For this report, I am working for the Parks Victoria Agency which operates in association with the United Nations. Parks Victory Agency is tasked with the management of national parks and reserves that are controlled by the government. The services offered are geared towards conservation and tourism. One of the ways to conserve the park is to manage commercial tourism operators’ access to national parks. Currently, the government is managing the operators through ensuring that they obtain a license in order to offer their services. As they acquire the license they also undergo training which leads to provision of quality services (Dudley et al. 2015).
The aim of this essay is to propose a plan that will assist in the management of commercial tourism operators. To kick-start the process, three tasks need to be carried out by the parks Victoria agency on behalf of the government. These include; communicating with the society in an attempt to inform them about their plans, involve the community by asking for their feedback on the plan, and taking the feedback and applying it to formulate a master plan that can be given to the government in the future development and management of the national parks. It is imperative to protect lands to ensure that their beauty, stories, and the heritage are kept alive for many generations to come (international community 2016). The plans are aimed to provide growth in the tourist centers while still encouraging tourism and ensuring the cultural and natural values are conserved (Mike 2015). This will bring in a celebration of the beauty and history of the tourist attraction that will be achieved through storytelling for generations to come.
Background Information
Protected lands are regions that are used for preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of different people. They preserve landscapes, ecosystems, and different species. There are various types of protected lands such as national parks, historic and conservation reserves. When well preserved, they link people to their origin and nature that is not influenced by humans in any way (PB 2012). They also save one generation’s inheritance of nature for the next generation to enjoy. For sustainable tourism, and a successful economy in general, it is vital that nature remains intact. Biosphere reserves, nature parks as well as national parks are some of the most attractive tourist attractions currently. In many areas across the world, protected areas are increasingly attractive destinations for holidays.
Commercial tourism operators are organizations that offer commercial services in protected lands such as camping and wildlife observation. In South Australia, they are required to possess a license (OECD 2017). The requirement for license possession has many advantages; It aids the DEWNR to investigate how lands are used to make sure that the natural, as well as the cultural values of the areas under protection, are not violated. It provides tourists with an experience that is both safe and rewarding (Park Victoria 2016). To ensure that commercial tour operators adhere to the provided regulations, a penalty not exceeding $5,000 is imposed on those who violate this policy.
In Australia, there are approximately five hundred national parks controlled by the state, private landowners and Commonwealth. Due to the large numbers of people spending time in these protected regions, that are ecologically sensitive, there has been intense pressure on these areas. Because tourism is important in any country mainly as a source of foreign exchange, there has been a need to regulate how these areas are used and avoid depletion of the natural resources while still earning revenue from tourist (BfN 2017).
One of the issues that has brought about the depletion of natural resources and misuse of tourism lands is; The presence of too many tourists in the same region all at the same time. This may result from the unlimited access given to commercial tourism operators. Due to a large number of people in the same area all at once, there is bound to be a need for various resources. For instance, during camping, the people will need to use water and hence go into areas where they are not supposed to in search of water (Mike 2015). Because of the tremendous population of tourists in these sites, most of the existing natural resources in these areas get damaged and are quickly depleted. The high consumption rates also disturb the ecosystem.
Additionally, having too many visitors to the parks may result in other adverse effects such as erosion caused by tracks on camping areas, pollution that results from littering, as well as fires that may be from illegal campfires or cigarettes. Activities such as car rallies may contribute to the erosion of these regions. Moreover, these landscapes are not that easy to manage due to their rugged nature which is a challenge faced when managing sites visited by tourists (Cobinnah et al. 2013). Therefore, it may be hard for the officials to spot people in these protected zones.
In certain areas, various illegal activities happen thus leading to loss of rare species or the cultural monuments of a region. This can occur mainly in parks that are close to residential properties or areas with high proximity to urban areas (Karanth & Nepal 2012). The unauthorized activities may include; a collection of fallen timber, native plants, and bush rocks as well as poaching. The Napean park which has a great collection of plants and marine life has faced some of these problems (Mike 2015). All these illegal activities have a direct effect on the parks’ biodiversity and lower the people’s level of enjoyment.
Ignorance is another factor that has led to the destruction of different species in protected lands. People lack knowledge about things that need to be protected. Therefore, when people are in these protected lands as tourists, they damage certain species without knowing their significance. This, therefore, shows that there is a knowledge gap and there is a need to inform people know about these species. This should happen at the local, regional, and national levels. People also need to know the problems that are being faced about the maintenance of protected lands to make them more vigilant and avoid causing these problems (Watson et al. 2014).
However, not all factors that threaten the conservation of protected land are caused by commercial tourism operators. In some cases, lack of proper management of the protected areas is another factor that has largely contributed to the destruction of the protected areas (Padin 2012). The managing bodies of different protected regions do not assess the people who come into the areas to ensure that they follow given standards. Consequently, tourists go into these places without prior guidance on how to navigate while they enjoy the sceneries.
Another factor that is not attributed to operators is climate change due to the myriad of activities that have been carried out by human beings. Due to these activities, there is environmental pollution which hinders the growth and development of particular species. Very many industries release their toxic wastes into the atmosphere in the form of fumes or by dumping it into water bodies (Tavallae et al. 2014). This waste, in turn, goes to these protected lands and stifles the growth and development of various species and ultimately causes their depletion.
In addition, commercial tourism operators assist managers to conserve protected areas. The fee that operators charge can be used to control their visitation thus protecting sensitive areas. For example, during the holiday season and on weekends the fees for commercial activities offered can be higher than other days. As a result, fewer tourists will be able to afford the extra cost. Mostly, people value the things they pay for. Similarly, tourists often value the activities they pay for in these parks and the resources they use. This aids in reducing some of the illegal activities tourists engage in that deplete natural resources (Zurc 2012).
Clearly, operators play a significant role in the park’s operations as aforementioned. Further, in collaboration with the agency they can offer training services to tourists on environmental conservation especially in the parks. Despite this, there is the need to control commercial tour operators who bring tourists to these regions to ensure that they monitor the tourists’ movements and activities. By so doing, visitors will rarely venture into prohibited regions. Lastly, managing the access of operators also ensures that tourists are not concentrated in one region.
Statement of Need
There is a need to formulate a tourism plan to manage the operators’ access to protected lands. This is for the preservation of the cultural and natural heritage depicted in those areas (Jamaica Authority 2015). The plan should present policies that merge the interests and values of different stakeholders. For these policies to be developed and followed, there is a need for collaborative efforts between the government and non-government bodies. This is because different stakeholders in tourism are independent businesses with differing objectives economically and socially (Anon 2017). Nevertheless, these stakeholders have different roles in ensuring the sustainable protection of protected lands. The plans should be independent for each protected land based on their needs and available resources (OECD 2017).
To start with, the government plays a significant role in the development of policies. First, it has created agencies such as Parks Victoria that manage protected areas. These agencies are given the authority to create policies on behalf of the state. Second, it has taken measures to manage operators such as the licensing (BfN 2017). Third, it has provided a favorable environment for all stakeholders in the tourism industry to coexist. Lastly, the should be actively involved in the process to assist in the implementation. Often, the local government should be involved in the planning process. This is because it is directly involved with the community hence can outline the best implementation strategy.
The second stakeholders are the management agencies. Presently, the management practices used by these agencies are aimed at reducing the negative impacts to the environment and making sure tourists behave in the right way (Ayman Ibrahim Kamel El-Hefnawi 2012). Some have implemented rules that preserve the protected areas. For example, there are barriers that prevent tourists from visiting prohibited areas. They also manage the access and activities of operators. For instance, they may allow only activities that will not harm the environment while restricting the number of tourists that may visit a certain campsite (PB 2012). Generally, the rules they set may be used to influence the behaviors of both operators and tourists.
Business people also have a contribution to ensure that protected lands are maintained. This is especially for commercial transport providers for tourists. Since it has been observed that transportation inside the protected areas can lead to erosion, these people should adhere to the rules of these lands (Karanth & Nepal 2012). Additionally, they should avoid destruction of vegetation to build facilities such as accommodation (Briassoulis & Strateen Jan 2013). Moreover, businesses neighboring protected areas should ensure proper waste disposal to avoid polluting the protected areas. Finally, they can use their resources to assist in the development of protected areas by providing donations.
Another stakeholder is the commercial tourism operators. These people provide essential services that make the whole experience worthwhile for the tourist. they are supposed to charge a reasonable fee that will not be too much for all tourists. Mostly, in developing countries that fee is not the same for domestic and international tourists (Ayman Ibrahim Kamel El-Hefnawi 2012). Domestic tourists are charged a smaller fee compared to the latter. However, sometimes operators may break some of the rules set by management agencies. This has created the need for some rules to monitor their activities.
The local community benefits from living near protected lands. This is through the employment opportunities that become available due to tourism. Apart from this, they are provided with a place where they can go and spend their leisure time. In turn, the community ensures that the surrounding environment is clean. In some instances, local individuals own the preserved areas (Stolton et al. 2015). Due to this, the people should be actively involved in the conservation process. For instance, they should report any violation of park rules to the relevant authorities. They should also invest time in training on ways to conserve the environment. Additionally, they should create awareness to other people in the region on the importance of maintaining protected lands.
On the other hand, a theory which applies to this research is the theory of collaboration. The reason why this approach should be adopted is that there is a need for all stakeholders to work together to achieve the desired effects (Ayman Ibrahim Kamel El-Hefnawi 2012). This will involve proper conflict resolution, and a shared vision as the stakeholders come together to ensure that protected lands are maintained (Zurc 2012). One way to ensure that rules and policies are adhered to is the presence of licensing procedures for different protected lands. There should also be fining of individuals who fail to follow the given policies.
Therefore, a plan is needed since it will involve all stakeholders in the policy-making process to ensure all interests are catered for. The collaboration should continue until the policy is fully implemented. By ensuring that protected lands are well managed, the different stakeholders are bound to benefit immensely (Briassoulis & Strateen Jan 2013). For example, the businessmen will gain more revenue from the sales of goods and services to tourists. The government will also benefit from the increased tax revenue from these sites. Additionally, the operators will get to do more business.
The commercial tourism operators should be involved in the formulation of the plan. This is because they may need to address concerns they may have. It is also a way to avoid conflict in the implementation stage. Further, the agency should include local authorities to help in the design process (Karanth & Nepal 2012). This is because they are aware of the issues facing the local communities hence can easily address them. Local tourism departments are crucial in the implementation phase since they provide first-hand information that can be used to carry out the statistical analysis. The national government should also be involved to make the implementation easier.
The agency should consider using direct control as a management strategy. Direct control occurs when the agency sets a minimum number of tourists that they adhere to. As a result, operators who bring excess tourists would not be allowed in. This number can be public to reduce the conflicts that may arise when someone is denied access (Kettunen & Brink 2013). Additionally, the agency can use indirect measures. For example, private sector operators may be required to pay to charge a certain fee to gain access to the park. This may result in fewer operators visiting the park. The final technique is through influence where the agency makes stakeholders act appropriately.
The agency should also consider using prices to manage the activities of operators. As mentioned earlier, operators may vary their prices depending on different time periods. For example, having high prices for holidays and special discounts for those in groups. The agency can create a plan that allows them to collaborate with the operators and manipulate the prices to reduce the number of visitors in concentrated areas (Kiper, 2013). This is also advantageous to the agency since they do not have to deal with many operators when there are fewer guests. Another way can be to use technology to monitor the activities of operators and tourists around sensitive regions such as hidden cameras.
In the preparation stage, the stakeholders are told about the importance of maintenance of protected regions. These are to promote the cultural and natural values of a given area (Kettunen & Brink 2013). The objectives of this plan are to ensure that future generations can learn about their history from these protected lands. People can also visit them and learn about other cultures or just visit the grounds for their scenic beauty (Dudley et al. 2015). The different surveys that should be conducted are to ensure that the plans are implemented based on the needs of the different protected lands.
The strategic objectives of this study will be based on the findings of the research conducted for each protected land. Afterward, the agency should develop the master plan that contains the actions to be taken. These should then be enforced through government intervention to ensure that the provided policies are followed (Acheson 2012). At this point, all stakeholders are called upon to assist in the implementation of the plans upon government approval. Additionally, the agency should request the community and operators to provide suggestions before and after the implementation. Once the program has been implemented, it would require periodic review to ensure that it achieves the desired effects.
Conclusion
To conclude, there is a need for the conservation of protected land across the world. The tourism industry in Australia has many stakeholders that should be involved in the planning and implementation of policies. Notably, the agency needs to restrict the access of operators since it leads to the overall conservation of the protected lands. It is worth noting that the stakeholders in Australia are doing a great job conserving the protected areas there. However, they need to do a more to ensure operators provide quality services and they adhere to park rules.
References
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