the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...
the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ... the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...
numbers (Appendix One). Investigations into the linkages between tourism development and the management and utilisation of the Okavango Delta's natural resources have been limited to tourism's physical impact upon these resources. As such, they also tend to focus narrowly on resource conservation and degradation, while neglecting issues such as tourist influence in the utilisation and management of natural resources, government policy and planning, the role of local communities in resource management, economies, infrastructure and management constraints (Appendix One). As can be seen from Appendix One, there is a clear lack of research which deals with the complex interrelationships between the tourism and natural resource sectors in the Okavango Delta. The paucity of research on the linkages between international tourism and the utilisation and management of the Delta's natural resources is particularly disconcerting in light of the rapid growth of international tourism in this region, whose local population is still, to a large extent, directly dependent upon such natural resources for their livelihoods. If the Government of Botswana is to develop a tourism industry which fosters environmental and natural resource preservation, rather than maintaining a heavy dependence on limited and fragile resources, a better understanding of the relationship between the two sectors is necessary (Torres, 1996). This study will attempt to employ a broad definition of 'linkage', extending beyond the physical impacts of tourism on natural resources to examine the relationships, mechanisms and interactions between the tourism industry, government institutions, human agents and natural resources in the Okavango Delta. The global tourism industry is of great importance to both developed and developing countries as it contributes greatly to economic growth and channels expenditure from richer to poorer countries and regions (Clement and Kartik, 1998). Therefore, there is an urgent need for research that will extend beyond the narrow focus of the tourism industry and examine the primary elements of the relationships between demand, supply, sustainable utilization and impact that determine the linkages between tourism and the use and management of natural resources. "Additionally, there is a need for research which analyses the profound role of tourism as a global force restructuring rural space and reconfiguring local relations of production and 6
consumption" (Torres, 1996, p. 2). This study not only has relevance for Botswana, but also many other developing countries, especially in Africa, that are attempting to develop and implement local tourism industries. Only through more integrated studies will it be possible to develop viable solutions for fostering positive, symbiotic relationships between tourism and natural environments - a long term goal that is rarely achieved (Torres, 1996). 1.2 Study Aim and Objectives The primary aim of this study is to determine the impact of tourism in the management of natural resources in the Okavango Delta. This study attempts to answer four important questions crucial in understanding the nature of the role that tourism plays in the management of natural resources in the Okavango Delta: (i) What role does tourism play in the management and utilization of natural resources in the Okavango Delta? (ii) What impact has the development of tourism had on the region's natural resources and local communities? (Hi) What are the factors present in the area that influence the use and management of the region's natural resources? (iv) What possibilities exist for the fostering of positive links between tourism and the sustainable utilization and management of natural resources in the Okavango Delta? More specifically the objectives of this study are to: 1. Analyse the factors which determine the impact of tourism on the management and utilisation of wildlife, vegetation and water resources. 2. Determine the impacts of tourism on natural resources in the Okavango Delta. This will include an examination of changes in land use, resource use, rural income, trade, consumption patterns, demographics, production patterns and infrastructure developments. 3. Analyse the past and present patterns of resource utilisation and management, tourism development, infrastructure development and rural migration in the Okavango Delta. 7
- Page 1 and 2: ;q::a THE ROLE OF TOURISM IN NATURA
- Page 3 and 4: ;;;4 ABSTRACT In recent years the u
- Page 5 and 6: TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTR
- Page 7 and 8: 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.8.1 4.8.2 4.8
- Page 9 and 10: 5.4.1.6 Batawana and Natural Resour
- Page 11 and 12: CHAPTER SEVEN: NATURAL RESOURCE UTI
- Page 13 and 14: 8.2.1 Migration in the Okavango Del
- Page 15 and 16: REFERENCES APPENDICES XIV 417 459
- Page 17 and 18: Table 6.15: Room and Bed Occupancy
- Page 19 and 20: LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1: Study o
- Page 21 and 22: ACP ADP AE10 AIDS ALDEP ARAP BAMB B
- Page 23: SPSS STMT TGLP UB UNDP UNEP UNRISD
- Page 26 and 27: Empirical evidence, however, does n
- Page 28 and 29: norms of its people. To date, the g
- Page 32 and 33: 4. Establish the extent of natural
- Page 34 and 35: detailed in chapter five. The insti
- Page 36 and 37: destinations, concentrating on its
- Page 38 and 39: serious academic consideration. The
- Page 40 and 41: Figure 2.1: Study of Tourism and Ch
- Page 42 and 43: management strategies are implement
- Page 44 and 45: Tourism should thus be regarded as
- Page 46 and 47: exchange, investment, income and em
- Page 48 and 49: problem. He states that it is time
- Page 50 and 51: The first assumption is largely bas
- Page 52 and 53: However, as Western (1993) points o
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- Page 59 and 60: Despite the various economic benefi
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- Page 63 and 64: 2.8.5 Environmental Benefits of Tou
- Page 65 and 66: However, as Gunn (1994) points out,
- Page 67 and 68: or displacing another group of user
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- Page 71 and 72: These range from the numerous impac
- Page 73 and 74: difficult to foresee and which refl
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- Page 77 and 78: Pyrenees (Smith and Jenner, 1989).
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consumption" (Torres, 1996, p. 2). This study not only has relevance for Botswana,<br />
but also many o<strong>the</strong>r develop<strong>in</strong>g countries, especially <strong>in</strong> Africa, that are attempt<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
develop and implement local <strong>tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustries. Only through more <strong>in</strong>tegrated<br />
studies will it be possible to develop viable solutions for foster<strong>in</strong>g positive, symbiotic<br />
relationships between <strong>tourism</strong> and <strong>natural</strong> environments - a long term goal that is<br />
rarely achieved (Torres, 1996).<br />
1.2 Study Aim and Objectives<br />
The primary aim <strong>of</strong> this study is to determ<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>management</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta. This study attempts to<br />
answer four important questions crucial <strong>in</strong> understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>role</strong> that<br />
<strong>tourism</strong> plays <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>management</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta: (i)<br />
What <strong>role</strong> does <strong>tourism</strong> play <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>management</strong> and utilization <strong>of</strong> <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta? (ii) What impact has <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> had on <strong>the</strong><br />
region's <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s and local communities? (Hi) What are <strong>the</strong> factors present<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> area that <strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>the</strong> use and <strong>management</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> region's <strong>natural</strong><br />
<strong>resource</strong>s? (iv) What possibilities exist for <strong>the</strong> foster<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> positive l<strong>in</strong>ks between<br />
<strong>tourism</strong> and <strong>the</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able utilization and <strong>management</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Okavango Delta?<br />
More specifically <strong>the</strong> objectives <strong>of</strong> this study are to:<br />
1. Analyse <strong>the</strong> factors which determ<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> on <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>management</strong> and utilisation <strong>of</strong> wildlife, vegetation and water <strong>resource</strong>s.<br />
2. Determ<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> impacts <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> on <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango<br />
Delta. This will <strong>in</strong>clude an exam<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> changes <strong>in</strong> land use, <strong>resource</strong><br />
use, rural <strong>in</strong>come, trade, consumption patterns, demographics,<br />
production patterns and <strong>in</strong>frastructure developments.<br />
3. Analyse <strong>the</strong> past and present patterns <strong>of</strong> <strong>resource</strong> utilisation and<br />
<strong>management</strong>, <strong>tourism</strong> development, <strong>in</strong>frastructure development and<br />
rural migration <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta.<br />
7