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

of people who can use a site without an unacceptable alteration in the physical
environment and without an unacceptable decline in the quality of the experience
gained by visitors" (Mathieson and Wall, 1982; cited in Tribe et aI, 2000, p. 44). This
definition implies that tourism's carrying capacity is concerned with the quality of the
environment and the quality of the recreational experience. Pritchard (1992), in
diversifying the understanding of carrying capacity, adds to Mathieson and Wall's
(1982) definition by stating that carrying capacity is also concerned with the social
and psychological capacity of the physical setting to support tourist activity and
development. In addition, Mclntyre and Hetherington (1991) also include reference
to the ability of the local community, economy, and culture to support tourist activity
in their explanation of tourism carrying capacity. As a result of all the variables
present, it is difficult to accurately measure the actual carrying capacity of a physical
setting. Therefore, as Ceballos-Lascurain (1994, p. 136), states "...actual carrying
capacity can be a judgement call as to the acceptable level of change, both in terms
of the resource and the satisfaction level of the visitors and the local community".
Finally, in order for present tourism trends to become sustainable, there needs to be
a general shift away from short-term to longer term thinking and planning in tourism:
"It is no longer acceptable for the industry to exploit and 'use-up' destinations and
then move on" (Cooper et aI, 1993, p. 273). An increasing number of tour operators
and public authorities are becoming convinced that a change in attitudes and
patterns of consumption is unavoidable - otherwise the economic basis of tourism
would be undermined.
As highlighted, sustainable development reqUires local participation, and it is in light
of the above that the following section focuses on the approaches to local
participation in the tourism industry.
2.13 Promoting Sustainable Development and Combating
Poverty: Local Empowerment and Participation
One strand of the neo-populist paradigm, with its focus on a bottom-up approach
involving local people, concentrates on the notion of a continuum of participation.
This moves beyond a passive acceptance and adoption of exogenous factors, such
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