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

carried unintentionally on the shoes and bodies of park visitors (Romeril, 1989;
Hunter and Green, 1995).
On a more positive note, there are numerous studies in the literature which
emphasise the actual or potential benefits of tourism to the fauna and flora of an
area. Tourism may result in the establishment, or continued existence, of a wildlife
park or reserve, for example. Similarly, habitat restoration appears to be increasingly
associated with tourism projects. Luxmoore (1989) concludes that wildlife tourism
and controlled hunting are amongst the less intensive forms of wildlife exploitation,
and tends to be of greater benefit to wildlife conservation than the more intensive
forms of wildlife exploitation and production. McLaren (1998) states that many
national parks and wildlife reserves in Kenya have benefited greatly from tourist
expenditure and associated publicity, while others owe their continued existence to
the tourism industry. In discussing the network of protected natural areas in the
Sahel, spanning several African countries, Hunter and Green (1995) argue that
tourism provides the national governments of the Sahel states with an economic
incentive for the continued protection of the natural areas. Alternatively, O'Donnell
(1991) stresses the positive role of rural or agri-tourism in preserving the rural
environment and culture of Ireland. Briereton (1991) recognises the development
and upgrading of national parks and natural attractions in parts of the Caribbean
resulting from tourism. Finally, Martinez-Taberner et al (1990) in describing the
major criteria required for the restoration of a coastal marsh ecosystem in Majorca,
Spain, conclude that such projects are essential to maintaining the appeal of an area
for tourists.
2.11.1.2 Pollution
Pollution entails the anthropogenic introduction of substances or energy into the
environment. Pollution may affect human health, cause harm to living resources and
ecological systems, damage to structures or amenity, and interfere with the
legitimate use of the environment. Since tourism (as a legitimate use of the
environment) relies, in part, on amenity value, one might reasonably assume that the
tourism industry has a history of concern over the potential threat posed by pollution
to the success of destination areas. This is, however, generally not the case.
Additionally, the tourism industry itself has been, and still is, a major contributor to
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