Aggie Wegner

Advancing conceptual understanding of partnerships between protected area agencies and the tourism industry: a postdisciplinary and multi-theoretical approach.

This paper reviews a range of theoretical approaches to partnerships working between protected area agencies and the tourism industry. While partnerships are a hallmark of contemporary thinking about protected area management, research to date leaves considerable scope for development, application and testing of theory. The paper draws eight theoretical approaches from the literature with potential application to a study of the contributors to partnership success. It progresses a postdisciplinary approach to partnership research. A 72-item questionnaire was derived from the theoretical perspectives and completed by 100 partners. Analysis identified features perceived as potentially contributing to a successful partnership as well as the key outcomes of a successful partnership. The findings indicate the prominence of institutional analysis and development, social capital, environmental dispute resolution and network theories in explaining partnership success. Given the centrality of partnerships in protected area tourism and ongoing societal interest in the sustainability of such areas, this paper provides vital insights to further multi-theoretical, postdisciplinary research, and to the successful management of partnerships.

Important ‘ingredients’ for successful tourism/protected area partnerships: partners' policy recommendations

Protected areas in Australia are of great importance to the tourism industry, conservation agencies, and other stakeholders. Due to an increase in limited resources and the complexity and uncertainty of the protected area/tourism planning context, these stakeholders are encouraged to enter partnerships. Their ability to work together effectively influences the quality of the tourist experience, the satisfaction of visitors, and the protection of the natural resource base on which the industry depends. This paper reports on in-depth interviews undertaken within a wider project that explored a number of different types of partnerships involved in tourism and protected areas with the aim of providing recommendations to policy makers regarding how successful partnerships operate. Seven key themes for policy recommendations emerged. It is suggested that, by considering and acting on these recommendations, policy makers can provide an environment that is more conducive to a collaborative approach for the management of sustainable tourism in protected areas. It is further suggested that the themes arising in this study have the potential for a wider application in a variety of tourism partnership settings.

Identifying success factors behind partnerships for managing recreation and tourism in urban fringe parks.

Abstract Research has found that urban fringe parks are particularly sensitive to population growth and rising demands for recreation and tourism. High visitor levels, a more sophisticated and demanding visitor, and park budgetary pressures have demanded a rethink of management approaches, including the benefits of partnerships. This paper describes two current partnerships in Australia where the managers of urban fringe parks and other government agencies, the tourism industry, and community groups share management responsibility. The study was informed by theoretical perspectives from sociology and environmental management, particularly social capital, environmental dispute resolution, and institutional analysis and development. Qualitative data regarding the success factors of these partnerships revealed that for both partnerships, important features were support and leadership provided by the park agency, a commitment to power sharing, and the willingness to adapt to changing conditions. These findings may have broader relevance for managing urban fringe parks elsewhere and may also be worthwhile pursuing in protected area partnerships beyond the urban fringe context in Australia and internationally.

Determinants of tourist satisfaction with national park guides and facilities in the Galápagos

Abstract Galápagos National Park is iconic for its biodiversity, its role in evolutionary science and as a tourist destination. Over 200,000 tourists visit per year, leading to tension between development and environmental protection. One way to alleviate tourist pressure is to increase visitor understanding for conservation through environmental education, delivered through national park guides and interpretation centres. This study investigated tourist satisfaction with official national park guides and park facilities. A latent class model of nearly 9000 tourists indicated that older women on cruise tours who had planned their trips well in advance were most satisfied with both. Younger men on short, spontaneous land-based visits were more likely not to be satisfied. However, while creating tourist products to satisfy young men could provide short-term economic benefits, such strategies could have long-term disadvantages if they threaten the Galápagos wildlife that gives the islands a competitive advantage over other sites.