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the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...

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dest<strong>in</strong>ations, concentrat<strong>in</strong>g on its impacts on develop<strong>in</strong>g nations. A broad review <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> impacts <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> on a host dest<strong>in</strong>ation's <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong> base is presented,<br />

and a review <strong>of</strong> literature relat<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> growth <strong>of</strong> rural <strong>tourism</strong> and its impacts,<br />

susta<strong>in</strong>ability and <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong> utilisation are highlighted. Lastly, a brief overview<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> concepts <strong>of</strong> Community Based Natural Resource Management and Pro-poor<br />

Tourism are presented.<br />

2.2 Def<strong>in</strong>itions <strong>of</strong> Tourism<br />

Tourism is a multidimensional, multifaceted activity, which impacts upon many lives<br />

and many different economic activities. It is <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>of</strong> little surprise that <strong>tourism</strong><br />

has proved difficult to def<strong>in</strong>e (Cooper et aI, 1998).<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Environmental Affairs and Tourism <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Republic<br />

<strong>of</strong> South Africa (1996), <strong>tourism</strong> creates opportunities for <strong>the</strong> small scale<br />

entrepreneur, promotes awareness and understand<strong>in</strong>g among different cultures,<br />

aids <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> promotion <strong>of</strong> a unique <strong>in</strong>formal sector, creates economic l<strong>in</strong>kages with<br />

agriculture, small scale manufactur<strong>in</strong>g and curios (art, crafts and souvenirs),<br />

establishes l<strong>in</strong>ks with service sectors (such as health, enterta<strong>in</strong>ment and bank<strong>in</strong>g),<br />

and provides employment opportunities. International <strong>tourism</strong> is transform<strong>in</strong>g<br />

previously closed societies <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>sular, "<strong>in</strong>ward-look<strong>in</strong>g" states <strong>in</strong>to an open universal<br />

society where contact between people becomes a daily reality. It satisfies a deep<br />

need for exchanges and encounters with o<strong>the</strong>r cultures. Tourism plays an important<br />

<strong>role</strong> <strong>in</strong> countless people's lives and it is arguably one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most <strong>in</strong>fluential<br />

phenomena <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> economic and social development <strong>of</strong> our society (Vellas and<br />

Becherel, 1995).<br />

Tourism is viewed by social scientists and academics from numerous perspectives,<br />

and <strong>the</strong>refore, a range <strong>of</strong> def<strong>in</strong>itions for <strong>the</strong> concept has been developed. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

first def<strong>in</strong>itions <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> was suggested <strong>in</strong> 1942: "(T)ourism is <strong>the</strong> sum <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

phenomena and relationships aris<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> travel and stay <strong>of</strong> non-residents, <strong>in</strong> so<br />

far as <strong>the</strong>y do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected with earn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

activity" (Perez and Jose, 2001, p. 1). Some hold <strong>the</strong> view that <strong>tourism</strong> is a service<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry that takes care <strong>of</strong> visitors when <strong>the</strong>y are away from home. O<strong>the</strong>rs restrict<br />

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