Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Tourism, defined widely to include all types and forms of permitted outdoor recreation and visitation to Protected and Conserved Areas (PCAs) including by local, national and international visitors, plays a complex and often contested role in PCAs. While a significant share of global tourism depends on the ecological richness of these areas, their conservation value does not automatically translate into sustainable financial returns. Nonetheless, when effectively managed, tourism in PCAs can generate conservation funding, support local livelihoods, and provide infrastructure investment, particularly in under-resourced landscapes (Leung et al., 2018). Beyond economics, public use of PCAs contributes to building social license for conservation, enhancing environmental literacy, and improving physical and mental health. These benefits underline the role of tourism not only as a financing mechanism, but also as a vehicle for cultivating societal support for biodiversity protection. However, these opportunities coexist with considerable risks: unregulated or poorly managed visitation can result in ecosystem degradation, cultural dislocation, and exacerbation of existing social inequalities. Navigating these tensions requires robust, evidence-based planning and governance frameworks that align tourism strategies with biodiversity targets and equitable development.

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