La conservation de la nature est de nos jours une préoccupation planétaire. Pour la concrétiser, la création d'aires protégées est encouragée depuis le sommet de la Terre de Rio de 1992, surtout dans les pays des bassins forestiers. Avec Rio, le développement durable devient fondamental. Afin d'apporter sa contribution pour cette cause internationale, et par la même occasion diversifier son économie, le Gabon, pays du bassin forestier du Congo, crée treize parcs nationaux en 2002. À travers ces aires protégées, c'est 11 % de son territoire qu'il consacre à la conservation de la biodiversité. Notre étude est une analyse de de la conservation de la nature, précisément à travers le parc national de Loango, dans un pays qui fonde son développement économique sur l'exploitation des ressources naturelles. Elle aborde l'application de la gestion participative entre des acteurs qui ne perçoivent pas la ressource naturelle de la même façon. Elle examine l'impact social, économique et culturel d'un objet géré selon des normes internationales avec peu de considération des réalités locales. Nous soulignons aussi la difficulté du Gabon à choisir entre développement économique national et conservation. Cette difficulté est souvent engendrée par la demande internationale. L'étude soulève également la question de l'acceptabilité sociale, manifestée par des conflits entre acteurs. / Since nature conservation has become an issue of global concern, efforts have been made to encourage the creation of protected areas since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, especially in forest basins countries. After Rio, sustainable development has become crucial. In order to make its contribution to this international cause and at the same time diversify its economy, Gabon, country of the Congo Basin forest, created thirteen national parks in 2002. Altogether, the 13 protected sites represent 11 % of the national territory classified for the conservation of Gabon's rich biodiversity. Our study is based on the analysis of this challenge, more precisely in the Loango National Park and in a country whose economic development is fully dependant on its natural resources. It deals with the application of the participative management between the different actors concerned who have different perceptions of natural resources. It examines the social, economic and cultural impact of something which is managed according to international standards and with very little consideration for local realities. We also underline the difficulty Gabon faces in choosing between its national economic development and conservation. This difficulty is often caused by international demands. The study also raises the question of social acceptability expressed by conflicts between actors.

Com o crescimento do ecoturismo no Brasil, iniciaram a ser implantados vários empreendimentos turísticos na Amazônia, principalmente nas proximidades da cidade de Manaus, este acontecimento fez com que a utilização de recursos naturais disponíveis na região, como folhas de palmeiras nativas e espécies de madeira, voltassem a ter grande emprego como material de revestimento nas coberturas destas edificações. E em contrapartida, raros são os estudos das variáveis que interferem no projeto, na aplicação e na manutenção destes materiais na construção civil. Em vista disto, este trabalho tem o objetivo de fazer um resgate sistemático das técnicas construtivas das coberturas de alguns Hotéis de Selva visitados no Estado do Amazonas. Entrevistas com construtores locais, observações das construções \"in loco\" e a análise das bibliografias levantadas, ajudaram a identificar os principais problemas encontrados, propondo a partir daí alternativas de detalhes projetuais e de execução, diretrizes de manutenção e reparos para garantir um maior desempenho destas envoltórias frente aos impactos da agressividade da Floresta Amazônica, tendo como parâmetros fundamentais a Exeqüibilidade e a Durabilidade do sistema escolhido garantindo assim uma maior adequação da edificação ao meio-ambiente em questão. / With the increase of the Brazilian ecotourism start to be implantated many ecolodges in the Amazonian Forest (especially nearby Manaus City), this happening brought back the large utilization of natural resource disposables on the region, like native palm leaves and several wood species, for the roof sheathing of these tropical hotels, on the other hand, there are very few technic studies about the variables that interfere on the architectonic project, the aplication and the maintenance of these constructive materials. In this aspect, this work has the purpose to make a systematic ransom of the vernacular constructive technics that were used on some hotels existing in the Amazonas State. From the bibliographies that were consulted, the interviews made with the constructors and from the observations of the lodges\' roofs on site, helped to identity the main problems that were found, proposing from then alternatives of projectual and constructive details, maintainable and treatment directives to ensure a better durability of the roofs against the impacts of the environment\'s aggressiveness, having as fundamental parameters the buildbility and the durability of the constructive system chosen and assuring a greater adaptation of the edification at the Amazon too.

El presente plan de negocios tiene por objetivo establecer la viabilidad técnica y financiera para desarrollar un proyecto hotelero de categoría tres estrellas en la amazonia de Iquitos. La investigación iniciada con un diagnóstico de la situación del mercado externo general, a través del análisis PESTE; identificó un macroentorno favorable para el desarrollo del presente proyecto; por otro lado; mediante un análisis del entorno competitivo (análisis de las cinco fuerzas de Porter) se logró identificar la intensidad de la competencia local y sus eslabonamientos estrechos existentes con los principales proveedores u operadores turístico-locales. Por tanto; ello ha permitido visualizar un panorama competitivo favorable para incursionar en el sector hotelero de la ciudad de Iquitos con una propuesta de valor ecológica diferenciada. Los resultados obtenidos mediante una investigación de mercado (encuestas de campo) ha conducido a determinar que la principal preferencia de consumo en los servicios hoteleros en la ciudad de Iquitos se basa en hospedajes de categoría tres estrellas; cuyo principal demandante son los trabajadores profesionales tanto dependientes como independientes. Así mismo; mediante un estudio de mercado (investigación del tipo cuantitativa); efectuado al mercado hotelero de Iquitos; se ha logrado identificar y cuantificar la demanda pernoctaciones insatisfecha en la categoría tres estrellas en la ciudad de Iquitos; corroborando las oportunidades de negocio en este sector. El estudio económico-financiero efectuado a la presente propuesta ecológica de negocio concluyó la viabilidad técnica y financiera del proyecto. Los resultados de este estudio determinaron que los flujos; tanto económico como financiero descontados al costo ponderado de capital y a la tasa mínima requerida por el accionista respectivamente; son positivos. Lo que implica que los beneficios futuros privados derivados de las operaciones comerciales del hotel ecológico son superiores a los costos o egresos incurridos. Por lo que resulta rentable para el inversionista desarrollar este tipo de iniciativa privada. En ese contexto, la originalidad del presente proyecto radica en la construcción de un hotel ecológico flotante; cuya oferta de servicios plantea una propuesta de valor que armoniza el diseño físico y las operaciones comerciales del hotel con la biodiversidad natural y cultural de la amazonia de Iquitos. Por ello la ubicación del hotel situada a 16 Km al Noreste de la ciudad de Iquitos; entre las intersecciones del rio Nanay y el lago Mapacocha; contribuye a desarrollar una propuesta ecológica de negocio no solo basándose en servicios únicos de hospedaje sino en la prestación de múltiples servicios complementarios de entretenimiento. / The purpose of this business plan is to establish the technical and financial viability to develop a three-star hotel project in the Amazonia of Iquitos. The research started with a diagnosis of the situation of the general external market, through the PESTE analysis, identified a favourable macro environment for the development of the present project, on the other hand, by means of an analysis of the competitive environment (analysis of the five forces of Porter ) it was possible to identify the intensity of local competition and its existing close links with the main providers or touristic-local operators. Therefore, this has allowed us to visualize a favourable competitive landscape to enter the hotel sector of the city of Iquitos with a proposal of differentiated ecological value. The results obtained through market research (field surveys) has led to determine that the main preference of consumption in hotel services in the city of Iquitos is based on three-star category accommodations, whose main claimant is professional workers, both dependent and independent. Likewise, through a market study (research of quantitative type), carried out in the hotel market of Iquitos, it has been possible to identify and quantify the demand for unsatisfied overnight stays in the category three stars in the city of Iquitos, corroborating the business opportunities in this sector. The economic-financial study carried out on the present ecological business proposal concluded the technical and financial feasibility of the project. The results of this study determined that the flows, both economic and financial discounted at the weighted cost of capital and at the minimum rate required by the shareholder respectively, are positive. This implies that the private future benefits derived from the commercial operations of the ecological hotel are higher than the costs or expenses incurred. So, it is profitable for the investor to develop this type of private initiative. In this context, the originality of this project lies in the construction of a floating eco-friendly hotel; whose offer of services proposes a value proposition that harmonizes the physical design and its commercial operations of the hotel with the natural and cultural biodiversity of the Amazon of Iquitos. Therefore the location of the hotel located 16 Km northeast of the city of Iquitos; between the intersections of the Nanay River and Lake Mapacocha; it helps to develop an ecological business proposal not only based on unique hosting services but on the provision of multiple complementary entertainment services. / Trabajo de investigación

S'engager dans le processus de mise en place de l'écotourisme dans les pays en voie de développement nécessite aujourd'hui, une réelle stratégie afin d'aider les décideurs à s'assurer de la durabilité des aménagements touristiques de leur territoire. Plus encore, s'agissant des espaces désertiques, il y a urgence à construire un modèle de mise en œuvre des projets écotouristiques applicables dans ces milieux vulnérables et basé sur le concept d'optimum écotouristique développé par Jean-Pierre LOZATO-GIOTART (2003, p.306) qui prône une synergie entre leurs différents composantes : intervenants, ressources (naturelles et culturelles), communautés locales et visiteurs… c'est-à-dire un "équilibre entre pratiques de loisirs et préservation des territoires d’accueil". La création d'une grille d'indicateurs d'écotourisme spécifique aux espaces désertiques est une approche qui pourrait aider à construire des programmes de développement selon les principes de l'optimum écotouristique. Aussi, l'application du concept de l'optimum écotouristique dans le sud-ouest du Sahara algérien, grâce au projet-pilote écotouristique à la Daïra de Charouine, située dans la wilaya d'Adrar, répond de façon appropriée aux stratégies de développement local des régions du Sud de l'Algérie, dont la grande majorité est cataloguée comme pauvres, bien que leurs richesses en biodiversité et culture aient déjà été recensées.Cette étude de cas ouvre une nouvelle vision sur la réflexion à mener à propos des indicateurs de durabilité en écotourisme en vue de leur application effective dans le contexte de planification et de gestion des projets dans les milieux désertiques. / Launching the process of establishing ecotourism in developing countries requires today a real strategy to help decision makers to ensure the sustainability of tourism development in their territory. Furthermore, with regard to desert areas, there is urgency to build a model of implementation of ecotourism projects applicable in these vulnerable areas and based on the concept of ecotourism optimum developed by Jean-Pierre Lozato-Giotart (2003, p.306) that promotes synergy between their different components: actors, resources (natural and cultural), and visitors local communities ... that is to say, a "balance between recreation and conservation practices of the host territories". Creating a grid of indicators specific to desert areas ecotourism is an approach that could help build development programs based on the principles of ecotourism optimum. Also, the application of the concept of ecotourism in the optimum southwest of the Algerian Sahara, through the pilot project of ecotourism in the Daïra Charouine, located in Adrar, responds appropriately to local development strategies of the southern regions of Algeria, the vast majority is classified as poor, although their wealth in biodiversity and culture has already been identified. This case study opens a new vision to carry on thinking about sustainability indicators ecotourism for their effective implementation in the context of planning and project management in desert environments.

El presente proyecto responde a la necesidad de mantener, conservar y sostener en el tiempo, uno de los destinos naturales de nuestro país, como son las dunas del Desierto de Paracas, cuyo valor se trata de potenciar al crear un Ecolodge con énfasis en la Arquitectura Bioclimática. Paracas, a pesar de ser uno de los destinos preferidos por los turistas nacionales y extranjeros, no cuenta con una capacidad hotelera que pueda satisfacer los nuevos requerimientos en cuanto a hoteles con principios ecológicos. En tal sentido, se plantea un Ecolodge, donde el diseño y elementos constructivos a utilizarse estarán básicamente en función del clima de Paracas que se muestra soleado durante todo el año y acompañado de fuertes vientos. Esta nueva modalidad de hospedaje, se sustenta en principios de conservación y protección del medio ambiente, así como en el mejor aprovechamiento de la energía solar cuyos pilares son la captación, acumulación y distribución eficiente de la energía generada. Se toma en cuenta también el manejo de residuos, y el consumo responsable del agua con la finalidad de poderla reutilizar a través del sistema de riego por goteo, y generando además programas que beneficien directamente al desarrollo de la localidad y sus comunidades. / The purpose of this project is to maintain, preserve, and sustain throughout time, one of the main ecotourism destinations in our country, such as the Paracas Desert dunes. We aim to increase the value of this location through the development of an Ecolodge, with a focus on Bioclimatic Architecture. Given that Paracas is one of the preferred destinations by both foreign and local tourists, its main issue revolves around the lack of hotels that can satisfy new requirements in terms of ecological principles. In this context, raices the idea of an Ecolodge, where the design and building materials used will be selected in accordance with the Paracas climate, which is comprised of year-long sunshine accompanied by strong winds. The new hospitality approach is based upon conservation and environmental protection principles, as well as an improved use of solar energy, whose pillars include the collection, accumulation, and efficient distribution of energy. Waste management and responsible consumption of water is taken into account as well, with the purpose of re-utilizing water via a drip irrigation system. Finally, the strategy will ultimately generate programs that will directly benefit the development of local communities. / Tesis

I denna studie beskriver jag problemet hur planering och zonering av destinationer för friluftsliv och ekoturism kan göras. Genom att utveckla och analysera teori och resultat abduktivt har analys och slutsats utvecklats med Kristianstad Vattenrike som utvalt studerat område. Kristianstad Vattenrike är ett av Sveriges fem biosfärområden och sträcker sig nästan över hela Kristianstad kommun med en mångfald av olika naturtyper. Som utnämnt biosfärområde ska man bidra till hållbar utveckling och utveckla området utefter ledorden bevara, utveckla och stödja och planera området i kärnområden, buffertzoner och utvecklingsområden. För att uppnå studiens syfte att abduktivt visa i teoretisk och analytisk växelverkan hur man kan planera och zonera en destination för friluftsliv och ekoturism så har jag valt att beskriva hur planering av friluftsliv kan göras, om zonering, om planering för ekoturism och rural turismutveckling. Dessa har utvecklats abduktivt med utvald kvalitativ metod för analys av en destination, Kristianstad Vattenrike, och hur det planeras i praktiken för eventuell zonering av friluftsliv och ekoturism enligt tre intervjuer och skriftliga källor om Kristianstad Vattenrike. I studiens resultat och analys analyseras tre frågeställningar för syftet: 1) Vilka förutsättningar för friluftsupplevelser och ekoturism erbjuder natur, landskap samt infrastruktur i Kristianstad Vattenrike?, 2) Hur planeras det för friluftsliv och ekoturism i Kristianstad Vattenrike? och 3) Varför ska zonering användas som medel för att planera hållbara destinationer för friluftsliv och ekoturism? Här beskrivs vilket brett utbud av naturtyper som erbjuds i ett friluftsliv som hela tiden utvecklas med behov och efterfrågan på området, men också med produktutveckling. Det beskrivs att de använt bl a plan för att utveckla badplatser inom Kristianstad Vattenrike som kan utvecklas generellt för friluftslivet. För ekoturism görs vissa näringslivssatsningar men inget som direkt lyckas inspirera till ett hållbart ansvarstagande för företag, men ett par uthålliga entreprenörer har lyckats med utveckling av säsonger för upplevelse av Vattenriket över året. Zonering som medel för planering av friluftsliv och ekoturism beskrivs och klargörs att det är en eftersatt modell i Sverige för planering av friluftsliv och ekoturism och även så i Kristianstad Vattenrike. Efter granskade resultat och analyser så dras slutsatser med studien att zonering behöver en svensk uttalad definition för att lättare kommuniceras och förstås för implementering som destinationer som Kristianstad Vattenrike skulle dra fördel av vid planering och zonering för friluftsliv och ekoturism.

The objectives of the thesis are identify in the current tourism landscape, tourist typologies which are capable of ensuring an adequate level of sustainability, ie that take into account the need to establish effective partnerships between major players in the touristic sector: 1. Looking for practical examples of more responsible tourism forms with resources. 2. Stressing the role played by ecotourism, this form of tourism according to the qual makes your holiday visitors relate more directly conscious of environmental and sociocultural present in the venue. 3. identifying actions to ensure the protection of the environment and the economic take off by traditionally depressed areas. 4. identifying objects aimed at boosting tourism consumption of a natural protected area interpreted as ideal as post-Fordist real space and identify profiles of tourists in protected areas. Also if tourism products linked to nature, culture and cuisine can help to revitalize the Ligurian coastal tourism 5. Checking if the regional system of protected areas has produced results in both environmental protection and endogenous development through tourism. 6. Quantifying the actual supply of the areas studied. 7. Checking if the three parks studied were identified and developed specific objects of tourist consumption. / Los objetivos de la tesis son identificar en el panorama turístico actual cuales son las tipologías turísticas capaces de garantizar un adecuado nivel de sostenibilidad, es decir las que tienen en cuenta la necesidad de establecer eficaces alianzas entre los principales actores del sector turístico: 1. Buscando ejemplos prácticos de modalidades turísticas más responsables con los recursos. 2. Destacando el rol desempeñado por el ecoturismo, aquella modalidad turística según la qual el visitante realiza sus vacaciones relacionándose de manera más consciente y directa con los aspectos medioambientales y socioculturales presentes en el lugar elegido. 3. identificando las acciones dirigidas a garantizar la salvaguarda del medio ambiente y el despegue económico de áreas tradicionalmente deprimidas por el hecho de haber estado ajenas a la práctica de actividades productivas y económicamente rentables. 4. identificando objetos dirigidos a estimular el consumo turístico de un área natural protegida interpretada como espacio auténtico según ideales postfordistas e identificar los perfiles de los turistas característicos de las áreas protegidas. Tambien si los productos turísticos ligados a la naturaleza, cultura y gastronomía pueden contribuir a revitalizar el turismo costero de Liguria 5. Verificando si el sistema regional de espacios protegidos ha producido resultados en protección medioambiental y a la vez desarrollo endógeno a través del turismo. 6. Cuantificando la oferta real de las áreas estudiadas. 7. Verificando si los tres parques estudiados han identificado y desarrollado objetos específicos de consumo turístico.

L'objectif de cette étude a été d'évaluer la viabilité d'une population de Crave à bec rouge (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), dans un contexte d'espaces protégés confrontés à de profonds changements d'usages des sols. Cet oiseau, espèce emblématique, est en effet susceptible d'être affecté par les modifications des relations société-nature, telles l'abandon des pratiques agricoles et le développement touristique.<br />L'étude s'est dans un premier temps focalisée sur l'identification des facteurs susceptibles d'influencer les paramètres démographiques de cette espèce. Le nombre de sites de reproduction apparaît comme un facteur très probablement limitant. Le succès reproducteur est quant à lui influencé par la superficie d'habitats favorables à proximité des sites de reproduction ainsi que par l'abondance des ressources alimentaires au printemps. Enfin la limitation de l'accès aux zones d'alimentation et la réduction du temps d'alimentation des oiseaux, occasionnées par la fréquentation touristique estivale du littoral, affectent la survie des jeunes Craves. <br />Dans un second temps, la viabilité démographique de cette population a été évaluée à l'aide de différents modèles et au travers de comparaisons de différents scénarios plausibles d'évolution et d'impacts des activités humaines. Dans l'éventualité d'une stabilisation de la fréquentation touristique et du processus d'enfrichement aux niveaux actuels, la population semble viable. Mais comparativement au contexte passé particulièrement favorable, la population semble désormais sur "le fil du rasoir", une diminution même légère d'un des paramètres démographiques conduirait à une extinction inéluctable. Compte-tenu des dynamiques actuelles, le dérangement touristique estival semble impacter le plus la population à court terme. Différents scénarios de gestion ont donc été envisagés, via notamment un modèle démographique spatialement explicite, développé au sein d'un Système Multi-Agents.

This study was designed to capture the complexity of man-to-forest relationships in the endangered, world-renowned tropical rain forests of the Congo Basin in Africa. Their biological complexity and integrity have been challenged by human development and new knowledge is urgently needed to save these forests and the people dependent on them. The scope of the study was enormous because of the complexity of the resource, the diversity of forest-dependent people and actors. The major benefit of this research was in accessing and exposing new and quantitative information in remote settlements of the region by applying innovative methodologies and analytical techniques. These included: 1. The definition of forest-dependency based on detailed annual inventories of sources of households’ incomes, their statistical ranking and interpretation with logistic regressions, and the Kuznets ratio and Gini coefficients as introduced by the World Bank; 2. critical appraisal of the international parks in the region based on auto-financing principles and tested with contingent valuation and tax maximization techniques, such as Laffer’s curves, and leading to the development of new conservation models of financial self-sufficiency and a new formula for practical park management; 3. the critique of poaching by explaining and exposing food insecurities, especially deficient supplies of animal protein and associated malnutrition among the rural poor; 4. assessment of housing inadequacy among forest dwellers and its impact on forest regeneration and resources; 5. clarification of the impacts of timber logging by accessing detailed unpublished information from timber companies; 6. the introduction of survey-based valuation techniques as essential prerequisites to policy formulation and the sustainable management of forests; 7. proposing a flow chart that embraced the resources and stakeholders through the flow of market values and services for further exploration. Contrary to traditional beliefs; the results showed that both poor and wealthy households are equally dependent on forest resources for their livelihoods with no significant difference in consumed forest products between the 25% higher income earners and the 25% lower income households. Forests contribute over 57% of wage income in the region and forest-derived income is of a higher total value than any other source, including agriculture. Among forest foods, wild fruit and bushmeat are by far the most important. Therefore, the clearing of forests for agriculture or instituting conservation policies that completely keep local people away from forests will result in constrained access to resources of immense importance to local livelihoods. However, the findings contradict the commonly propagated views that timber harvesting in the region is directly responsible for deforestation, the loss of forest structure and biodiversity. It was shown that the harvesting of saplings and poles for housing may endanger forest regeneration and species composition of forests neighbouring the villages. The desired financing of national parks should be through internally generated revenues, requiring deliberate investments in facilities and infrastructure. The necessity to satisfy the basic needs of the forest-dependent people remains urgent. The complexity of man-to-forest relationships is beyond one study and needs to be further expanded on, in our quest to sustainable forest management based on participatory principles. Such management needs to provide for and be supported by various stakeholders including the local communities, state agencies, donors, NGOs, and commercial conglomerates. Moreover, the need to understand forest values beyond market principles is required in order to translate the concept of sustainable forest management from a theoretical concept in the Congo Basin to one that can reduce conflicts, deforestation, poverty and famine.

Tourism comprises the world's largest industry, and beaches (marine tourism) are considered as one of the major tourism attractions in the world. Marine tourism includes different aspects such as the ocean, coastal water sports, hotels and restaurants, island and beach resorts, recreation, fishing boat operators, cruise ships and charter yacht companies. One of the main contributors to marine and wildlife tourism in South Africa, is South African National Parks (SANParks), comprising of 21 national parks. Of the 21 National Parks six are marine national parks covering 4004.4 square kilometres namely West Coast, Wilderness, Tsitsikamma, Addo Elephant, Agulhas and Table Mountain National Parks. The two most known Marine National Parks in South Africa are Tsitsikamma and Addo Elephant National Parks: Addo Elephant for the fact that it is the only national park in South Africa hosting the BIG 7, namely elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, whales and great white sharks. Tsitsikamma National Park is important as it is the first and oldest Marine National Park in Africa. South African National Parks receive thousands of visitors each year and tourists visiting these parks are a source of revenue for national parks and by determining travel motives, marketing can be undertaken more effectively, and specific factors can be taken into account when the marketing strategies are being planned. The literature review indicated that an understanding of tourist motives is a key aspect in understanding tourist behaviour. If the travel motives of tourists are known to product owners, in the case of South African National Parks, they will assist the product owner with product development as well as its marketing strategy. By understanding tourist behaviour one can understand why tourists buy certain products and why they make certain decisions. Tourist behaviour can be analysed in terms of the purchasing process a tourist goes through when making a decision. Different tourists will have different decision making processes and will have different motives for buying different products and services. To be able to understand how buyers proceed through the decision making process one has to look at the tourist decision–making process which consists of different influences like demographic factors, the marketing mix, internal/ psychological, external/social and situational factors. From the literature review, the following travel motivations theories were identified: Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Murray's classification of needs, Mill and Morrison's needs and wants theory, Push and Pull theories and the Sun lust and Wanderlust theory. It was found in the literature review that there are some travel motives that are found in most of the nature based destinations such as “relaxation and escape”, “learn about nature” and “park attributes” to name but a few. The research, however, also found that travel motives are closely linked to what these destinations offer and it was also found that different marine destinations seem also to have different travel motives. The aim of this study is, therefore, to determine the travel motives of tourists to selected Marine National Parks in South Africa. Secondary data was used to determine the visitor's profile as well as the factor analysis on travel motives. Four hundred and eight questionnaires were administered to the Addo Elephant National Park and 495 to the Tsitsikamma National Park. The data analysis consisted of two parts, the first part was descriptive data and here the profile of the visitors to the two selected marine national parks was discussed. In the second part a factor analysis was conducted. The aim of a factor analysis is to reduce the data and to assist in the interpretation of the data. A factor analysis further describes the variance–covariance relationship among a number of variables in terms of a few underlying but unobservable random quantities, called factors. For this research a principal axis factor analysis with Oblimin with Kaiser Normalisation rotation was performed on the 22 travel motive items. The visitors' profiles for both the parks were quite similar except for the following: The largest percentage of the visitors to Tsitsikamma National Park were Afrikaans speaking and not as in the case of Addo Elephant National Park most tourists were English speaking, The major markets for Addo Elephant National Park, were the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces and for the Tsitsikamma National Park the major markets were Gauteng and the Western Cape Provinces. The factor analysis regarding travel motives revealed the following four factors: Education and knowledge seeking, Relaxation and escape, Park attributes and Family togetherness. A comparison was done regarding the travel motives of tourists to the two national parks to determine if there were any differences. A small to medium effect size was found for “relax and escape” and “education and learning about wildlife”, therefore, a small to medium statistical significant difference were found. This research confirmed that different marine destinations have different travel motives. Therefore, marketers can use this information and focus on individual marketing for each park based on the products they offer. / Thesis (M.Com. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.