Tourism Partnerships in Protected Areas: Exploring Contributions to Sustainability |
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Authors: | Sharron L Pfueller Diane Lee Jennifer Laing |
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Institution: | (1) School of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia;(2) School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia;(3) Australia International Tourism Research Unit, Department of Management, Berwick, VIC, Australia |
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Abstract: | Partnerships between natural-area managers and the tourism industry have been suggested to contribute to sustainability in
protected areas. This article explores how important sustainability outcomes of partnerships are to their members, how well
they are realised and the features of partnerships leading to their achievement. In 21 case studies in Australia, interviews
(n = 97) and surveys (n = 100) showed that of 14 sustainability outcomes, improved understanding of protected areas values and improved biodiversity
conservation were the most important. Other highly ranked outcomes were greater respect for culture, heritage, and/or traditions;
improved quality of environmental conditions; social benefits to local communities; and improved economic viability of the
protected area. Scores for satisfaction with outcomes were, like those for importance, all high but were less than those for
importance for the majority, with improvement in quality of environmental conditions showing the largest gap. The satisfaction
score exceeded that for importance only for increased competitiveness of the protected area as a tourist destination. “Brown”
aspects of sustainability, i.e., decreased waste or energy use, were among the lowest-scoring outcomes for both importance
and satisfaction. The most important factor enabling sustainability outcomes was provision of benefits to partnership members.
Others were increased financial support, inclusiveness, supportive organisational and administrative arrangements, direct
involvement of decision makers, partnership maturity, creation of new relationships, decreased conflict, and stimulation of
innovation. Improving sustainability outcomes, therefore, requires maintaining these partnership attributes and also increasing
emphasis on reducing waste and resource use. |
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Keywords: | |
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