Environmental and Cultural Tourism Assessment: Royal National Park

This report examines the Royal National Park, a protected area in New South Wales, Australia, focusing on its environmental and cultural significance as a popular tourist destination. It explores the park's history, attractions, and the challenges posed by increasing tourism, including soil erosion, wildlife disturbance, and pollution. The report analyzes the park's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) and proposes measures for sustainable tourism, emphasizing the importance of zoning, visitor management, and public education. The report concludes by highlighting the need for a balanced approach to tourism that prioritizes environmental protection while ensuring the park's economic viability.

Environment and Cultural Tourism
Assessment: National Park

Table of Contents
Executive Summary...................................................................................................................2
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Tourism......................................................................................................................................4
Issues related to tourism in the Royal National Park.................................................................5
SWOT Analysis.........................................................................................................................6
Environmental Challenges faced by the National Park due to Tourism....................................7
Measures for Sustainable Tourism.........................................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................10
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Executive Summary
This report is about The Royal National Park which is a reserved park and one of the most
liked tourist destinations of Australia. The report describes the history of the park and the
highlights and attractions of the park which attract a large number of tourists every year. The
report also highlights the environmental issues that the park faces due to tourism and also
points out the effective measures that can be taken to avoid this degradation.
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Introduction
The Royal National Park is a national park that is protected. The park is located in
Surtherland Shire, New South Wales, near Sydney. The park covers a total area of about 150
sq. km. It was established in the year 1879 on 26th of April. It was the second of its kind to be
made in the world and was the first one to be addressed as ‘National Park’. In the year 2006
in the month of December, the park was listed on The National Heritage List. A no. of
settlements can be seen in the park like the settlements of Audley, Maianbar, Bundeena. The
best way to access Audley is by road. However, it can be accessed by rail as well since a no.
of railway stations are there at the periphery of the park that is available for the people to
travel from one place to another inside the park. Similarly, Bundeena and Maianbar may be
accessed by the road or by a special by ferryboat service available for the people from
Cronulla.
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Tourism
It is one of the most liked tourist destinations of the country. It has a wide variety of flora and
fauna which makes it a beautiful destination for tourists to visit. In addition to that, it also
contains a large variety of topography. Various landscapes can be seen in the park varying
from coastal cliffs to small plateaus.
The park is also famous for its camping sites like North Era, Bonnie Vale and Uloola Falls
among the tourists which are allowed for camping. They can be easily availed by booking or
simply by registration. There are many cycling, walking trails, and picnic sites all the way
through the park. There is a fee of about $12 if one wishes to take car inside the park.
Some of the park’s highlights are:
 Audley- It is a huge, smooth region at the bottom of well-built valleys of the park. It
was urbanized in the 19th century as a picnic spot for the people of Sydney. A big
boathouse of timber is also there at Audley which is a big attraction for the tourists.
 Jibbon point- The Jibbon point is situated at the south of Port Hacking. From the
Jibbon point, the whole view of the Southern peninsula can be seen.
 Eagle rock- It is inimitable rock formation close to Curracarong. It is a huge rock
projection which looks similar to the head of an eagle-like an eagle’s head.
 Wattamolla Beach- An outsized lagoon inserted at the back of the beach which then
enters the sea at an end of the beach where families enjoy playing with their kids.
Surfing is a great attraction for the adults here because here the water is quite clear
and clean. Parking is also available at the beach.
 Werrong beach-The beach is the only legitimate beach in the park. It is very much
suitable for camping and faces the Tasman Sea.
These highlights of the national park and attract almost 3.2 million visitors every year making
it the most popular national park in the country.
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Issues related to tourism in the Royal National Park
 Tourism is now one of the most important worldwide industries. One segment of the
industry that is rapidly growing tourism and recreation in natural areas. There is a lot
of demand of such places by the tourists these places have comparatively less
disturbed environments.
 The National Park is facing rising levels of recreation and also tourist load. These
rising levels result in an impact on the environment due travel and housing and
accommodation.
 Some of the major impacts due to increased levels of tourism and relative activities in
the park are soil erosion, harm to flora and fauna of that region, water pollution, forest
fire, destruction, and also noise pollution.
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SWOT Analysis
Strength Cultural
Heritage and
rich historical
Rocky Mountain
that helps to
tree growth and
greening of park
To overcome the
issues of business
it has few
barriers.
Seasonality
Weakness High cost of
advertising
Very low
collaboration at
local level
administration
and regional.
Changes to Land
Use
Corruption to
developing the
tourism
Opportunities Stability in the
social structure
National cultural
is supportive
Displays at local
community
centers
Aboriginal rock art
sites are visible
which were used as
initiation sites
Threats Tourism
pressure is
growing day by
day
Changes in Land
usage
Deficits capacity
of the
administration
The national MAB
does not provide
complete support.
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Environmental Challenges faced by the National Park due to Tourism
 The area of the park is navigated by tracks, which helps in a lot of activities like
transportation of food items, garbage, wood for fire and other services. These tracks
also provide access to people for movement either in vehicles or on foot. The nonstop
use of these tracks causes soil erosion and compaction.
 In addition to the direct effect by the vehicles on the tracks, people also use these
tracks for shooting the wildlife of the park and lighting fire during camping. This
decreases the yield of vegetation and nutrition of soil.
 The park contains a no. of beaches which are a hub for tourists for camping and
picnics which may create a lot of waste in terms of left-overs and garbage. This may
also create water pollution up to some level and also noise pollution.
Measures for Sustainable Tourism
 Excellent planning of environmental and efficient management is essential to reduce
the impacts caused by tourism on the environment of the park
 If there a well-organized management with proper planning, taking in consideration
all the factors and challenges and obstacles that can occur, tourism industry here can
become an industry which is low on the impact on the environment and high on
economic benefits
 To decrease the degradation of the environment related to tourism and recreation,
suitable land use, regulation and close observation of the activities of the park is
important. Spreading awareness and education about the damage that can occur from
human activities to the environment and also protecting particularly sensitive areas of
the park directly can also create effective changes towards a better condition of the
park.
 Also, it is vital to offer an enticement to encourage recreation that has a low impact on
the environment like environmentalist and sight-seeing of wildlife by travel activities
and discourage high impacts like aggressive sporting and unnecessary social
activities, use fuel-running vehicles, and accommodation and housing activities that
involve construction and building.
 The management of tourism and recreation in the park must follow these three main
matters that are given as follows:
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a. Zoning- By zoning, the management can decide which areas can be used
accessed by tourists and which areas are restricted.
b. Amount of use- By deciding the amount of use of a particular area of the
management can regulate degradation to the environment. Restricting the no.
of people that can visit a particular area of the park at a time will give the
surrounding environment of that area time for rejuvenation and further help in
sustainable tourism.
c. Multiple-use Management- The multiple-use of management is related to how
the park can be managed in order to generate a good economic return from
tourism without causing any harm to the environment of the park.
 Spreading awareness and educating the public may also help in sustainable tourism.
Many times it happens that the people are themselves not aware of the harm that they
are causing to the environment due to their activities. By spreading awareness and
educating people this problem can be solved. They will become more conscious while
performing any activities in the park.
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Conclusion
 The Royal National Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.
Tourists from all over the world visit this park for its natural beauty and wildlife.
 The park is famous for its beaches and people come here for camping, cycling, and
picnic.
 The park is under the constant pressure of tourist and recreational level that creates
environmental degradation up to the certain level to the park.
 The information available on the impacts of tourism on the environment is limited in
the published form.
 Sustainable measures for tourism must be taken by the authorities as well as the
people to avoid such degradation.
 Proper management and planning, public awareness and education and restricted
required areas for their conservation and rejuvenation can help in sustainable tourism
and reduce damage to the environment of the park.
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References
 Borthakur, (2015). Forest issues and challenges in protected area
management: A case study from Himalayan Nokrek national park
and biosphere reserve. International Journal of Conservation
Science. Vol. no. 2, pp. 233-252
 Carter, R. W., Walsh, S. J., and Miller, L. M. (2014). Global Change and Human
Impact Challenges in Managing Iconic National Parks. The George Wright Forum,
Vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 245-255.
 Hacking River catchment (Map), (2018). Office of Environment and Heritage.
Government of New South Wales. Retrieved from
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/nswgovdirectory/national-parks-and-wildlife-service
 Pelan, K, (2011), Economic Impact of National Parks and related Issues. Research
and Information Service Briefing paper. Pp. 5-10.
 Royal National Park, (2000). Heathcote National Park and Garawarra State
Recreation Area: Plan of management (PDF). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
(PDF). Government of New South Wales. ISBN 0-7310-0895-2.
 Royal National Park, (2006). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. Government
of New South Wales.
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