Tourism and Protected Areas

This assignment examines the complex relationship between wildlife-based tourism and conservation efforts in protected areas. It highlights how tourist activities, such as noise pollution and unethical behavior, can negatively impact endangered species like elephants, koalas, and blue whales. The document discusses strategies to mitigate these threats, including clear boundary demarcation, trained tour guides, awareness programs for tourists, and continuous management of protected areas. It emphasizes the importance of ethical tourism practices to ensure the sustainability of both wildlife populations and the tourism industry.

Running head: TOURISM
Tourism
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1TOURISM
Protected areas refer to such areas where human occupation or the exploitation of
resources is limited. The objective of protected areas is to preserve biodiversity as an indicator
for the progress of conservation. The relationship of wildlife based tourism to conservation has
not led to a positive turn as there are increasing concerns about the sustainability of tourism in
protected areas. Wildlife sanctuaries and preservation of marine endangered species should be
saved from the tourists. However, tourists act as a threat to the protected areas throughout the
world. Tourism is treated as a threat because it is harmful towards the life of these endangered
species in various ways.
Endangered species like elephants, koalas, blue whales are being harmed due to human
beings. Tourists while visiting a wildlife sanctuary tend to disturb these species and make them
aggressive by making excessive noise and unethical behavior. The species get irritated and
refuses to eat. Such behavior of the tourists also changes the behavior of the species. Human
activities harm the life span of the endangered animals. Many a time’s tourists tend to generate
waste inside the sanctuaries or seas. Consumption of such toxic materials is dangerous for the
species. Loss of habitat and polluted water affects the terrestrial ecosystems.
Strategies have been established to reduce the level f threats in protected areas.
Demarcation of boundaries should be given clearly to the tourists. Tourism guides must be
present in the sanctuary while the tourists are taking a tour. Guides must ensure that tourists
should not harm the endangered species in any way. Awareness programs must be provided to
the tourists so that they behave ethically and decently with the species. Continuous management
of protected areas is an essential principle for all the protected area managers. However, the
establishment of a reserve is the start of investment in conservation.

2TOURISM