Ecotourism marketing alternative to charismatic megafauna can also support biodiversity conservation

Charismatic species are the main attractor of ecotourists to protected areas, but this narrow interest leads to under‐appreciation of other biodiversity as well as cultural values of protected areas. Many protected areas with high conservation value, but little funding, lack charismatic species. Exp...

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Published in:Animal conservation Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 91 - 100
Main Authors: Hausmann, A., Slotow, R., Fraser, I., Di Minin, E.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2017
Subjects:
Biodiversity
biodiversity conservation
Camping
choice experiment
Conservation
conservation areas
conservation marketing
cultural service
Cultural values
Ecotourism
Ecotourists
fauna
funding
land use
Land use planning
landscapes
latent class segmentation
markets
National parks
planning
Protected areas
sense of place
Tourists
travel
Wilderness
wilderness experience
ISSN:1367-9430, 1469-1795
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Charismatic species are the main attractor of ecotourists to protected areas, but this narrow interest leads to under‐appreciation of other biodiversity as well as cultural values of protected areas. Many protected areas with high conservation value, but little funding, lack charismatic species. Exploring tourists' preferences alternative to charismatic species may help identify ecotourism markets that are more likely to support such areas. We used a choice experiment and latent class model to explore tourists' heterogeneous preference for biodiversity and biodiversity‐related activities in South African national parks. We found that tourists' preferences were not restricted to charismatic species, but extended to less charismatic biodiversity, as well as to landscapes. In addition, biodiversity‐related activities, such as camping and game drives, the sense of wilderness attached to the place tourists were visiting and accessibility of protected areas, also affected tourists' preferences. Particularly, domestic tourists, as well as more experienced international tourists, were more likely to support initiatives that promote a broader biodiversity experience than charismatic species alone, and were prepared to travel longer distances to do so. Our results reveal new opportunities to promote and support biodiversity conservation at sites where only less charismatic biodiversity is present. In addition, our results may help inform land‐use planning based on public preferences for biodiversity conservation, incorporating sense of place. Charismatic species are arguably the main attractor of ecotourists to protected areas, but this narrow interest leads to under‐appreciation of other biodiversity as well as cultural values of protected areas. We used a choice experiment and latent class model and found that less charismatic biodiversity, landscape, biodiversity‐related activities, such as camping and game drives, the sense of wilderness and accessibility, also affected tourists' preferences in South African national parks. Domestic tourists, as well as more experienced international tourists, were more likely to support initiatives that promote a broader biodiversity experience than charismatic megafauna alone and were prepared to travel longer distances to do so. Our results reveal new opportunities to promote and support biodiversity conservation at sites where only less charismatic biodiversity is present.
Bibliography:Associate Editor: Nick Hanley
Editor: Iain Gordon
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ISSN:1367-9430
1469-1795
DOI:10.1111/acv.12292