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

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Follow ethical principles that respect the culture and environment of the
destination area, the economy and traditional way of life, the indigenous
behaviour, and the leadership and political patterns;
Involve the local population, proceed only with their approval and provide for
a degree of local control;
Be undertaken with 'intra-generational' equity in mind, Le. with the idea of
access to a fair distribution of benefits and costs among tourism promoters
and host peoples and areas, not only now but in the future;
Be planned and managed with regard for the protection of the natural
environment for future generations;
Be planned in an integrated manner with other economic sectors; and
Be assessed on an ongoing basis to evaluate impacts and permit action to
counter any negative effects (Cronin, 1990).
Cronin (1990) places considerable emphasis on the intra-generational facet of
sustainable tourism development. It is necessary for sustainable tourism
development to recognise the contribution that local communities and cultures make
to the experience of tourists and that local people must share in the benefits of
tourism developments. Relatedly, it is suggested that for sustainable tourism
development to become a reality, local people and governmental authorities must
show a willingness to participate, and be allowed to participate, in the shaping of the
local tourism industry. The issue of local community access to the benefits of tourism
development is crucial. This is particularly true for developing countries, as the
general concept of sustainable development recognises the need for economic
growth in these areas so that the quality of life can be enhanced and human
aspirations satisfied. Concern for the protection of environmental resources
(particularly natural resources) could be taken to the point where innovation and
appropriate tourism development is stifled, thus removing the opportunity for the
poor in the current generation to benefit from tourism development. Striking the right
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