Exploring the impacts of protected area tourism on local communities using a resilience approach

Protected area tourism, while offering intrinsic and tangible benefits to local communities, also presents complex challenges that require multifaceted policy responses. A study examining the impacts of tourism on communities bordering Kruger National Park (South Africa) and Purnululu National Park (Australia) revealed a sense of disconnect between tourists and locals, alongside entrenched poverty and limited economic opportunities. The research, grounded in resilience thinking, highlighted that while intrinsic appreciation for nature conservation exists among local communities, tangible benefits such as employment are crucial but insufficient alone. Negative impacts, including damage from wildlife and visitation difficulties, were also noted. The study underscores the need to develop diverse economic opportunities, build community capacity, and manage expectations to achieve social equity and long-term benefits for local communities.

Strickland-Munro, J., & Moore, S. (2014). Exploring the impacts of protected area tourism on local communities using a resilience approach. Koedoe, 56(2). https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v56i2.1161