This research is presented in three sections. Section 1 presents the research report in an academic paper format. Section 2 provides a comprehensive literature review and Section 3 describes the research methodology and methods employed during the research. The tourism industry is the fastest growing sector within the South African Economy, with over 2.6 million foreign tourists visiting South Africa each year. Wildlife, landscapes and scenery are cited as the primary attractions for visiting the country, with over 45 percent of tourists visiting at least one wildlife or nature reserve during their stay in South Africa (Kerley et al., 2011:2). Sixty percent of those tourists travelled for leisure purposes, with 643,883 of the tourists utilising safari lodge accommodation during their visit (Ruggles-Brise, 2013). The Eastern Cape achieved 3.1 percent; of those tourist arrivals, with a bed-night contribution of 734,339, compared to the 16.8 percent (1.9million) and 10.5 percent (1.07million) for Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces respectively (Ruggles-Brise, 2013). The Eastern Cape lodges represent less than half the bed-nights achieved by Mpumalanga and Limpopo lodges. Due to the number of possible bed-nights available to lodges in the Eastern Cape, it is increasingly important for individual lodges to provide a unique experience, in order to be competitive in attracting guests (Saayman, 2013:81). This was used form part of the foundation to this research in determining the marketability of three lodges in the Eastern Cape, which was derived from the attractiveness of the lodges, determined by guests visiting the lodges. This research follows on from four previous surveys commissioned by INDALO, the Eastern Cape Private Nature Reserve Association in 2004 Sims-Castley et al. 2004), 2006 (Langholz et al., 2006), 2008 (Snowball et al., 2008) and 2011 (Kerley et al., 2011). Part of the research was to identify the main attractions of the reserves. These previous surveys provided a foundation for this research to follow on investigating guest motivations for visiting the three sample lodges and to determine visitor perception of poaching and whether it would impact their motivations for visiting the reserve. In order to address the goals of the research qualitative data was gathered during survey interviews conducted at the three sampled reserves. Seventy five (75) guests were interviewed, equally over the three reserves. Quantitative data was also gathered during the interview surveys, utilising Likert scale questions, prompting guests to choose their top attractions, from which basic descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data being able to determine possible trends amongst respondents and lodges. Results verified guest motivations from the previous surveys, confirming that game viewing, especially the “Big 5” remained the most important attraction for visitors to the reserves while the availability of natural scenery and landscape, high end accommodation and service, the proximity to the garden route and being located in a malaria free area were also see as attractive attributes of the lodges as per the previous surveys. Where the gap in the research was indicated based on guests perception of poaching and whether it would impact their motivations for visit these lodges, impacting that lodges marketability (attractiveness). Results indicated that if they were unable to view the iconic ‘Big Five’ at the reserve due to the extent of poaching. Respondents indicated that the impact would likely and very likely impact their decision to choose the reserves over another reserve that could. Indicating the potential impact that poaching would have on lodges if they were to lose their iconic species which would spell the loss in attractiveness and therefore marketability.

Please read the abstract in the 00front part of this document / Thesis (PhD (Botany))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Plant Science / unrestricted

This study aimed to analyse the potential and challenges for ecotourism development and how it can be applied as an integrated tool to provide economic incentives and better opportunities for community development, while improving natural resource management and conservation in Isimangaliso. The capital assets, the context of vulnerability of the local communities along with other significant attributes of the supply side were investigated in-depth. In addition, the potentials and challenges for ecotourism development in the selected Isimangaliso, Khula Village were studied. The impacts of ecotourism on local livelihood improvement, biodiversity resources and natural environment, and management and conservation of the area were also explored through sustainability concepts. However, the focus of the study was not only on ecotourism potentials and opportunities but was also on the development of sound guiding principles for planning and management of ecotourism development in Isimangaliso in a sustainable manner. It was found that community‟s willingness to participate in local development and natural resource management remains a questionable issue to be achieved. This is because local communities are strongly influenced by vertical network of the state administration. The study reveals that there is a strong interaction and interdependency between local livelihoods or poverty and the status and effectiveness of natural resource management in Isimangaliso. The study indicates that the area has plenty of potential natural and cultural resources. These resources signify three fundamental elements for ecotourism destination: quantity, quality, and fascination. The natural attractions consist of vital and sensitive biological and scenic values of the destination area.

Ecotourism is a rapidly growing global export industry that aims to uphold the ethics of responsible tourism by engaging with local communities and encouraging environmentally conscious travel. With existing critiques of the greenwashing of ecotourism and the tendency for tourism agencies to exploit host communities, I advocate for participatory community-based models of ecotourism. This thesis explores both the material and conceptual benefits of community-based ecotourism through the critical examination of community-based ecotourism projects in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. Focusing on the implementation of ecotourism in of some of Rio de Janeiro’s peripheral communities, areas that are impacted by social and spatial marginalization, this thesis argues that the cultural and environmental history of a location are inseparable. When ecotourism is participatory and community-based, it can be a method for sharing cultural and environmental knowledge. Exploring the parallels between environmental justice toxic tourism and community-based ecotourism, this thesis examines the extent to which ecotourism can be used as a tool for social justice, serving to valorize the land histories and lived experiences of communities. Beyond generating money for host communities, the case studies of participatory ecotourism demonstrate the potential for ecotourism to serve as a platform for advocating for land rights in historically marginalized communities.

El río Marañón forma uno de los más largos y complejos valles interandinos del Perú, fluyendo desde el centro de la cordillera andina hasta convertirse en el principal afluente del río Amazonas. Actualmente, su estado natural e importante conectividad se encuentran amenazadas por la propuesta de desarrollar diversos proyectos hidroeléctricos a lo largo de toda la cuenca. Esta investigación, mediante una metodología cualitativa exploratoria, busca analizar la potencialidad del desarrollo turístico como alternativa socioeconómica y de conservación en la zona del cañón del Marañón, específicamente al suroeste de la región Amazonas. Para ello se considera el contexto local y se identifica y analiza los grupos de interés clave y su visión de desarrollo en esta zona. A partir de aquí se proponen lineamientos que permiten la colaboración y el desarrollo coordinado de las primeras acciones para la sostenibilidad, ambiental, social y económica, del turismo de aventura en el cañón del Marañón. Los resultados del estudio identifican las actividades de aventura, naturaleza y culturales como las más adecuadas a realizarse, así como los potenciales impactos económicos, sociales y ambientales, positivos y negativos de la operación turística. Finalmente, se proponen primeras acciones que permitirían maximizar los impactos positivos y reducir los negativos, asegurando el desarrollo turístico, el beneficio de los grupos de interés involucrados y la sostenibilidad del destino. / The Marañón river forms one of the longest and most complex inter-Andean valleys in Perú, flowing from the center of the Andean mountain range to become the main tributary of the Amazon River. Currently, its natural state and important connectivity are threatened by the proposal to develop various hydroelectric projects throughout the entire basin. This research, through an exploratory qualitative methodology, seeks to analyze the potential of tourism development as a socioeconomic and conservation alternative in the Marañón canyon area, specifically in the southwest of the Amazonas region. For this, the local context is considered and the key stakeholders and their vision of development in this area are identified and analyzed. From here, guidelines are proposed that allow the collaboration and coordinated development of the first actions for the environmental, social and economic sustainability of adventure tourism in the Marañón canyon. The results of the study identify which adventure, nature and cultural activities are the most appropriate to be carried out, as well as the potential economic, social and environmental impacts of the tourism operation. Finally, first actions are proposed that would make it possible to maximize the positive impacts and reduce the negative ones, ensuring tourism development, the benefit of all the stakeholders involved and the sustainability of the destination. / Tesis

Studies have shown that ecotourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the tourism market. To date, there has been very little systematic research focused on the general topic of ecotourism development on Indian reservations. This study researches possible ecotourism alternatives on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation (SRSIR) in North Dakota. Choice experiments were employed to analyze the preferences of reservation residents and those of cultural tourists. Reservation tourism personnel and local investors will benefit from the information this study provides. Data for this research were collected through a series of field surveying campaigns. Surveying was conducted on the SRSIR as well as off reservation sites in the surrounding area. All respondents were adults and included a random sample of reservation residents and tourists who demonstrated an interest in cultural and/or nature-based tourism experiences. Results of this study demonstrate an overwhelmingly positive attitude by all populations toward ecotourism development. Local residents and powwow tourists proved to be insensitive to price, contradicting economic theory. Non-powwow tourists proved to be sensitive to price.

The main research objective of this master thesis paper is discovering links between ecotourism and sustainability. The paper is specifically focusing on theoretical potential of ecotourism and its ability to create conditions for long-term sustainability. The theoretical potential of ecotourism is confronted with opinion of experts within semi-structured interviews, which are analysed using framework analysis. The compatibility of ecotourism and sustainability is then closely examined in a case study of Slavkovsky les protected area. The case study shows that development of sustainability through ecotourism (or tourism) can be expected under certain conditions. The case study results also indicate that it is possible to create a simplified theoretical model, which can be applied to other suitable protected areas in the Czech Republic if appropriate modifications take place. More detailed research of individual sustainability aspects recognized in ecotourism could possibly deliver a more precise and specific model. This model could then provide a more reliable framework to estimate the potential of individual protected areas to use ecotourism as its development tool. Key words: tourism, ecotourism, sustainable tourism, sustainability, sustainable development, protected areas, framework analysis

This study arises out of a proposal of the Natal Parks Board (NPB) to develop a 200 bed hutted camp at Cathedral Peak in the Natal Drakensberg. In line with the NPB's stated commitment to the principles of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM), a multidisciplinary group, comprising five students from the Masters programme of the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences of the University of Cape Town, was commissioned to conduct a Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIA) on the proposed development. The author was one of the members of this study team, hereafter referred to as the Masters Group, which conducted the PEIA at Cathedral Peak under the supervision of the Environmental Evaluation Unit of the University of Cape Town.

This study arises from a preliminary environmental impact assessment of a proposal by the Natal Parks Board to develop a 200 bed ecotourism facility at Cathedral Peak in the Natal Drakensberg Park. The author of this study was one of a team of five postgraduate students1 from the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town, hereafter referred to as the Masters Group, commissioned to undertake this assessment by the Natal Parks Board (NPB) in January 1995. The preliminary environmental assessment included a scoping exercise to identify all Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs), as well as a socio-economic survey to identify potential positive and negative impacts of the proposed development on neighbouring communities. In addition, this social investigation served to identify opportunities for community involvement in the project, both in the construction and post-construction phases. The complete terms of reference for this preliminary environmental assessment are contained in Attachment 1.

The Río Pláttano Biosphere Reserve, a tropical rainforest reserve in the northeastern corner of Honduras, is home to several subsistence-based indigenous groups, including the Miskito, Pech and Garifuna, as well as the non-indigenous Ladinos. Communities within the reserve depend on forest resources, swidden agriculture, marine resources and/or small-scale ranching as the foundations for local economies. Regulations placed on these subsistence practices, after establishment of the biosphere reserve in 1980, have created unique and new pressures and resulted in a blend of traditional and innovative resource use. A notable result is the promotion of ecotourism as a solution for meeting the economic needs of local populations while conserving local resources. This thesis documents current resource use in the Miskito and Ladino communities of Banaka, Brans, and Fuente de Jacob, in the Río Pláttano Biosphere Reserve and the potential of ecotourism to maintain both local economies and consumption of tropical rainforest resources in these communities. Analysis suggests that a community-based approach to ecotourism can result in economic benefits and maintain local culture. This thesis documents current resource use (agricultural crops and trees, gathered and cultivated plants, tree-use, and hunting), resident perspectives on ecotourism development and industry, and provides the foundation for long-term monitoring and analysis on the effects of ecotomism on forest resource and land-use in the greater Banaka region.