommodation facilities in 11 African countries to provide guidelines for optimal benefits and sustainable NBT. The book includes descriptions of the various models for the private sector to engage in tourism in conservation areas in Africa, and guidance on identifying the most suitable private sector tourism options to promote long- term sustainability. Tourism for development (2018) is a compilation of 23 international good practice case studies that highlight tourism’s contribution to sustainable development. Among these are nature-based tourism cases, including Sabyino Community Livelihood Association in Rwanda, El Carlos Ecotourism and Archaeological Centre in Colombia, and Chumbe Island Coral Park in Tanzania. Tourism product development interventions and best practices in sub-Saharan Africa: Part 2: Case studies (2010) describes the wildlife conservancy program in Namibia, hiking tourism on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and safari operators &Beyond and Wilderness Safaris, among others. A synthesis report based on the case studies is also available. Ecotourism and conservation in the Americas (2008) shares 16 case studies and regional overviews from the United States and Latin America. Tourism, local livelihoods and the private sector in South Africa: Case studies on the growing role of the private sector in natural resources management (2003) examines how changing institutional arrangements and policies affect poor people’s livelihoods and access to natural resources. Six different scenarios are analyzed to demonstrate how government, NGOs, the private sector, and rural communities have influenced rural livelihoods through tourism practices in South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Wilderness Safaris: Ecotourism entrepreneurship (2018) is a case study from Harvard Business School that explores whether the African company can find a sustainable growth path that will allow it to profitably expand its business and meet its shareholders’ interests while achieving its objectives to protect and invest in the ecosystems and communities. 50 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 4.8 Impacts of Nature-Based recognizing tourism as a valuable sector of the global economy, and for destinations that can catalyze Tourism development. Nature-based tourism, environment and land management (2003) looks at the economic, social, Nature-based tourism can have a variety of impacts, both and environmental consequences of nature-based positive and negative. The types of impacts are broad in tourism, and its effects on land managers. It discusses their range, and affect natural resources, local economies, the importance of links and partnerships, as well as the culture and society, as well as tourists themselves. This conflicts between commercial tourism interests and section reviews examples of tools, guidance materials, land management agencies. and illustrations of NBT impacts that can help practitioners As guidance for NBT businesses, Green your business: with the difficult task of establishing the balance between Toolkit for tourism operators (2008) is a Canadian positive and negative impacts. handbook that provides user-friendly, accessible, and practical tips for operators in PAs in becoming more Environmental Impacts environmentally sustainable. It gives tools for different business processes (e.g., product development, All forms of tourism have impacts on the natural marketing, purchasing etc.) and by need (e.g., energy, environment. The impacts of ecotourism tend to be waste, water, outdoor environment, carbon neutral, concentrated in areas of highest conservation value, socio-cultural). hence, the need to manage and minimize these. The Routledge handbook of tourism and the environment (2012) explores and critically evaluates the debates Nature-Based Tourism and Biodiversity and controversies inherent to tourism’s relationship Nature-based tourism can generate important positive with nature. Its sections include the philosophical impacts on natural habitats and wildlife, but if not properly basis of the environment, different types of ecosystems managed, it can damage the natural resources on which it is and the negative and positive impacts upon them, based. Not only can it undermine the quality and integrity environmental policy and management mechanisms, of biodiversity, but it can also lead to a deterioration of the and contemporary and future issues. Environmental visitor experience itself. There are a number of background impacts of ecotourism (2004) is a book that reviews the papers that describe the key issues between tourism and environmental impacts and management of particular biodiversity. These include the following: NBT activities, such as hiking and camping, off-road vehicles, and recreational boats, and impacts specific • UNWTO’s Tourism and biodiversity: Achieving to certain ecosystems (e.g., marine environments, common goals towards sustainability (2010) illustrates polar coasts, mountain environments.) Conservation the high value of biodiversity for tourism, outlines tourism (2010) is a book that focuses on case studies current policies, guidelines, and global initiatives in from tourism companies that have made positive which the interrelationship between tourism and contributions to the conservation of global biodiversity. biodiversity is addressed, as well as identifies risks These case studies range from private marine reserves and challenges for the tourism sector from the global to bird watching lodges in different regions across the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The world. Tourism, recreation and sustainability (2008) report includes ten recommendations for actions on presents a discussion from leading contributors on the biodiversity and tourism for governments (at national impacts of tourism on local culture and the environment and destination level), the tourism private sector, in sections on frameworks and approaches, tourism and international organizations, and NGOs. destinations, and culture. Tourism development and the • Wildlife-based ecotourism as sustainable conservation environment: Beyond sustainability? (2009) explores strategy (2016) is a research report that includes an the tourism–development-environment nexus, by analysis of 208 wildlife-based ecotourism enterprises. 51 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism The study reviews ecological, socio-political, and • Guidance for a quality nature tourism industry economic management contexts of the enterprises, (undated) provides practical advice to tourism and describes extensive and varied impacts on businesses on how to reduce the environmental wildlife. These include indirect impacts related to the impact of a nature-based business, ensuring local reduction of threats and direct impacts resulting from communities are integrated into the business models the tourism activities themselves. and visitors respect the surrounding nature and cultural heritage. • The paper Net effects of ecotourism on threatened species survival (2016) explores the effects of tourism on threatened species, which may rely on NBT for Animal Welfare conservation funding. It uses population viability There has been increasing interest in animal welfare issues analyses to calculate the net effects of ecotourism on in tourism, particularly in relation to the treatment of expected time to extinction, in the presence of other wildlife interactions. Concerns relate mainly to situations anthropogenic threats such as poaching, primary where wildlife are in captivity, petted, or fed, or where industries, and habitat loss. visitors can interact directly with them, such as swimming with dolphins or riding elephants. There are concerns that • The relationship between amount of visitor use and social media, and the desire of travelers for photos with environmental impacts (2019) is a paper that outlines animals, is fueling interactions with captive animals that the theory behind establishing visitor capacity in live in poor conditions.44 Furthermore, research suggests PAs. This is complemented by Impacts to wildlife: that travelers are not good at establishing whether Managing visitors and resources to protect wildlife animals are being well treated or not.45 The book Tourism (2019), which provides an overview of literature on and animal welfare (2018) explores the diversity of tourism the impacts of recreation on wildlife and factors that experiences with animals (including shark and elephant influence wildlife responses (e.g., type of activity, tourism, sport hunting, zoos, and aquariums), and ethics, visitor behavior, frequency and magnitude of impacts, animal rights, and human obligations to animals. The timing, and location). Global welfare guidelines for animals in tourism (undated) Resources that can help to enhance the positive impacts have six associated manuals, including on animals in of NBT on nature include the following: captive environments (e.g., dolphins and elephants), • The CBD’s Guidelines on biodiversity and tourism wildlife viewing, and working animals. The guidelines development (2004) provide a tool to implement the strive to encourage good practices in animal protection Convention on Biological Diversity, an international and welfare from travel businesses and suppliers of animal treaty to promote the conservation of biodiversity, experiences. These are freely available to Association of through tourism, focusing on policy and governance. British Travel Agents (ABTA) members and can be purchased Managing tourism and biodiversity (2005) is a user’s by non-members and partners. TripAdvisor has an online manual on the above guidelines. portal on Improving animal welfare in tourism which provides articles on animal rights, tourism, conservation, • Biodiversity: My hotel in action (2008) is a guide to and sustainability. For Airbnb hosts, there are Animal the sustainable use of biological resources in hotel welfare guidelines for Airbnb Experiences (2019). To guide accommodation. It aims to support positive impacts the tourism sector on purchasing decisions that support of biodiversity through hotel restaurants, guest rooms wildlife, the United States Wildlife Trafficking Alliance and public spaces, souvenir shops, hotel gardens, and has published Protecting wildlife by buying informed: in the broader destination area. The guide includes A corporate toolkit (2017). The guide helps companies information from TRAFFIC, an NGO combating to play a role by closing off supply chains, educating the wildlife trade, on sustainable use of specific biological public, and raising awareness of the need to shut down the resources, such as fish and seafood, wood, and markets for illegal wildlife products. The book Wild animals aromatic plants. 52 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism and leisure (2018) is a collection of papers that provides an • Birds: Guidelines of best practice for bird friendly in-depth analysis of the rights and welfare of humans and hotels in Egypt (undated) are an attempt to ensure wild animals and seeks to improve the conditions under the overall benefit of the Egyptian tourism industry, which wild animals interact with and are engaged with local communities of the flyway, and migratory birds, by humans. including a reduction in the threats posed to birds as they migrate through Egypt. It provides guidance Guidance for Specific Habitats and Types of on bird-friendly administration (e.g., laws, marketing, Animals staff development), management and design, and A series of guidelines have been developed for tourism services (e.g., tours and activities). From Australia, involving specific types of wildlife or habitats. These there are also Best practice guidelines for commercial include: wild bird feeding practices on private land (undated). These guidelines include information about the legal • Primates: Best practice guidelines for great ape framework, types of feed, risk management, and tourism (2010) provides information for existing visitor interpretation. and potential great ape tourism sites that wish to • Marine tours: A practical guide to good practice for enhance the conservation of great apes. It includes marine-based tours (2008) is designed to help marine lessons learned from great ape tourism programs tour operators improve their environmental and social and their impacts, and guidance for the planning, performance, as a way to both contribute to marine development, and implementation and monitoring conservation and the economic development of of visits. There is also species-specific information for coastal communities, and increase their attractiveness gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans. to increasingly discerning consumers. A series of tools 53 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism and guides to support shark and ray tourism can be expenditures on conservation or provide revenue directly found in A guide to best practice: Responsible shark to PA authorities for conservation. The financial benefits and ray tourism (undated), produced by WWF, Project generated from tourism services can also incentivize local AWARE, and The Manta Trust. The resources include people to care for nature and encourage the private sector tools to help select sites, evaluate performance, to conserve biodiversity.46 These benefits may include build social licenses, understand market and legal ownership and equity in businesses, benefit sharing from requirements, and practice responsible provisioning. tourism revenues, money earned from jobs or the sale of Guidance is also provided for management authorities products and services to tourists or operators, or corporate including examples of codes of conduct. Specific social responsibility initiatives. guidelines are given for different types of rays and sharks, including basking sharks, reef and pelagic A number of resources quantify and illustrate the range of sharks, whale sharks, mobulid rays, and stingrays, and economic and financial impacts from NBT. These include shark cage diving. the following: • Rivers and waterbodies: Environmental sustainability • Biodiversity, nature-based tourism and jobs (2012) for river cruising (2013) is a best practice guideline provides a literature review on the magnitude and designed to support this sector around the world. It range of economic benefits for conservation and local offers principles for environmentally sustainable river community incomes from NBT. cruising and specific guidance relating to energy, water, wastewater, solid waste, communications, and • Economic impact of global wildlife tourism (2019), environmental management systems, in addition to by the WTTC, is an effort to quantify the economic partnerships and cooperation. River tourism (2009) value of wildlife tourism. It estimated that its direct uses international cases studies to explore a range economic contribution to world GDP in 2018 was of perspectives, including heritage, management, $120.1 billion, or five times the value of the illegal environmental concerns, and marketing. wildlife trade (see Box 12). • Towards measuring the economic value of wildlife Box 11: Visitor engagement in species watching tourism in Africa (2015) looks at the wildlife- identification & research watching market segment in Africa. Based on a survey iNaturalist is a nature with government institutions and tour operators, the app that helps people briefing paper considers a range of economic benefits, to identify plants and including employment and contributions to nature animals and connect to nature. People can use its conservation. crowdsourced species identification system and • Walk on the wild side (2015) is a research article occurrence recording tool to record their own that estimates the global magnitude of visits to PAs. sightings, identify species, and collaborate with The analysis found that, in 2015, visits generated others to collect information. approximately $600 billion a year in direct in-country expenditure and $250 billion a year in consumer surplus. Notably, these values dwarf current (and typically inadequate) PA conservation expenditures. Economic and Financial Impacts Benefits from ecotourism to local communities Nature-based tourism can generate a range of economic have been found to include reductions in hunting and financial impacts. At the national level, PA tourism and increases in wildlife sightings, for example revenue can contribute to foreign exchange earnings and in Lao PDR. the balance of payments, and these can be used to justify 54 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism • The book Economics for the wilds: Wildlife, diversity and development (1992) provides a theoretical and Box 12: Key findings from Economic impact of practical basis for understanding the value of wild global wildlife tourism (2019) resources as well as the strategies for conserving them. The book explores specific uses of wildlife and their habitats (both sustainable and unsustainable) and topics including community-based development, tourism, poaching, and the impact of conservation on wildlife use. • Nature tourism, conservation, and development in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2010) provides an evaluation and policy advice relating to NBT in this destination. The contributors explore three key issues: (1) the creation of a true nature tourism economy that supports biodiversity conservation; (2) the role • Wildlife tourism directly contributed $120.1 of the private sector in contributing to equitable billion in GDP to the global economy in 2018, development, job creation, and conservation or 44 percent of the estimated direct global finance; and (3) alternative pricing and other market travel and tourism GDP of $2,751 billion. This mechanisms that can help make nature tourism more represents over five times the value of the illegal viable and growth-oriented. wildlife trade. • Assessing and valuing the recreational ecosystem • Once additional multiplier effects across the services of Germany’s national parks using travel global economy are allowed for, the total cost models (2017) uses results from over 24,000 economic contribution of wildlife tourism comes interviews. The research found that the lower-limit to $343.6 billion. consumer surplus of recreation in German national • Over one-third of all direct tourism GDP across parks totals EUR 385.3 – 621.8 million (including Africa in 2018 attributed to wildlife (36.3 percent). only visitors whose trip decisions were influenced • 21.8 million jobs globally are supported by by the parks’ protected status), while an upper-limit wildlife tourism. value reached EUR 1.690 – 2.751 billion (including all visitors). Thus, national parks generate enormous non- monetary values for German society. The next two sections describe further examples of resources that cover the contributions of NBT to • From a different perspective, the report on Assessing conservation finance, as well as the financial benefits to the extent and impact of illicit financial flows (IFFs) in local communities and economies. the wildlife and tourism economic sectors in southern Africa (2017) describes illicit movements of money or Conservation Finance products that are illegally acquired from one country to another. The money typically originates from three Revenue raised from tourism, such as entrance fees and sources in the private sector: commercial tax evasion, other fees paid for the use of natural and PAs, can directly trade mis-invoicing, and abusive transfer pricing. The contribute to their management and conservation. analysis calculated that IFFs in the wildlife tourism However, in some areas, funds generated from tourism sector in southern Africa were over $22 billion from go to central government treasuries, and conservation 2006 to 2015, deriving mainly from tax evasion and budgets do not necessarily reflect the level of this trade mis-invoicing. income.47 For example, Estimating tourism’s conservation 55 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism area financing in Mozambique (2016) demonstrated that synthesis of research on economic impacts of tourism 93 PAs in the country generated $24.4 million in 2013 from on the continent, and includes a series of case studies tourism-related activities, but only a small portion accrued from Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Costa to conservation area management. Rica. • The Economic analysis of rhino conservation in a land- Resources that provide information on the benefits of NBT use context within the SADC region (2005) reviewed for financing conservation include the following: the added value that rhinos add to wildlife operations on state and private land through wildlife viewing and • The Contribution of tourism revenue to financing trophy hunting, and their impacts on community- protected area management in Southern Africa (2017) based tourism and rural livelihoods. is a paper that assesses the extent to which tourism contributes towards biodiversity financing for PA • Tourism revenue as a conservation tool for threatened management in the region. Using country reports birds in protected areas (2013) is a paper that quantifies to the CBD, it highlights that, although tourism is the contribution of tourism revenue for bird species in a significant revenue source for PA authorities in the IUCN Red List, using a simple accounting method. southern Africa, how it is retained and reinvested back The paper highlights that critically endangered bird into conservation management remains ambiguous. species rely on tourism more heavily than endangered species, and many PAs could enhance their • Private conservation funding from wildlife tourism management budgets by promoting birdwatching enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa: Conservation tourism specifically. marketing beliefs and practices (2018) describes how some commercial tourism companies provide • Mapping the global value and distribution of coral substantial funding for private reserves, communal reef tourism (2017) estimates that this ecosystem conservancies, and public PAs, and for anti-poaching, service has a global value of $36 billion per year, from breeding, and translocation programs. It suggests on-reef and associated off-reef activities. that if tourists who wish to contribute towards conservation were identified during marketing and • Finance tools for coral reef conservation: A guide booking, then conservation tourism enterprises could (2018) highlights that public and private capital, both notify conservation trusts to seek donations. philanthropic and return-seeking, must be leveraged to develop diversified and sustainable self-generated • Building a wildlife economy (2019) is a working revenue flows that can drive conservation impact. paper on the development of nature-based tourism Tourism fees, including entrance fees, permits, and in Africa’s state PAs. In part, the paper provides a concessions, are among the tools considered. 56 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Box 13: Studies on tourists’ willingness to pay for nature-based tourism48 A number of papers explore visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) for NBT and to visit natural attractions. These studies ask respondents to specify how much they are willing to pay to visit an area under different conditions. The WTP studies have often found that tourists are (1) willing to pay to visit protected areas and (2) are willing to pay more than the established fee. For example: • Contingent valuation of ecotourism in Annapurna conservation area, Nepal: Implications for sustainable park finance and local development (2008) found that on average visitors were willing to pay $69, rather than the actual entrance fee of $27. • Pricing policy for tourism in protected areas: Lessons from Komodo National Park, Indonesia (2001) found that although only 6.9 percent of park fees were recovered, tourists were willing to pay more than 10 times the current entrance fee. • Tourists willingness to pay to visit Tanzania’s National Parks: A contingent valuation study (2015) found that non-residents would be willing to pay substantially higher fees in Serengeti National Park and that this would not seriously reduce the level of visitation. It was predicted that phasing in a $60 increase in the Serengeti conservation fee over several years could raise an additional $14.8 million by 2020 (equivalent to increasing the park’s revenue by 57 percent). • User fees as sustainable financing mechanisms for marine PAs: An application to the Bonaire National Marine Park (2010) found the average WTP for annual access ranged from $61 to $134, although the actual fee at that time was only $10. • Willingness to pay entrance fees to natural attractions: An Icelandic case study (2008) explores the options for entrance fees where they were not already in place. The study found that over 92 percent of the 252 respondents were willing to pay an entrance fee. • Tourists’ willingness to pay for wildlife viewing and conservation in Namibia (1999) uses a contingent valuation approach to explore WTP. The study found that each wildlife viewing tourist contributed an estimated N$ 907 to national income in the tourism sector at economic prices in 1995. The WTP analysis found that higher, daily park admission fees could result in the capture of some N$ 18.2 million new revenue per annum. Local Financial and Economic Impacts (2010), based on a review of existing studies. The report found that the total visitor spending attributable to Local people can benefit from economic linkages with nature-based tourism per year (rounded and after NBT. This may include through employment, by selling products and services that tourism companies and tourists displacement is deducted) is £1.4 billion with 39,000 need, or by owning tourism businesses. associated full-time jobs in 2010. Examples of destinations and PA authorities that share • Tourism British Columbia shared information on the information on their economic impacts include: Economic value of the commercial nature-based tourism industry in British Columbia (2004). • The Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland, which publishes data on their visitor numbers and NBT’s • Socio-economic effects of concession-based tourism economic impacts. in New Zealand’s national parks (2011) used a tourism inventory and interviews to measure impacts from • Scottish Natural Heritage published Assessing the three national parks: Tongariro National Park (TNP), economic impacts of nature based tourism in Scotland 57 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism Box 14: Visitor spending effects from national parks in the United States in 201849 The United States National Park Service (NPS) uses the Visitor Spending Effects (VSE) model to calculate the economic impact of visitation. In 2018: • 318 million visitors spent $20.2 billion in communities within 60 miles of a park in the National Park System. Of the 329,000 jobs supported by visitor spending, more than 268,000 jobs exist in the park gateway communities. • Economic benefits from visitor spending increased by $2 billion and total output increased by $4.3 billion in comparison to 2017. • Lodging expenses account for the largest share of visitor spending, totaling nearly $6.8 billion in 2018. • Food expenses are the second largest spending area with visitors spending $4 billion in restaurants and bars and another $1.4 billion at grocery and convenience stores. Directly Affected Sectors Transportation Camping Gas Retail Groceries $20.2 billion in visitor spending Restaurants Hotels Recreation industries Contribution to the National Economy $18.4 billion $18.2 billion $20.2 billion $15.7 billion $16.9 billion $14.7 billion $14.6 billion 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 58 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Abel Tasman National Park (ATNP), and Fiordland (2) ensuring that benefits are appropriate to the National Park (FNP). For every dollar ($NZ) of turnover scale of threats to biodiversity; (3) involvement of generated by the concessions, the study found that a communities in decision-making on the structure further 40 cents, 60 cents, and 30 cents circulated in and process of the distribution system; and (4) the economy in TNP, ATNP, and FNP, respectively. sufficient regulatory and institutional support. • The United States National Park Service uses the • The role of private sector ecotourism in local socio- Visitor Spending Effects model to calculate Visitor economic development in southern Africa (2016) spending and economic effects (see Box 14). describes the results of 1,785 interviews with local community members living around Wilderness Safaris Impacts in Developing Countries operations in six countries, and the local economic impacts that have resulted. In developing countries and rural areas, local people may not have the necessary level of skills or capital to open • Applying inclusive business approaches to nature- and operate NBT ventures. Therefore, it is important to pay based tourism in Namibia and South Africa (2016) is attention to the design of benefit-sharing mechanisms so a paper that quantifies the impacts of Damaraland that local communities can benefit and economic benefits Camp in Namibia and Phinda Private Game Reserve in are maximized. There is a large body of case studies that South Africa, through an inclusive business approach illustrate the nature of local economic impacts from focusing on the benefits to low-income populations. NBT, particularly in Africa. These include the following • Mountain gorilla ecotourism: Supporting publications: macroeconomic growth and providing local • Revenue sharing from tourism in terrestrial African livelihoods (2015) focuses on the Africa Great Lakes protected areas (2019) is a paper that reviews the region (Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic challenges of revenue sharing as well as four key Republic of Congo) and reviews ecotourism-related components of successful revenue-sharing systems, livelihoods and revenue sharing. namely (1) clear identification of economic benefits; 59 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism • Living outside the fence (2013) describes a supply- • Visitors count! Guidance for protected areas on the chain analysis undertaken in the South African economic analysis of visitation is being developed by Sabi Sand Game Reserve to establish the range members of the IUCN WCPA Tourism and Protected of commercial opportunities available to local Areas Specialist Group, with UNESCO, the German entrepreneurs neighboring the PAs. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), and the European Union. This tool provides guidance • Making success work for the poor: Package tourism and examples of visitor counting, surveys, economic in Northern Tanzania (2009) presents the results of analysis, and reporting approaches. a value chain analysis on safari circuits including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and the safari circuit • The Tourism Economic Model in Protected Areas from Arusha to the Serengeti National Park. In (TEMPA) is an assessment tool that aims to guide particular, the paper explores the proportion of project managers and others to develop economic tourism expenditure that reaches the poor, and analyses through the collection, analysis and options to boost this value (see Figure 7). reporting of tourism spending data at local and national levels. The tool is built on the foundations • Evaluating a special nature-based tourism event of the United States National Park Service’s Money (2002) evaluates the economic impact of an NBT Generation Model and is currently being reviewed by event, “Great Salt Lake Bird Festival,” and provides the the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Scientific and questionnaire template for use by others. Technical Advisory Panel. A case study applying the approach is described in Economic impacts of tourism Economic Impact Assessment Tools for in protected areas of Brazil (2017). Nature-Based Tourism Box 15 provides examples of the value of birding tourism Tools that are in development to support the assessment of in different countries and options to maximize value. financial and economic impacts of tourism in PAs include: Figure 7: Cost components of safari and mountain climbing packages in Tanzania50 A typical mountain-climbing holiday ($1,376 in-country A typical safari holiday ($1,826 in-country spend) spend) 3% 4% 7% 1% 6% 9% 6% 37% 47% 13% 18% 14% 16% 19% Park fees Tour operator margins Wages & tips Accommodation Park fees Tour operator margins Accommodation Food & beverages Transport Transport Wages Cultural goods & services Cultural goods & services Food & beverages 60 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Box 15: The value of birding tourism in different countries and maximizing tourism potential51 • In 1999, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute estimated that 41 percent of its $1 billion tourism revenues was from tourists who came primarily for the purpose of birdwatching. • In 1997, South Africa received between 11,400 and 21,200 birdwatchers per year who contributed $12 to $26 million to the South African economy. • A study of villages in Poland that have established stork nesting colonies indicated that tourists spent an average of $60 per visit (excluding travel costs) and $120 per visit (including travel costs) as a result of viewing the storks. • A study by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in the U.K. estimated that each tourist spends £4.92 on a day trip and £55.96 on a visit to view birds. The figure below shows a range of options to maximize value from birding tourism: Enhance the enjoyment of existing Increase Increase customers revenue revenue by by offering attracting existing new types of tourists new tourism experiences Build Maximize partnerships potential of with credible the grounds to conservation attract birds organizations Engage Plan new and staff and refurbish existing communication infrastructure in a in valuing the bird-friendly way contribution Embrace of birds bird-friendly operating practices 61 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism Social and Cultural Impacts Tools for Local Community Impact Assessments Social and cultural impacts of tourism can include changes to the living standards and in the value and pride that Tools developed for leaders in tourism destinations to people have for natural assets. Tourism can encourage maximize benefits to local communities from NBT include the conservation of culture, arts and crafts, and promote the following: aesthetics, the spiritual, health, and other values of well- being. Environmental education for visitors and local • Guidance for natural and cultural resource managers people can be used to foster better understanding of the and community leaders (undated) aims to assess cultural heritage value of natural resources.52 Background the impact of developing nature-based tourism on papers on social and cultural impacts of tourism include communities and identifies how communities can be the following: involved in the planning process, before assessing the current tourism situation and potential. • The IUCN’s Best Practice Guidelines on Tourism and visitor management in protected areas (2018) • The Operational guidelines for community-based provides guidance on generating wider economic tourism in South Africa (2016) provide step-by-step benefits for communities from tourism, and reviews guidance for the development of community-based NBT’s social and cultural impacts. tourism and the modification of private-sector structures to establish partnerships with community • The relationship between amount of visitor use and entities. The guidelines include a series of NBT case social impacts (2019) is a paper that discusses the role studies and useful guidance on troubleshooting of social conditions on visitor experience, crowding, potential challenges. and social norms. • The Rural tourism toolkit (undated) is designed to • Indigenous ecotourism (2006) is a book that examines help local leadership in Colorado, United States to the key principles from a diverse range of case studies take an objective look at their communities and of community involvement and ownership drawn determine future directions. It provides information from different regions of the world. on the benefits of rural tourism, tools for community assessment and action planning, and best practices • Private sector tourism in conservation areas in Africa and case studies. (2019) includes descriptions of the social and cultural impacts of 32 NBT enterprises. • The Implementation plan for socioeconomic monitoring program in the National Park System (2019) • Chapters within Responsible Tourism: Critical issues for outlines a method for evaluating the socioeconomic conservation and development (2008) address local impacts of the parks on visitors and the public. It livelihoods and community-based NBT in southern includes guidance on survey methods and provides a Africa. These include the “Impacts of wildlife tourism standardized questionnaire. on rural livelihoods in southern Africa”53 and “Local impacts of community-based tourism in southern • A practical guide to good practice for marine-based Africa.” 54 tours (2008) is designed to help marine tour operators improve their environmental and social performance • Tourism, health, wellbeing and protected areas (2018) to both contribute to marine conservation and the is a book that shares a series of case studies discussing economic development of coastal communities, best practices for park and PA tourism development and to increase their attractiveness to increasingly and their contributions to the health and well-being discerning consumers. of visitors and local communities. 62 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 4.9 Risk Management and physiological, ecological, and evolutionary impacts. The book also synthesizes the current state of knowledge Climate Change regarding best practices for reducing human impacts on wildlife. Tourism in changing natural environments Risk management involves the forecasting and analysis of (2019) explores how the impacts of climate change, potential financial and non-financial risks, and identifying natural and man-made disasters, economic instability, and procedures to mitigate or eliminate their impact. Risks can other macro-environmental factors can have profound arise at the local, national, or international levels and be implications for local and global economies, fragile either internal or external to an NBT initiative.55 ecosystems, and human cultures and livelihoods. From Africa, Wildlife-based tourism and climate: Potential Nature-based tourism in peripheral areas: Development or opportunities and challenges for Botswana (undated) disaster? (2005) examines problems of NBT development highlights the decline of wildlife due to human activities in in peripheral areas, including sub-polar areas, alpine areas southern Africa. It describes how fragmentation of wildlife and forests, mountains, islands, and coastal environments. habitats, combined with increased climate variability The book considers the opportunities that nature-based due to climate change, poses a risk to the sustainability tourism provides as the basis for peripheral region of a wildlife-based tourism product in Botswana. The development. Similarly, Ecotourism’s promise and peril: publication calls for the need to consider adaptation A biological evaluation (2017) considers the impacts measures in this sector, and to seek alternative tourism that visitation can have on wildlife, including behavioral, attractions and products. Figure 8: Tourism related-threats in protected areas56 Tourist Behavior Tourism Infrastructure and Policies • Quiet natural experience: Noise pollution (e.g., • Freshwater systems: Excessive wastewater and for high quality visitor experience ATTRACTIONS IMPORTANT from motor vehicles) water pollution • Wilderness experience: Trailside littering • Clean beaches: Solid waste disposal and sewage • Plant communities/habitat: Soil erosion from • Coral reefs: Anchoring practices of boats trampling • Viewscapes: Air pollution (e.g., from motorized • Coral reefs: Inappropriate diving and vehicles) snorkeling • Wilderness experience: Inappropriately sited • Wildlife viewing: Inappropriate wildlife viewing buildings, roads, and other infrastructure practices (e.g., visitors are too close, too many, • Stargazing: Inappropriate lighting too loud) • Bird habitat: Excessive fuel wood consumption • Freshwater biodiversity: Overuse of freshwater resources CONSERVATION OBJECTIVE • Vegetation: Trampling in sensitive ecosystems • Coral reefs: Inappropriate diving and snorkeling • Coral reefs: Excessive wastewater and water pollution • Bird nesting: Inappropriate wildlife viewing practices (e.g., visitors are too close, too many, • Migratory birds: Destruction of important habitat too loud) (e.g., mangroves) for tourism infrastructure • Target species: Inappropriate feeding of wildlife, • Sensitive areas: Inappropriately sited buildings, creating problem individuals roads, and other infrastructure • Natural systems: Introducing invasive alien • Sea turtles and migratory birds: Inappropriate species through horses, hiking shoes, boats lighting • Native fish: Fish stocking practices 63 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism 4.10 Monitoring and Philippines (2017) is a tool for operational tourism enterprises. It aims to standardize sets of criteria Evaluation and parameters in monitoring and evaluation of ecotourism sites and projects to ensure environmental Effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of NBT allows friendliness. The tool includes ratings checklists and managers of NBT destinations and enterprises to measure questionnaire tools to help with the evaluation of progress against selected variables to identify areas policies, operational management, socio-cultural and of success and failure. This information can be used to biological features, ecotourism products and services, adapt management approaches to improve the level of economic benefits, financing/enterprise building, and performance overall. facilities. • A question of balance: Green is the new black (2009) Monitoring Tools for Nature-Based Tourism is a self-audit workbook developed by the Tourism Industry of Nova Scotia to provide tourism operators Many useful tools are available to help design and with helpful environmental information, best implement M&E for NBT. The DestiMED project has practices, and a method for conducting self-audits. compiled a Report on available monitoring tools (2018) While not specific to NBT, it addresses environmental as a global review of current and past tourism monitoring management issues and tools for energy and water and certification programs for tourism in PAs. Some of conservation, waste management, and enhancing the tools include the following: socio-economic benefits. • Indicators of sustainable development for tourism • A toolkit for monitoring and managing community- destinations: A guidebook (2004) provides detailed based tourism (2007) is designed to provide readers technical guidance on the value of indicators with the know-how to set up and run a monitoring in measuring tourism’s impacts. The guidebook program for a community-based tourism project. It includes indicators that can be used in NBT, including gives step-by-step guidelines, supported by a wide tourism as a contributor to nature conservation. range of case studies, to enable readers to conduct their own monitoring project. • Ecotourism tracking tool in monitoring and evaluation of ecotourism sites or projects in the 64 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism a communications strategy, and implementing and Box 16: Citizen science for monitoring of NBT57 monitoring actions. • Visitor monitoring in nature areas (2007) is a manual based on experiences from the Nordic and Baltic countries. It includes guidelines, recommendations, and examples of visitor monitoring methodologies applicable to nature areas in the region, such as visitor counting, visitor surveys, and reporting, interpreting, and using visitor information. • Visitors count! Guidance for protected areas on the economic analysis of visitation aims to establish standardized guidelines for measuring the economic impacts of tourism in PAs. It contains guidance on Protected area managers can use citizen science, undertaking visitor counting, expenditure surveys, a form of protected area-based volunteerism that economic analyses, and reporting the findings for the supports research efforts, to develop effective public and policy makers.58 interventions for resource management issues. • Developed in South African PAs, the Sustainable Citizen scientists can be tourists who have traveled nature-based tourism assessment toolkit (2003) to a PA specifically for this purpose or local outdoor provides a mechanism for tangibly and transparently recreationists who enjoy leisure opportunities in measuring management, environmental, social, and PAs while contributing their energy and skills to economic characteristics of NBT in a reliable and science. In Australia, the Victoria Marine National comparable way. Park and Sanctuary started the Sea Search citizen science project to gather information about the • The Global database protected areas visitors (GD- health of the network of Victoria’s marine parks and PAVIS) (see Figure 9) aims to be a new tool to improve sanctuaries. Similarly, the University of York in the the reporting on sustainable tourism in protected U.K. used volunteers to document sightings of over and conserved areas. Information compiled in the 250 species of invertebrates. database will help report on several global indicators (e.g., tourism use, tourism value, and tourism-related economic impacts of PAs), generate knowledge Monitoring Tools for Protected Areas on tourism and PAs, support decision-making of For tourism in PAs, the following specific monitoring governments in relation to sustainable tourism tools are available: strategies in PAs, and strengthen capacity of park managers to develop appropriate systems to store • Threshold of sustainability for tourism within protected and manage information on sustainable tourism. areas: A quick guide for protected area practitioners (2011) introduces a tourism management framework Certification and Standards called the “threshold of sustainability.” It is designed to enable managers to take rapid action to mitigate Certification aims to foster responsible environmental, the most critical threats, while beginning to lay a solid social, and cultural behavior and provide a good quality financial foundation for tourism within PAs. It includes product to consumers. Certification provides a mechanism a series of steps, including assessment of threats, through which enterprises can be recognized as having identification of actions, assessing tourism finances met voluntary standards of performance that meet and the broader enabling environment, developing or exceed baseline standards or legislation, following independent third-party verification.60 65 Tools Resources andResources Tools and for Nature-Based Tourism A simple user’s guide to certification for sustainable products, and tour guides. Similarly, Ecotourism and tourism and ecotourism (2010) is designed for those who certification: Setting standards in practice (2002) explores wish to understand how certifying sustainable tourism the concepts underlying certification and highlights case and ecotourism works or how to begin the process. studies of certification schemes around the world. Tourism Quality assurance and certification in ecotourism (2007) in protected areas: Developing meaningful standards is a book that considers the topic of quality control (2016) discusses partnerships between conservation and and accreditation in ecotourism, with a broad range tourism and how these partnerships could unfold through of examples and case studies. The book describes the the work of the IUCN Green List and the Global Sustainable mechanisms that can be implemented to ensure quality Tourism Council. in all aspects of the industry, namely, PAs, businesses, Figure 9: Global Database Protected Areas Visitors (GD-PAVIS)59 Visitor Reporting 1 2 3 4 5 Introduction Site Information Visitation Data Data Collection Methd Complete Box 17: Case Study: Assessment of nature-based tourism business and tourist demand in Vlora Bay and Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park, Albania (2016) This study identifies and evaluates nature-based sustainable tourism-related certification schemes available in or appropriate for Albania. The study evaluated tourist demand and tourist satisfaction in Vlora Bay, the level of information available on Karaburun-Sazan marine protected area (MPA), and approaches to nature-based initiatives. It provides lessons learned for other MPA evaluations and copies of applied questionnaires. 66 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism There are hundreds of standards and certification programs globally, but there are particularly reputable examples for Box 18: Use of certification to ensure best practice NBT. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has NBT in protected areas in Australia61 recognized and accredited certification programs for NBT, including those aligned with the following: • GSTC standards for hotels and tour operators: Such as the European Ecotourism Labeling Standard, Ecotourism Australia’s ecotourism standards, the Ecotourism Ireland Certification Program, Ecotourism Kenya’s Eco-rating Certification Scheme, Global Ecosphere Retreats from The Long Run, the Korean Ecotourism Standard for Accommodations and Tours, the Japan Ecolodge Association, and TOFTigers Initiative’s Pug Mark Eco Certification. The Asian Ecotourism Standard for Accommodations is currently under review for recognition. Travelife for Tour Operators also audits elephant camps to ensure their proper treatment. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park has implemented a High Standard Tour Operator program for a • GSTC standards for destinations: Such as the Green number of years, so that the majority of visitors Destinations Standard (including ecotourism and to the reef are led by certified operators. The park PA destinations), Korean Ecotourism Standard for rewards and encourages tour operators to become Destinations, and the Mountain IDEAL Destinations certified by Earthcheck and Ecotourism Australia Standard. through longer licenses, exclusive access to sensitive Additionally, the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network sites, and promotional opportunities. These no-cost sets standards for gorilla-friendly and sea turtle-friendly approaches demonstrate to operators that being tourism. Their gorilla-friendly standard is currently being sustainable, and independently certified as being so, used by the International Gorilla Conservation Program to makes business sense. establish new training materials for guides, trackers, and porters in Rwanda. 67 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 5 Training Materials 68 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism T raining materials and resources are increasingly adaptation of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum available through online courses and webinars. Some for use in Latin America. of the free-to-use resources are described here: • The International Ecotourism Society offers education • The IUCN has established a free Massive Online Open and outreach programs for its members, including a Course (MOOC) on Valorisation of protected area Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Management and resources, which contains three modules dedicated an EcoTourism Master Class series. to the IUCN Best Practice Guidelines on Tourism and visitation in protected areas: Guidelines for • United States Agency for International Development sustainability (2018). (USAID) has established a series of online training resources on sustainable tourism. These include • The European Union provides free online training for courses on tourism and conservation, project members of the European Ecotourism network. The development, destination management, tourism courses supporting NBT include ecotourism training investment and finance, enterprise development, for businesses and ecotourism training for evaluators scientific, academic, volunteer, and educational travel, in English and other languages. with case studies from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Mali, Montenegro, and Uganda. • A course manual for Interpretation techniques The course on Tourism and conservation – sustainable and ecotourism management training has been models and strategies provides an online workbook developed under the Mediterranean Experience of that focuses particularly on sustainable marine Ecotourism (MEET) Project. This includes guidance on tourism. It gives guidance on business planning, the development of interpretation for NBT. operations and management, staff training, and • Colorado State University’s website includes a number sales and marketing (see Figure 10). All of the other of training materials and management tools, including courses can be applied to a variety of forms of tourism, including NBT. Figure 10: Contents of the course “Tourism and conservation – sustainable models and strategies” 01 02 03 04 05 06 Improve Tourism Increase Increase Income Increase Increase Tourism- Increase Operations and Conservation Diversification Monitoring and Generated Conservation Guidelines Awareness and Research Conservation Partnerships Target resource Constituencies Financing Promote extractors with Increase the role Develop sustainable tourism Increase awareness sustainable tourism of local residents Utilize sustainable partnerships guidelines with and conservation employment in monitoring & tourism profits between protected visitors support of visitors research to support areas, NGOs, and Develop conservation universities Promote Increase awareness sustainable tourism Increase the activities sustainable tourism and conservation product that role of visitors Develop guidelines with the support of local directly mitigate in monitoring & Develop travel partnerships travel industry residents conservation research philanthropy between protected threats programs areas and Promote Link benefits of communities sustainable tourism sustainable tourism Develop guidelines within to the community conservation- protected areas as a whole themed brands and merchandise Promote mandatory or voluntary protected area entrance/user fees 69 Tools andMaterials Training Resources for Nature-Based Tourism • Lastly, the Travel Foundation has produced a case • The IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas study on Whale shark guide training in Mexico (2008) (WCPA)’s Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist that was conducted to help boat trip operators Group (TAPAS Group) hosts webinars on NBT topics conserve whale sharks. with partners. These are available on topics including international perspectives on visitor use management; Relevant webinars on elements of NBT include the the Visitor Use Management Framework (part 1 following: and part 2), tourism concessions and partnerships, certification tools and standards for protected areas • The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals offers management, and more than just signs on designing webinars to members and non-members on topics visitor heritage experiences. including establishing trail systems, partnerships with federal agencies, visitor use monitoring and management, and understanding economic impact studies. 70 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 6 Networks and Institutions 71 Networks and Institutions Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism T here are a diverse number of public sector and help manage them and the communities whose well-being nonprofit organizations that provide information depends on them. CPAM’s website includes a number and technical support on NBT.62 Given below is of training materials and management tools, including an overview of notable institutions and networks that adaptation of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum for use support knowledge development, capacity building and in Latin America. training, and awareness raising in the sector. Chico Mendes Institute for American Trails Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) American Trails is a nonprofit organization that advances As part of the Ministry of Environment in Brazil, ICMBio the development of diverse, high-quality trails and conducts a range of work on NBT. In 2018, ICMBio greenways to benefit people and communities. Their managed 12.4 million visitors in 334 protected areas. The website and resource library provide comprehensive agency develops initiatives including community-based online sources for planning, building, designing, funding, tourism, large concessions, and long-distance trails, as managing, enhancing, and supporting trails, greenways, well as measures the economic impacts of visitation in PAs. and blueways. They also have a learning center with The institute has done considerable work on Assessing training events and a webinar series. economic impacts of visitor spending in protected areas of Brazil (2017). Asian Ecotourism Network This association aims to provide networking opportunities Children and Nature Network to organizations in Asia. They also host an ecotourism The Children and Nature Network aims to increase standard. equitable access to nature so that children – and natural places – can thrive. They invest in leadership Association of Ecotourism in and communities by sharing evidence-based resources, scaling innovative solutions, and driving policy change. Romania This association is a partnership for nature conservation Conservation International (CI) and tourism development among tourism associations, NGOs, nature conservation projects, and travel agencies CI is a nonprofit organization that works to protect in Romania. It has activities for promotion and marketing, nature for the benefit of all, through science, policy, and public awareness, ecotourism certification, strategies, and partnerships with countries, communities, and companies. product development. It shares examples of interpretation They supported the development of resources such as A materials, tourist maps, and visitor centers for PAs and has practical guide to good practice: Managing environmental a certification system. impacts in the marine recreation sector (2003). Center for Protected Area Conservation Travel Management (CPAM) Conservation Travel provides a resource hub for conservation travel and aims to educate the travel industry The CPAM at Colorado State University in the United States and travelers to promote better, innovative practices contributes to the conservation, planning, and management supporting conservation goals globally. Their platform of the world’s PAs and the landscapes and seascapes that allows people to submit tools, case studies, and research connect them through capacity building, applied research, and reports. and technical collaboration with the organizations that 72 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Conservation Finance Alliance European Ecotourism Network (CFA) (EEN) The CFA is an alliance of conservation finance experts, EEN is a network of relevant stakeholders aiming to practitioners, and organizations that produces resources ensure that ecotourism services in Europe contribute including those that relate to NBT, such as Finance tools to conservation and sustainability. EEN supports the for coral reef conservation: A Guide (2018). development and implementation of the European Ecotourism Labelling Standard (EETLS), an initiative that ensures baseline standards of quality in ecotourism. Department of Conservation, New The EETLS has been officially recognized by the Global Zealand Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). DestiNet to Tourism 2030 also acts as a knowledge networking portal for New Zealand’s Department of Conservation is the sustainable and responsible tourism, with subscription government agency responsible for conserving the options. Topics include natural heritage and biodiversity, country’s natural and historic heritage. The Department’s destination management, value chain management and website hosts a series of useful procedures and practical fair trade, cultural heritage, climate change, knowledge/ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support NBT networking/training/education, certification, and in protected areas. These include on radio protocols, marketing. The site includes a searchable database of interpretation, and track construction and maintenance. tourism stakeholders promoting sustainable tourism, as well as a Global Certification Quickfinder that helps DestiMED tourism businesses, destinations, and tour operators find certificates available in their country. This is linked to a DestiMED is a project that brings together 13 protected Green Travel Map, with an associated app, showing where areas to collectively manage and promote ecotourism in certifications are based across the world (see Figure 11). In the Mediterranean basin. The project aims to help create Europe, the initiative aims to have all tourism in protected standards and monitoring methods, design ecotourism areas certified by 2030, as a goal under SDGs 12, 13, 14, packages, and develop guidelines for sustainable tourism and 15. management. Forum Advocating Cultural and Ecotourism Australia Eco-Tourism (FACET) Ecotourism Australia is a not-for-profit organization FACET is a Western Australian network and information focused on encouraging environmentally sustainable resource for people interested in cultural tourism, nature- and culturally responsible tourism. They design and based tourism, and ecotourism. The Forum promotes deliver certification programs for tourism products and events, conferences, and awards through its website. destinations and organize conferences and master classes. Their Ecotourism resource hub includes business tools, destination and ecotourism plans, and guidance on PA Geological Society of Australia management, indigenous tourism, and visitor accessibility. Lastly, they have a linkage with the booking platform This Society is a membership organization that provides Bookdifferent. information on geotourism, including best practices on geotrails in Australia and a Geoheritage toolkit. 73 Networks and Institutions Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Figure 11: DestiNet’s Tourism2030 Green Travel Maps App 63 Global Ecotourism Network (GEN) sets: Destination criteria for public policy makers and destination managers, and Industry criteria for hotels GEN is a global group of ecotourism pioneers and and tour operators. The criteria are guiding principles practitioners that previously formed the Advisory Board of and minimum requirements that any tourism business the International Ecotourism Society (TIES). Through their or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect website and social media, they share the latest information and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources, and initiatives related to ecotourism. while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation. Their criteria have Global Sustainable Tourism been used by a number of certification bodies to certify Alliance (GSTA) NBT enterprises and destinations (including PAs) across the world. GSTC provides members with access to training GSTA is a partnership of leading organizations in the programs and events. sustainable tourism field working together with USAID missions to apply a holistic and market-driven approach to sustainable tourism development. The alliance has a series Griffith Institute for Tourism of online training resources on sustainable tourism. Based at Griffith University in Australia, this institute’s strategic research areas include sustainable tourism and Global Sustainable Tourism visitor experience design and evaluation. Its website shares research reports, such as Tourism planning in natural World Council (GSTC) Heritage Sites (2017). The GSTC establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two 74 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism IUCN’s World Commission on of visitor management frameworks and guidebooks, including Visitor use management framework (2016), the Protected Areas (WCPA)’s Tourism Visitor capacity guidebook (2019), and other technical and Protected Areas Specialist resources. The council has conducted webinars with the IUCN WCPA TAPAS Group to provide an overview of the Group (TAPAS Group) visitor use management framework and its application. The TAPAS Group is a volunteer network that aims to provide a platform for PA practitioners to share expertise and knowledge, enhance sustainability awareness, Journal of Ecotourism facilitate collaboration and dialogue, and foster innovative An international journal focusing specifically on solutions to support sustainable tourism in PA systems. ecotourism and nature-based tourism, it seeks to advance Globally, the TAPAS Group has over 600 volunteer the field by examining social, economic, and ecological members, and the group coordinates the development of aspects at different scales and in different regions of the knowledge tools (including Best Practice Guidelines and world. The journal publishes peer-reviewed conceptual, tourism concession guidelines), webinars, and events, and theoretical, and empirical research, especially where it shares best practices through its website, social media, and contributes to planning development, management, and online resources directory. More broadly, IUCN also hosts good practices. the Panorama platform, which shares case study solutions to address ecological, environmental, climate, and social challenges, including on NBT. Linking Tourism & Conservation (LT&C) The International Ecotourism LT&C is a membership organization that facilitates an Society (TIES) educational global network of tourism and conservation ambassadors. Their website includes case studies of TIES is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting projects and initiatives from across the world that illustrate ecotourism. TIES’s global network of ecotourism examples of financial or political support, or education professionals is present in more than 190 countries and activities. territories, representing various professional fields and industry segments including: academics, consultants, conservation professionals and organizations, govern- Luke Natural Resources Institute ments, architects, tour operators, lodge owners and Finland managers, general development experts, and ecotourists. It provides education and outreach programs for its This institute promotes bioeconomy and sustainable use members, offering a Certificate in Sustainable Tourism of natural resources. Their work on NBT has addressed Management and an EcoTourism Master Class series. forest tourism and the recreational use of nature. Interagency Visitor Use Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Management Council Finland The council includes representatives of six United States Metsähallitus is the PA authority in Finland. Its website government agencies and aims to provide guidance on includes information about their visitor numbers and NBT’s visitor use management policies and to develop legally economic impacts. They also provide resources to support defensible and effective interagency implementation tools NBT such as Principles of sustainable tourism for protected for visitor use management. The council produces a number areas (2016) and Sustainable tourism in protected areas: Guide for tourism companies (2019). 75 Networks and Institutions Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Namibian Association of CBNRM service also gives information for educators and produces a series of natural resource publications and visitor Support Organizations (NACSO) spending effects reports. NACSO aims to provide quality services to rural communities seeking to manage and utilize their natural One Planet Sustainable Tourism resources in a sustainable manner. This includes training support on nature-based tourism. Its website hosts Program resources on joint venture tourism development and The objective of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism product development. Program (STP) is to enhance the sustainable development impacts of the tourism sector by 2030, by developing, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) promoting, and scaling up sustainable consumption and production practices that boost the efficient use of natural TNC is a global conservation nonprofit organization that resources while producing less waste and addressing is dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which the challenges of climate change and biodiversity. The all life depends. Its work includes NBT initiatives, including STP program maps initiatives and resources shared by its on coral reefs and identifying economic opportunities for members through the One Planet Clearinghouse online communities and conservation. platform in their online database, including those on nature-based tourism. This provides a visible snapshot of the tools and solutions that can support countries in their The National Association for shift to sustainable consumption and production. Interpretation (NAI) The NAI is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated Pacific Asia Tourism Association to advancing the profession of heritage interpretation, currently serving about 7,000 members in the United (PATA) States, Canada, and over thirty other countries. Individual PATA provides a series of case studies on environmental members include people working at parks, museums, and social performance of nature-based tourism at an nature centers, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, activity, operator, and destination level in the Asia Pacific historical and cultural sites, commercial tour companies, region. and theme parks. Planeta.com National Geographic This online resource provides coverage of conscious living National Geographic is a membership organization that and travel and hosts information and news relating to NBT. provides resources and links for travel professionals, travelers, and destination residents. In particular, they house information relating to geotourism, which has Planeterra similar characteristics to sustainable NBT. Planeterra is a nonprofit organization established by the adventure travel company G Adventures. It invests in National Park Service, United social enterprise, healthcare, conservation and emergency response projects. Their projects aim to meet needs of States travelers, including relating to meals and food, tours Within the United States Department of the Interior, the and experiences, handicrafts, accommodation, and National Park Service is responsible for managing national transportation. parks. In addition to providing information for visitors, the 76 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Rainforest Alliance website hosts a number of practical resources for accommodation providers, destination management The Rainforest Alliance is a nonprofit organization that companies, and travel companies including publications works at the intersection of business, agriculture, and and presentations. Their tools include an online action forests. They work with farmers and forest communities plan for sustainability of NBT. The organization has to improve livelihoods, protect biodiversity, and adapt to commissioned research on the value of wildlife tourism climate change. Tourism activities include certification, around tiger reserves in order to inform policy and training courses, guidelines for marine based tours, and research. certification for ecotourism. The Travel Foundation Relief International This nonprofit organization aims to work in partnership Relief International is a nonprofit organization that with businesses and governments to generate greater works with fragile countries and communities suffering benefits for people and the environment. Their resources from recurrent man-made or natural crises that impede hub includes information on wildlife and the environment, human development. One of their areas of support is in including whale shark guide training. economic development, and enterprise development, including ecotourism projects including in natural areas of Bangladesh. Wildlife Conservation Unit (WildCru) Responsible Tourism Institute WildCru forms part of the University of Oxford and is a university-based conservation research unit. The unit This association and international NGO supports tourism has conducted research on wildlife tourism, in particular actors. They organize events, offer training, and undertake relating to the lack of ability of visitors to accurately judge research and project development (including on NBT). the animal welfare abuses of wildlife attractions. They use their Biosphere certification program to measure sustainability of the Sustainable Development Goals. Wildlife Conservation Society Society of Outdoor Recreation The Wildlife Conservation Society is a nonprofit Professionals organization that aims to conserve the world’s largest wild places in 16 priority regions across the world that house The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals aims to more than 50 percent of the world’s biodiversity. WCS has promote and support outdoor recreation professionals in worked in 245 protected areas and has a Conservation research, planning, management, and policy development Enterprise Development Program. For example, it has in the United States. They have a website and resources on a co-management agreement with the government of outdoor recreation, and offer webinars to members and Mozambique for Niassa National Reserve, which manages non-members. and coordinates tourism concession contracts and the development and promotion of tourism. TOFTigers TOFTigers aims to advance the welfare of wild animals Wildlife Friendly Enterprise threatened with extinction through the loss or degradation Network (WFEN) of their wild habitats, and to promote the protection, WFEN helps to conserve threatened wildlife and contribute expansion, and improvement of those habitats. Their to the economic vitality of rural communities. They have 77 Networks and Institutions Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism established a series of standards that form the basis for World Cetacean Alliance certification programs focused on NBT, including gorilla- friendly tourism. They also produce resources on green The Alliance shares Global best practices for responsible marketing trends and conservation marketing. whale and dolphin watching, and has certification programs for Whale Heritage Sites and whale watching. Wildlife Tourism Australia Wildlife Tourism Australia is a nonprofit association World Wildlife Fund (WWF) representing tourist operations, educators, researchers, The WWF Network focuses on six key goals related to businesses, and societies that support sustainable wildlife climate and energy, food, forests, freshwater, oceans, tourism in Australia. Its website provides information on and wildlife. WWF has invested $11.5 billion in more than tours and accommodation, news and events, issues, and 13,000 conservation projects. resources. World Animal Protection This nonprofit organization lobbies for animal welfare, including in NBT. 78 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 7 Conclusion 79 Conclusion Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism T his review demonstrates that there are hundreds (sometimes driven by social media). Specifically, these of informational resources and institutions that can tools need to be designed so that they can be applied support governments, practitioners, the private reliably and quickly, and in line with best practices. There is sector, and communities to develop sustainable NBT. an opportunity for the World Bank to establish an approach Some resources that are still in development such as the to address this challenge, which could convene experts World Bank’s tourism concession manual and UNESCO’s working in this field to build and field-test the tools. Ideally, online Visitor Management Assessment Toolkit will further this would be undertaken in conjunction with destination contribute to this body of knowledge. managers (e.g., PA authorities), technical experts, major online travel agencies, and social media platforms. These One of the consultees remarked that, “More than the activities would be integrated into the World Bank’s design availability of resources and tools, it is the awareness and and supervision of projects incorporating NBT globally. use of existing tools by project managers and specialists where greater effort is needed. Greater understanding of the critical nature of the conservation dimension of Climate Change and NBT nature-based tourism is needed, and guidance on how to Technical resources and guidance on climate change integrate this with project design.” This point is reinforced mitigation and adaptation for the tourism sector are not by numerous requests from other consultees for resources specific to NBT (and therefore, have not been included that already exist. in this analysis). Many of these tools and resources for this topic relate to making all tourism more sustainable, particularly in terms of reducing greenhouse gas 7.1 Gaps in Resources and emissions. For NBT destinations, the issues are particularly Priorities important given the implications for global climate change for habitats, wildlife, and tourist behavior. However, there An extensive list of outstanding gaps in resources was is a need for practical tools that allow natural destination identified from this review, and from the consultation managers, NBT operators, and travelers to understand, process (see Table 7). Using the two metrics: (a) strategic avoid, and mitigate climate change impacts. In particular, and game-changing, and (b) directly corresponding to the advice is needed on how NBT practitioners can integrate needs of World Bank staff and clients, the top four priorities mitigation and adaptation approaches into the project for intervention were identified as follows: design and implementation process (e.g., integrated carbon offsetting tools, climate-proofing NBT investment Overtourism and Undertourism approaches, green-building practices, and low-carbon travel strategies). This would be compatible with the Many PA managers are grappling with the task of World Bank’s work on climate finance and disaster risk offering tourism to their constituencies, while ensuring management. that the conservation objectives are prioritized. While some are trying to establish tourism in new or emerging destinations, others need to adapt to rapid growth in Hunting visitation, and the environmental and social pressures that Although contentious, there is a need to address challenges this induces. While a series of visitor management planning associated with sport and trophy-hunting tourism (see approaches are available (see section 4.6), there is a lack of section 4.1). Global standards need to be established agreement among practitioners over the most appropriate for sustainable hunting, coupled with evidence of its approaches to use (e.g., Limits of Acceptable Change vs. impacts on conservation and livelihoods. Furthermore, carrying capacity). There is an urgent need from many information is needed for the public and media to clarify natural destination managers to identify practical tools the differences between illegal poaching of wildlife and and approaches that provide solutions to overtourism 80 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Table 7: List of outstanding gaps in resources Category Gap Best practices and toolkits • Development of a vetted roster of NBT experts to help the WBG and their clients identify good tourism development experts and consulting companies. The roster should be coupled with training for those experts in WBG approaches to ensure consistency in NBT design, implementation, and monitoring. • Consolidation of industry-wide, globally endorsed wildlife viewing guidelines to reduce confusion over the large number available. • Case studies of small and easily implemented initiatives that can have quick and meaningful benefits, rather than extensive costly interventions. • Translation of existing toolkits into other languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Enabling policy and planning • Tools to help destination managers balance conservation management approaches with environment technologies and social media which are driving changes in visitation with increasing speed and complexity. • Examples of policies, laws, and regulations that can be used by PAs to benefit financially from tourism, with associated case studies. These can be particularly useful if there are legal limitations for public entities regarding receiving funds. Examples of legal frameworks on the processes and requirements for sustainable NBT should also be included. • Policy-design tools that outline the diversity of forms of NBT and help prioritize those that are truly conservation-oriented. • Guidance linking NBT to broader issues of environmental security, peace building and creating resilience to climate change. • Models for effective inter-organizational collaboration among/between park/protected area agencies and national/state/local tourism offices and destination organizations. These would include guidance on institutional framework and coordination to reduce fragmentation of efforts and conflicting approaches, including contestation of authority. Concessioning and institutional • Template agreements between community and private sector available online (i.e., frameworks operating agreement, management agreement, shareholding agreement). • Minimum policy and NBT product design requirements for non-state land to capture revenues from NBT, including for private and community-owned land. Destination management • Support for PA managers that lack resources to produce up-to-date tourism management plans, or the financial and human resources to implement them. Infrastructure and facilities • Tools that help to identify and address the “maintenance gap” where there is a lack of investment, to support authorities unable to keep up with depreciating assets and the associated risks to sites and visitors. Visitor management • Awareness raising materials for tourists, tour operators, and tourism promoters (e.g., online booking platforms) to have a better understanding of which forms of NBT truly support conservation. • Case study evidence that experiences gained from NBT can change attitudes and behaviors (e.g., single-use plastic, forest clearing, climate change, etc.). • Tools that help destinations and enterprises reach NBT markets without compromising them thorough overtourism and negative impacts. • Tools that can be used to reduce conflict between tourists and local residents. 81 Conclusion Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Category Gap Impacts of nature-based tourism • Simple tools for calculating carbon dioxide emissions of NBT activities, to communicate it to tourists and visitors, to reduce and offset their impacts. • Information on the environmental management of NBT (e.g., energy and water use, waste management), as opposed to tourism in general. • Examples of incentives and funding tools for rural communities to meaningfully engage in NBT (e.g., tax incentives). • Economic valuation tools for determining financial cost to NBT due to environmental degradation (e.g., marine plastic pollution, climate change, illegal hunting). • Establishing how much adequate conservation in the presence of tourism would cost. • Specific tools on NBT and gender. Risk management • Tools that identify NBT’s vulnerabilities of natural hazard risks (i.e. flood, drought, etc.). • A unified risk management system to improve the legal security of NBT, including negotiation with insurance companies, public administration, and financing systems. Monitoring and evaluation • Global standards for sustainable hunting. • Implementation of tourism impact monitoring and mitigation plans to avoid overtourism. • Open-source monitoring tools for public programs and PAs that can be used to track impacts, and that incorporate the GSTC criteria. • Resources to cover the costs of monitoring and evaluation. • Datasets or analyses that link environmental conditions to tourism outcomes. Training & awareness raising • Information for the public on the differences between illegal poaching of wildlife and materials legal hunting. • Training for PA agencies and tourism promotion agencies on NBT planning, particularly on cloud-based spatial planning, prioritization, and management tools. • Training on sustainable tourism for NBT guides and operators, including on maximizing the positive environmental and socio-economic benefits. • E-learning tools for training and professional developing for tourism, and practical applications for use in remote rural areas (e.g., linked to systems like Lobster Ink). Networks and institutions • Networks in North African and Arab countries on NBT. legal hunting, and to present evidence to support decision makers. Addressing hunting and poaching would be 7.2 Providing a Home for compatible with the World Bank’s work on illegal wildlife Resources trade (including its role in the International Consortium on Combatting Wildlife Crime) and the Global Wildlife This analysis highlights the challenge in the dissemination Program’s work on human wildlife conflict. and awareness raising of materials that are already in the public domain. By using the interactive e-book platform, Finally, the cross-cutting issues of gender and digital the aim of this report is to make it easier for practitioners technology within nature-based tourism require further to use a search function and be able to filter out only those research. The global tourism workforce has a high resources that are applicable to their project or site. The proportion of women employees, demonstrating its ability database will be updated and be accessible to a wide to generate revenue for women in poor communities; audience to avoid inefficiencies and duplication of efforts. however, gender inequality persists.64 Digital and technological innovations offer opportunities for tourism The e-book will be the home for NBT resources and tools. enterprises to expand market access, such as through online booking platforms, but its use and efficacy in rural, natural areas needs to be further studied. 82 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 8 Endnotes 83 Endnotes Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism Section 2: Background 1 Héctor Ceballos-Lascuráin, Tourism, ecotourism and protected areas: The state of nature-based tourism around the world and guidelines for its development (IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge UK, 1996). 2 Xavier Font, Janet Cochrane, and Richard Tapper, ”Pay per view: understanding tourism revenues for effective management plans” (Leeds, UK: Leeds Metropolitan University, report for the WWF, 2004). 3 Yu-Fai Leung et al., ”Tourism and visitor management in protected areas: Guidelines for sustainability”, Best Practice Protected Area Guideline Series No. 27 (IUCN, Geneva, 2018), https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/47918. 4 Yu-Fai Leung et al., ”Tourism and visitor management in protected areas: Guidelines for sustainability”, Best Practice Protected Area Guideline Series No. 27 (IUCN, Geneva, 2018), https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/47918. 5 Dilys Roe, Nigel Leader-Williams, and Barry Dalal-Clayton, “Take Only Photographs, Leave Only Footprints: The Environmental Impacts of Wildlife Tourism”, IIED Wildlife and Environment Development Series No. 10 (IIED, 1997). 6 “Wildlife Tourism”, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_tourism. 7 “Geotourism”, National Geographic, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps/geotourism/. 8 Louise D. Twining-Ward et al., “Supporting sustainable livelihoods through wildlife tourism (English)”, Tourism for Development Knowledge Series (Washington, DC: World Bank Group, 2018), http://documents.worldbank.org/ curated/en/494211519848647950/Supporting-sustainable-livelihoods-through-wildlife-tourism. Section 3: Why is Nature-Based Tourism Important? 9 Making Tourism More Sustainable, A Guide for Policy Makers (Madrid, Spain: UNEP and UNWTO, 2005). 10 Using Google, Google Scholar, ResearchGate and social media. 11 The website of the World Travel & Tourism Council, https://www.wttc.org, accessed 15 June 2019. 12 Yu-Fai Leung et al., ”Tourism and visitor management in protected areas: Guidelines for sustainability”, Best Practice Protected Area Guideline Series No. 27 (IUCN, Geneva, 2018), https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/47918.; Hannah Nielsen and Anna Spenceley, “The Success of Tourism in Rwanda: Gorillas and More”, in: Punam Chuhan-Pole and Manka Angwafo (eds.) “Yes Africa Can: Success Stories from a Dynamic Continent”, (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2011). 13 “Ramping up Nature-based Tourism to protect Biodiversity and Boost Livelihoods”, (Washington, DC: World Bank Group, 2017), https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2017/05/22/ramping-up-nature-based-tourism-to- protect-biodiversity-and-boost-livelihoods. 14 Anna Spenceley, “COVID-19 and protected area tourism: A spotlight on impacts and options in Africa” (EU DEVCO, Eurata Consortium, forthcoming). 15 The website of the World Travel & Tourism Council, WTTC (2020) WTTC members COVID-19 hub, from https://wttc. org/en-us/COVID-19/Member-Hub, accessed on 7 May 2020. 16 “Ramping up Nature-based Tourism to protect Biodiversity and Boost Livelihoods”, (Washington, DC: World Bank Group, 2017), https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2017/05/22/ramping-up-nature-based-tourism-to- protect-biodiversity-and-boost-livelihoods. 17 The GWP works across 32 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to support actions on the ground to combat illegal wildlife trade and promote wildlife-based economies. 18 André Rodriguez de Aquino and Carmen Lahoz Rallo, “Sharing Paradise: Nature-Based Tourism in Mozambique.” World Bank Blogs, December 11, 2017, https://blogs.worldbank.org/nasikiliza/sharing-paradise-nature-based- tourism-in-mozambique. 19 “Ramping up Nature-based Tourism to protect Biodiversity and Boost Livelihoods”, (Washington, DC: World Bank Group, 2017), https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2017/05/22/ramping-up-nature-based-tourism-to- protect-biodiversity-and-boost-livelihoods. 84 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 20 “Harnessing the Potential of Nature-Based Tourism for Poverty Reduction”, (Washington, DC: World Bank Group, 2015), https://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/137751449520243805/ENR-2015-Nature-Based-Tourism.pdf. 21 “Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals – Journey to 2030, Highlights” (UNWTO, 2017). 22 “Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals – Journey to 2030, Highlights” (UNWTO, 2017). 23 “Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Targets” (CBD, 2010), https://www.cbd.int/doc/strategic- plan/2011-2020/Aichi-Targets-EN.pdf, accessed 15 February 2017; Leung, ”Tourism and visitor management”. Section 4: Tools and Resources 24 Yu-Fai Leung et al., ”Tourism and visitor management in protected areas: Guidelines for sustainability”, Best Practice Protected Area Guideline Series No. 27 (IUCN, Geneva, 2018), https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/47918.; Hannah Nielsen and Anna Spenceley, “The Success of Tourism in Rwanda: Gorillas and More”, in: Punam Chuhan-Pole and Manka Angwafo (eds.) “Yes Africa Can: Success Stories from a Dynamic Continent”, (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2011). 25 Louise D. Twining-Ward et al., “Supporting sustainable livelihoods through wildlife tourism (English)”, Tourism for Development knowledge series (Washington, DC: World Bank Group, 2018). 26 Anna Spenceley and Edward W. (Ted) Manning, “Ecotourism: planning for rural development in developing nations”, In: Roy Ballantyne and Jan Packer (eds) The International Handbook on Ecotourism (Edward Elgar Pub, 2013). 27 “Baseline Report on the Integration of Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns into Tourism Policies” table 1.2, 22 (Madrid: UNWTO, 2019). 28 Anna Spenceley and Edward W. (Ted) Manning, “Ecotourism: planning for rural development in developing nations”, In: Roy Ballantyne and Jan Packer (eds) The International Handbook on Ecotourism (Edward Elgar Pub, 2013), chap. 23. 29 Julianna Priskin “Assessment of natural resources for nature-based tourism: The case of the Central Coast Region of Western Australia”, Tourism Management (2001), 22 (6), 637-648. 30 Anna Spenceley, Susan Snyman, and Paul Eagles, “Guidelines for tourism partnerships and concessions for protected areas: Generating sustainable revenues for conservation and development” (Report to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and IUCN, 2017). 31 Spenceley, Snyman, and Eagles, “Guidelines for tourism partnerships”. Anna Spenceley, Susan Snyman, and Paul Eagles, “Guidelines for tourism partnerships and concessions for protected areas: Generating sustainable revenues for conservation and development” (Report to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and IUCN, 2017). 32 Note that this is not yet finalized. 33 This used to be available on http://www.s-an-d.co.za/test/Anchor/index.asp, www.tourisminvest.org but is now offline. I have all of the files. 34 This tool was developed by Delano Caras, and has been modified by World Bank Consultant Peter John Massyn and others for application in destination including South Africa (Madikwe and iSimangaliso) and in Rwanda (Nyungwe). 35 Megan Epler Wood, “Best practice for tourism concessions in protected areas: Case studies from Latin America” (DAI Project 1000282, 2010). 36 The website of Global Sustainable Tourism Council, https://www.gstcouncil.org/gstc-criteria/glossary/. 37 Xavier Font, Janet Cochrane, and Richard Tapper, ”Pay per view: understanding tourism revenues for effective management plans” (Leeds, UK: Leeds Metropolitan University, report for the WWF, 2004). 38 Megan Epler Wood, Mark Milstein, and Kathleen Ahamed-Broadhurst, “Destinations at Risk: The Invisible Burden of Tourism” (Travel Foundation, Cornell University’s Centre for Sustainable Global Enterprise and EplerWood International, 2019). 39 Yu-Fai Leung et al., ”Tourism and visitor management in protected areas: Guidelines for sustainability”, Best Practice Protected Area Guideline Series No. 27 (IUCN, Geneva, 2018), https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/47918; Hannah Nielsen and Anna Spenceley, “The Success of Tourism in Rwanda: Gorillas and More”, in: Punam Chuhan-Pole and Manka Angwafo (eds.) “Yes Africa Can: Success Stories from a Dynamic Continent”, (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2011), 231-249. 85 Endnotes Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 40 “National Park Service Active Transportation Guidebook”, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/transportation/upload/ UPDATED_NPS_Guidebook_July2018_Final_UpdateSept2018-WEB_lowres-2.pdf. 41 Yu-Fai Leung et al., ”Tourism and visitor management in protected areas: Guidelines for sustainability”, Best Practice Protected Area Guideline Series No. 27 (IUCN, Geneva, 2018), https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/47918; Hannah Nielsen and Anna Spenceley, “The Success of Tourism in Rwanda: Gorillas and More”, in: Punam Chuhan-Pole and Manka Angwafo (eds.) “Yes Africa Can: Success Stories from a Dynamic Continent”, (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2011). 42 Anna Spenceley et al., “Visitor management”. In: Graeme L. Worboys et al. (eds) Protected Area Governance and Management (ANU Press, Canberra, 2015). 43 Ann Koontz, “The Conservation Marketing Equation: A manual for conservation and development professionals” (EnterpriseWorks/VITA, USAID, 2008). 44 Examples from Natasha Daly, “The hidden cost of wildlife tourism.” National Geographic, June 2019 issue, https:// www. nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/06/global-wildlife-tourism-social-media-causes-animal-suffering/ and “Animals in tourism”, Tourism Concern 2017, https://www.travindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Animals- in- Tourism-lWeb-FINAL-1.pdf. 45 Examples from Tom P. Moorhouse et al., “The customer isn’t always right—conservation and animal welfare implications of the increasing demand for wildlife tourism”. PloS One, 2015, 10(10), e0138939; Tom P. Moorhouse, Neil C. D’Cruze, and David W. Macdonald, “Unethical use of wildlife in tourism: what’s the problem, who is responsible, and what can be done?”, Journal of Sustainable Tourism 2017, 25(4), 505-516; Jessica Bell Rizzolo and Gay A. Bradshaw, “Human leisure/ elephant breakdown: Impacts of tourism on Asian elephants”, In: Neil Carr and Janette Young (eds.) Wild Animals and Leisure (Routledge, 2018), 129-147. 46 Adapted from Yu-Fai Leung et al., ”Tourism and visitor management in protected areas: Guidelines for sustainability”, Best Practice Protected Area Guideline Series No. 27 (IUCN, Geneva, 2018), https://portals.iucn.org/library/ node/47918; Hannah Nielsen and Anna Spenceley, “The Success of Tourism in Rwanda: Gorillas and More”, in: Punam Chuhan-Pole and Manka Angwafo (eds.) “Yes Africa Can: Success Stories from a Dynamic Continent”, (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2011). 47 Adapted from Yu-Fai Leung et al., ”Tourism and visitor management in protected areas: Guidelines for sustainability”, Best Practice Protected Area Guideline Series No. 27 (IUCN, Geneva, 2018), https://portals.iucn.org/library/ node/47918; Hannah Nielsen and Anna Spenceley, “The Success of Tourism in Rwanda: Gorillas and More”, in: Punam Chuhan-Pole and Manka Angwafo (eds.) “Yes Africa Can: Success Stories from a Dynamic Continent”, (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2011). 48 Adapted from Anna Spenceley, Andrew Rylance, and Sadiki Laiser, ”Protected area entrance fees in Tanzania: The search for competitiveness and value for money” (Koedoe, Aosis Publishing, 2017), 59(1), a1442, https://doi. org/10.4102/koedoe. v59i1.1442. 49 The website of the National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.html. 50 Jonathan Mitchell, Jodie Keane, and Jenny Laidlaw, “Making success work for the poor: Package tourism in Northern Tanzania” (ODI and SNV, 2009), https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/4203. pdf. 51 “Maximising the value of birds and wildlife for tourism: A guide for tourism businesses in the Rift Valley/Red Sea Flyway” (Responsible Hospitality Partnership for Birdlife International, 2015); Duan Biggs et al., “The value of avitourism for conservation and job creation – an analysis from South Africa” Conservation and Society, 2011, 9 (1), 80- 90. 52 Adapted from Yu-Fai Leung et al., ”Tourism and visitor management in protected areas: Guidelines for sustainability”, Best Practice Protected Area Guideline Series No. 27 (IUCN, Geneva, 2018), https://portals.iucn.org/library/ node/47918; Hannah Nielsen and Anna Spenceley, “The Success of Tourism in Rwanda: Gorillas and More”, in: Punam Chuhan-Pole and Manka Angwafo (eds.) “Yes Africa Can: Success Stories from a Dynamic Continent”, (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2011). 53 Anna Spenceley, “Impacts of wildlife tourism on rural livelihoods in southern Africa”, In: Anna Spenceley (ed) Responsible Tourism: Critical issues for conservation and development (Earthscan: London & Sterling VA, 2008), 159- 186. 54 Anna Spenceley, “Impacts of wildlife tourism on rural livelihoods in southern Africa”, In: Anna Spenceley (ed) Responsible Tourism: Critical issues for conservation and development (Earthscan: London & Sterling VA, 2008), 285-30. 86 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 55 Anna Spenceley et al., “An introduction to tourism concessioning: 14 Characteristics of successful programs” (World Bank Group, 2016). 56 Andy Drumm, Stephen McCool Stephen, and James Rieger, “The threshold of sustainability for tourism within protected areas”, The Nature Conservancy, 2011. 57 Yu-Fai Leung et al., ”Tourism and visitor management in protected areas: Guidelines for sustainability”, Best Practice Protected Area Guideline Series No. 27 (IUCN, Geneva, 2018), https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/47918, Box 5.1. 58 Currently in development. Due for publication in 2020. 59 The website of BIOPAMA, https://rris.biopama.org/visitor-reporting. 60 Martha Honey and Abigail Rome, “Protecting paradise: Certification programs for sustainable tourism and ecotourism” (Washington, DC: Institute for Policy Studies, 2011, October); Rachel Dodds and Marion Joppe, “CSR in the tourism industry? The status of and potential for certification, codes of conduct and guidelines”, Study prepared for the CSR Practice Foreign Investment Advisory Service Investment Climate Department, 2005. 61 Yu-Fai Leung et al., ”Tourism and visitor management in protected areas: Guidelines for sustainability”, Best Practice Protected Area Guideline Series No. 27 (IUCN, Geneva, 2018), https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/47918. Section 6: Networks and Institutions 62 This list does not include private sector businesses or donor organizations. 63 The website of Tourism 2030 Destinet Services, https://destinet.eu/who-who/civil-society-ngos/ecotrans/itb2019. 64 Global Report on Women in Tourism – Second Edition (Madrid, Spain: UNWTO, 2019). 87 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 88 Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism 89