Tourism

The Guiana Shield has 10-15% of the world’s freshwater reserves, a virtually uninterrupted stretch of 2.5 million km2 of tropical rainforests and biodiversity that exists only in this region. This region performs vital functions for the world’s climate, the regional hydrology and the preservation of biological capital. Revenue from tourism from visitors enjoying the wonders of the Guiana Shield should be a sizeable part of the economy.

The link between protected areas and tourism is as old as the history of protected areas. Though the relationship is complex and sometimes adversarial, tourism is always a critical component to consider in the establishment and management of protected areas. These guidelines aim to build an understanding of protected area tourism, and its management. They provide both a theoretical structure and practical guidelines for managers.

This publication provides a collection of material useful to planners and managers of parks and protected areas in East Asia. It has been designed to help them think about the influx of tourism to natural protected areas, and to urge them to consciously plan for management of the interactions of tourists and the natural and cultural environment.

A series of articles looks into the problems and controversies concerning tourism and nature. On the one hand tourism is dependent upon nature, on the other hand, however, it often destroys the natural and socio-cultural environment. In the first section representatives from relevant sectors involved with tourism and nature (tourists, environmentalists, governments and the tourism sector) express their views on the possibilities of sustainable tourism.