Discuss about the Tourism Development, Rural Livelihoods.
Wildlife tourism can be described as the watching or viewing of animals from their natural habitats i.e. can be described as eco-tourism or friendly tourism, marine or terrestrial wildlife tourism (Rodger et al, 2007). This has apparently increased the rate at which humans and animals interact with each other. It can be done by either people from the same country where the animals belong or different people from other countries visiting. However, tourism has become a very popular and common way to spend money, leisure time and vacation holidays for so many people (Mbaiwa, 2008). In addition to that, tourism has become one of the most industries in most countries from which the government earns its revenue. Also, people have started owning private animal habitats to attract tourists but for personal profits.
Nonetheless, it is obvious that when an issue has positive impacts, there also some underlying negative impacts. In that case, wildlife tourism also has its positive and negative effects to the wildlife itself. This clearly shows that the wildlife itself and their habitats are in actual danger from the humans simply because most researches that have been done are on negative impacts than the positive (Ham et al, 2012). This means that, up to date the negative effects are more known and understood by people than the positive effects. However, despite the fact that tourism faces a great threat that is well known to many, it has really become a reliable source of income for individuals as well as the government. Therefore, this has led to increased development and growth all over the world.
As mentioned earlier, tourism causes great impact on wildlife, either positive or negative. However, the positive effects can be grouped into three main categories which are: Financial contributions, non-financial contributions and education purposes.
When tourists visit the game parks and reserves, they are charged some entry fees, viewing fees, visitor charges, travelling charges among others (Catlin et al, 2010). Also, the individuals who own private reserves and game parks are usually charged license fee and taxes by the authorities in charge of wildlife in the country. However, also incur the costs for accommodation, food and keep up during their trips. This therefore brings revenue to the government, private park owners, tenants and other people who may be involved. In addition to that, most of the tourists from foreign countries are likely to be charged more than the local tourists from the parent country of the wildlife (Ballantyne et al, 2007). This means that more revenue is collected and therefore more funds for management, development and growth.
These are the benefits that accrue to wildlife tourists that are not related with money but rather management, lifestyle, health to name just but a few things. Therefore, when tourists visit the game parks or reserves they will be able to either directly or indirectly interact with the animals which will definitely interest the animals. This is especially during the photoshoots or feeding processes. However, there are the workers at the wildlife habitats like care takers, the instructors and the researchers who help maintain the wildlife by dedicating their lives into taking care of them in different ways e.g. by keeping them healthy and helping them breed (for the animal doctors) (Higham et al, 2008). This would never be possible if there are no tourists and no wildlife.
Tourists visit the wildlife for many different reasons like: for pleasure, to know about hunting, to enjoy, for passion to name a few reasons but some of them also do it for educational reasons. They may have a need to learn and know about a certain animal and therefor e opt to pay a visit and see it live. However, this may be the case just for those with passion in wildlife, the doctors or the researchers. This is mainly for the purpose of knowledge increment (Laroche et al, 2007). In addition to that, in every game reserve or park, there are tour guides whose responsibility is to guide the tourists during their whole visit. These tour guides usually have very rich information and knowledge about the animals so that the can explain it to the tourists when need be. Therefore, this encourages the need for wildlife tourism because people get to learn new things about different animals.
This is when the tourists get used to the animals and therefore gain the courage to feed them by themselves. Therefore, they get to feed them whatever they want which may affect their health and life (Ballantyne et al, 2011). To stop this kind of habit, it is necessary to make sure that no tourist enters the animal habitat with food and no direct feeding is allowed unless with close supervision and instructions.
This is one big problem for the animals themselves. When they get used to being around people they sometimes get lonely and may even get bored if they do not any human interactions or visits especially when they are fed, touched softly or taken a photograph (Clua et al, 2010). This is likely going to change their natural behaviors and affect them in future. To evade this, the tourists are not supposed to be so close to the animals unless instructed to or when need be.
This mostly comes from the tourists travelling vehicles. This happens especially with the animals (like monkeys) living around parking lots or who go all the way to the fence where the vehicles are packed to get food (Buckley, 2012). To stop this threat the car parking lots should be located very far away from the actual animal habitats and their play area or their feeding area.
Some tourist visit the wildlife with an aim and purpose of learning of how to kill the animal. This is especially for the animal with very expensive body parts like elephant tusks. It is clear that currently, increased tourism has increased this kind of crime rate which acts as a great threat to some animal breeds (Moscardo, 2007). Therefore, it is vital for a background check to be done on all the tourists before they enter a country and for the hunters to always have licenses for such businesses.
Tourism impact measurement is done by professionals in tourism, economics, business growth and development. The impacts that are measure are things like income levels, conservation levels, living standards of people, business growth among others. Therefore, the challenges that may arise are: people may not be ready to reveal their true incomes levels, businesses cannot show growth immediately unless after a long time of operating, the living standards of people may not show any change unless after some years among others.
Wildlife management is entirely the work of the managers. Their actions should focus on knowing and understanding the aspects that are related to wildlife destruction and those that cause negative impacts. They should device strategies and techniques to use in preserve wildlife and reduce the negative impacts caused by wildlife tourism. E.g. to minimize the rate of poaching of wildlife who live on land, the business people must have a business license and to reduce marine threat should have ways to minimize water pollution from oil spills and gas emissions of ships.
It is clear wildlife is an important part of most countries and individuals. However, tourism causes so many negative effects to it than the benefits. Therefore, it is important to consider the solutions mentioned above or find other better solutions in order to save wildlife.
References
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