Harvey Lemelin

The carbon cost of polar bear viewing tourism in Churchill, Canada

This paper examines the paradoxical issues surrounding long-distance tourism to view polar bears, a form of tourism which is disproportionately (on a per capita basis) responsible for greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions that are negatively affecting survival chances of the species. It also notes that the phenomenon of “last chance tourism” is influencing more tourists to visit the region. The paper describes and explains the evidence that climate change is causing a substantial reduction in sea ice, vital for Arctic wildlife species survival, particularly mega fauna, such as polar bears. Churchill, Canada is one of the few places where tourists can easily view polar bears. A total of 334 on-site tourist surveys and 18 in-depth interviews were conducted to help evaluate tourist perceptions of climate change and to estimate their GHG emissions related to polar bear viewing tourism. Polar bear viewing tourists perceive climate change to be negatively impacting polar bears but do not necessarily understand how they themselves contribute to GHG emissions, or understand offsetting possibilities. The polar bear viewing industry is estimated to contribute 20,892 t/CO2 per season. Mitigation strategies, including reduction and offsetting programs are outlined.

Last-chance tourism: the boom, doom, and gloom of visiting vanishing destinations

Popular press and industry stakeholders are reporting a travel trend whereby tourists increasingly seek to experience the worlds most endangered sites before they vanish or are irrevocably transformed. Termed ‘last-chance’ or ‘doom’ tourism in the popular media, the desire for tourists to witness vanishing landscapes or seascapes and disappearing species may have important consequences for tourism management, yet the nature of these consequences is poorly understood by the academic community. This paper describes how last-chance tourism is promoted in various tourism marketing strategies, especially in the Arctic. The analysis is supported through a literature review of web-based information and an analysis of three different studies conducted in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada – the self-declared polar bear capital of the world. The authors also examine more closely the concepts of dark and last-chance tourism, and elaborate on the possible connections between the two. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of this type of tourism and identifies potential risks and opportunities.

Local-level responses to sea ice change and cruise tourism in Arctic Canada's Northwest Passage

Abstract This article examines the interactions between sea ice change and patterns of cruise ship tourism through the Northwest Passage of Arctic Canada and how local communities are responding to this change. During the period 2006–2010, the Passage has emerged as the most popular expedition cruise area in the Canadian Arctic with an increase in planned cruises by 70%. This dramatic increase in cruise traffic has been, in part, facilitated by improved access as a result of decreases in sea ice. Since 1968, total sea ice area in northern route of the Northwest Passage has decreased by 11% per decade and total sea ice area in the southern of the Northwest Passage has decreased by 16% per decade. Integrating research from both social and geophysical science, this article presents an analysis of changing cruise tourism patterns through the Northwest Passage and analyses resident responses from Passage communities including Ulukhaktok, Gjoa Haven, and Pond Inlet. Discussion is focused on issues associated with infrastructure, security, protection of the marine environment, human safety, and search and rescue. This research is important to help prepare communities, policy makers, as well as the cruise sector itself, to be responsive to change in these remote locations.

Goodwill hunting: dragon hunters, dragonflies and leisure

In Asia, insects have a long history of being a part of recreation and tourism activities, with some species such as rhinoceros beetles and dragonflies being raised as pets. While the role of insects in recreation and tourism (i.e. dragonfly gatherings, educational outings) is somewhat more modest in North America, Europe, and Australia, some of these activities are increasing in popularity. The availability of field guides, associations, and websites is helping to facilitate the growth of these leisure activities, and more specifically the viewing of Odonata (i.e. dragonflies, damselflies). Participant observations and interviews were used to provide an empirical understanding of how one particular insect order – Odonata attracts participants to recreation and tourism activities, fosters interests, and creates controversies (e.g. collecting). A theoretical framework provided by naturework, an interpretivsitic approach developed by Fine [(2003). Morel tales: The culture of mushrooming. University of Illinois Press.] is used to understand the philosophies involved in dragonflying. The conclusion highlights how new forms of recreation and tourism activities can promote greater awareness of insects.

Nanuk of the Torngats: Human–Polar Bear Interactions in the Torngat Mountains National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Visitors to Canadas newest national park, Torngat Mountains National Park (TMNP), currently consist of reporters, researchers, tourists, and local Inuit from both Nunatsiavut in northern Labrador and Nunavik in northern Quebec. The national park features spectacular scenery and several types of charismatic mega-fauna, including caribou, whales, and polar bears. Isolated and difficult to access, the parks current approach to managing human–bear interactions, the backbone of which is trained Inuit guides and bear-monitors, has been quite effective. However, as traditional activities by Inuit, and the number of visitors and types of tourists to the area increases, there may be a need by the park management to re-examine current polar bear management strategies.

Two Parks, One Vision – Collaborative Management Approaches to Transboundary Protected Areas in Northern Canada: Tongait KakKasuangita SilakKijapvinga/Torngat Mountains National Park, Nunatsiavut and le Parc national Kuururjuaq Nunavik

The recent designations of Tongait KakKasuangita SilakKijapvinga/Torngat Mountains National Park (TMNP) and Kuururjuaq Parc National (KPN) have established Canada’s newest polar transboundary protected area (TPA) along the Labrador Peninsula of Northern Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. The designations have helped to address concerns raised regarding the isolated nature and fragmented biological distribution, and the susceptibility to anthropogenic disturbances of the area. The adaptive management approach used in this TPA fosters regionally-based approaches to protected area management, and promotes regional collaborative developments. These regional initiatives are facilitated through an all Inuit Co-operative Management Board for the TMNP and a harmonization committee overseeing the management of the KPN. Although the mandate of each park committee is to provide advice and guidance for the management of their respective parks, each has also become an important forum for facilitating more regionally-based management approaches through protected areas. This chapter examines how collaborative management strategies have been implemented at this regional level through the help of the Indigenous Stewardship Model applies to the TK-TBA. Special emphasis is placed upon discussing issues related to effective Indigenous involvement in governance and ensuring local economic benefits to Indigenous groups.

Tourism and animal ethics, by David Fennell

By extending into the realms of animal studies, ecology, biology, zoology and ethology, this book, Tourism and Animal Ethics, provides an extensive interdisciplinary overview of an area much often neglected in tourism studies. Through an examination of the effects of our leisure and tourism activities on animals and their habitats, and what we are doing (or not) to minimize or negate these impacts, Fennell demonstrates how worldviews, values and perceptions affect our interactions with animals. In some instances, formerly popular leisure activities like dogfighting and bullbaiting have fallen out of favour and are largely discouraged through various legislations; in other situations like whale and bear watching, monitoring and management strategies have been implemented to reduce some of the negative impacts from tourism activities; while in other situations, certain spectacles like camel-fighting and bullfighting are promoted as providing unique cultural insights. These activities and why tourists participate in them is the major thrust of this book, with Fennell suggesting that by neglecting these topics we have conveniently avoided discussing issues that are in some cases morally repugnant, in some cases justified and in other cases nebulous. By avoiding these topics, we have, in essence, done a large disservice to the field of tourism. Chapters 2 and 3 provide a philosophical and cultural overview of human–animal interactions through a closer examination of the concepts of misothery and theriophily, speciesism, anthropocentrism and anthropomorphism. By doing so, Fennell introduces us to ideas emerging from other fields and disciplines examining human–animal encounters. Chapter 3 provides a discussion of our “evolving” (at times) relationship with animals, extending from the ancient spectacles of ancient Rome to modern-day circuses and rodeos. The wealth of information pertaining to human–animal encounters in zoological settings and the various discussions pertaining to the ethics and/or need for zoos are highlighted in the chapter “captives”. By noting that much of this information is found outside of the field of tourism, Fennell suggests that this lack of documentation in tourism is most troubling “because it obliterates any external way of thinking about the world – external in the sense that if doesn’t appear in our journals or books it really does not exists at all” (p. 101). Thus, our struggle with examining the links (or lack thereof) between zoo tourism and ecotourism continues, while discussions pertaining to the similarities and differences between the zoological gaze and the ecotourism gaze remain largely unaddressed. In a chapter entitled “animals at work in the service of the tourism industry,” Fennell discusses how animals are used as modes of transportation in various tourism ventures (elephant and tiger safaris in India). The multimillion-dollar pet industry is also discussed in this chapter. The ensuing chapter pertaining to animal combat and competitions is not for the faint of heart, but the author provides us for the intricate details of the physiological and psychological torments that these animals must endure in order to entertain humans.