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

management strategies are implemented here. The destination represents
the very reason for tourism, consisting of a range of 'special places'
distinguished from the everyday by their cultural, historic or natural
significance (Rojek and Urry, 1997). The 'desire' to visit destinations
'energises' the tourism system and creates demand for travel in the
generating region. Hence, it is at the tourist destination region where the
most conspicuous and dramatic consequences of the system occur (Rojek
and Urry, 1997).
The transit route region represents both the short period of travel to reach
the destination, as well as the intermediate places which may be visited en
route (Rojek and Urry, 1997).
3. Tourism industry: Consists of a range of businesses and organisations
involved in delivering the tourism product. The model allows for the location
of the relevant industrial sectors to be identified. For example, travel agents
and tour operators are generally found in the traveller-generating region,
attractions and the hospitality industry are located in the destination region,
and the transport sector is, for the most part, present in the transit route
region (Rojek and Urry, 1997).
The three elements of Leiper's tourism system interact, not only to deliver the
tourism product, but also with regards to transactions and impacts, and the differing
contexts within which tourism occurs. Tourism is an industry of contrasts, a fact
which can be illustrated by examining two major elements of Leiper's model.
Demand for tourism in the generating region is predominantly volatile, seasonal and
irrational. This demand, however, is satisfied by a destination region where supply is
fragmented, and inflexible, surely contributing to the financial instability of tourism
(Leiper, 1990; Cooper et ai, 1998).
Some of the major advantages of Leiper's model include its general applicability and
simplicity. It has the ability to incorporate interdisciplinary approaches to tourism as it
is not rooted in any particular discourse or discipline, but rather provides a
framework within which disciplinary approaches can be located. The model is
applicable at any level or scale of generalisation - from a local resort to the
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