16.08.2013 Views

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 ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

The concept <strong>of</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able utilisation, specifically from an environmental perspective<br />

will be dealt with, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> project. This will focus on <strong>tourism</strong>'s <strong>role</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> utilisation <strong>of</strong>,<br />

and impact on, a region's <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s. Susta<strong>in</strong>able utilisation requires <strong>the</strong> long­<br />

term protection and preservation <strong>of</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s. However, <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g concern<br />

over <strong>the</strong> extent to which <strong>tourism</strong> damages and alters <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s and<br />

environments compared to <strong>the</strong> levels <strong>of</strong> protection it provides.<br />

The growth <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta region has led to unprecedented<br />

economic growth and has also partly contributed to <strong>the</strong> conservation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area's<br />

<strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s. However, <strong>the</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Delta is also characterised<br />

by <strong>the</strong> emergence <strong>of</strong> 'enclave <strong>tourism</strong>,' where <strong>the</strong> 'foreign owned' <strong>tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry is<br />

established to meet <strong>the</strong> demands <strong>of</strong> foreign tourists and generally fails to take <strong>in</strong>to<br />

account <strong>the</strong> needs and demands <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> surround<strong>in</strong>g local communities. This has led<br />

to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g loss <strong>of</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s by <strong>the</strong> local population to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational <strong>tourism</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry. This study will focus, <strong>in</strong> part, on <strong>the</strong> possibility and options for local<br />

communities to ga<strong>in</strong> control over <strong>the</strong> utilisation <strong>of</strong> <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s through <strong>the</strong><br />

development <strong>of</strong> Community Based Natural Resource Management <strong>in</strong>itiatives. This<br />

will focus on <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>tegration <strong>of</strong> people and <strong>the</strong>ir environments <strong>in</strong> attempt<strong>in</strong>g to br<strong>in</strong>g<br />

about susta<strong>in</strong>able development and rural upliftment, as well as <strong>resource</strong><br />

preservation and protection.<br />

In attempt<strong>in</strong>g to understand <strong>the</strong> nature and <strong>role</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> global<br />

<strong>tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry on host dest<strong>in</strong>ations and societies, one cannot ignore <strong>tourism</strong>'s<br />

impact on <strong>the</strong> environment and <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s <strong>in</strong> different localities. This project<br />

will focus on <strong>the</strong> relationship between capitalist development <strong>in</strong>itiatives and <strong>the</strong><br />

environment. It will analyse <strong>the</strong> negotiation and competition that occurs between <strong>the</strong><br />

global, humanistically orientated forces <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> and <strong>the</strong> local environments and<br />

<strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s that this <strong>in</strong>dustry utilises.<br />

This <strong>the</strong>sis comprises n<strong>in</strong>e chapters. A review <strong>of</strong> literature focus<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> <strong>tourism</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry and its impacts, <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong> utilisation and <strong>management</strong>, and<br />

susta<strong>in</strong>able development is presented <strong>in</strong> chapter two. Chapter three details <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>oretical framework with<strong>in</strong> which this stUdy is located. The methods undertaken,<br />

conceptual framework and design <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> study is presented <strong>in</strong> chapter four. An<br />

overview <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country <strong>of</strong> Botswana, and <strong>the</strong> study area, <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta is<br />

9

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!