NATURE-BASED TOURISM AND CONSERVATION Impacts and Criticisms Nature-based tourism is a fast emerging segment of the tourism industry.

It potentially establishes economic opportunities to a particular locale wherein its people acquire jobs which aid in increasing their income and productivity. The economic reward for the community is enormous, given such high number of tourist attendance. The economic impact is directly related to social development. More and more people, tourists and residents alike, recognize the importance of natural protected areas which provide the impetus for improved conservation of species and habitats. However, in lieu of increasing environment awareness of the residents of the locale, tourist pressure has always been a concern as it poses risks and negative repercussions on the environment. Balmford et al noted:
Tourism can often provide a strong incentive for protection in biodiversity-rich areas [8], and formal designation of such sites can raise their profile and influence tourism visitation [35]. However, increasing visitor numbers alone is no guarantee that tourism revenues will be reinvested in conservation [36]. Equally, recording visitor numbers does not equate with the much less common practices of monitoring or managing tourism impacts

Sustainability is also a key issue on nature-based tourism and conservation. But with proper management and long-term plans and solutions to negative impacts, partnered with strong network among government, non-government institutions, and the general public, nature-based tourism and conservation carries with it unending opportunities and limitless possibilities-all for proper utilization of natural resources and for the betterment of society and the environment.

References: Luzar et al. (2003). Evaluating Nature-Based Tourism Using the New Environmental Paradigm Orams, M. (1996). Using Interpretation to Manage Nature-Based Tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. Volume 4, Issue 2

Lopez-Mendoza, R. (2005). Evaluating ecotourism in natural protected areas of La Paz Bay, Baja California Sur, Mxico: ecotourism or nature-based tourism?. Biodiversity and Conservation. Volume 11, Issue 9. Kuenzi, C. and Mcneely, J. (2008). Nature-Based Tourism.