Linking Culture and the Environment

Table 3.2. A proposed tourism opportunity spectrum and examples of setting characteristics. (Adapted from Clark and Stankey, 1979.)
Setting
characteristics
Management goals
Accessibility factors
(difficulty, access
type, means of
conveyance)
Visual characteristics
factors
(acceptability
of visitor
impacts)
Visitor environmental
impact factors
Ecotourism
Preservation
and protection
of the resource
Very difficult or
controlled
access mostly by
trails or water
routes; may be
very remote from
human habitation
No readily apparent
changes to the
natural
environment or
very minimal
localized user
impacts
Very minimal user
impacts and some
concentrated user
impacts (e.g.
hiking trails and
scenic vistas) but
with few users
Nature-based
tourism
Conservation and
resource
management
Difficult or controlled
access by trails,
water routes and
secondary roads
Primarily a naturalappearing
environment and
landscape but
some human
impacts are
evident
Minimal user impacts
and localized to
recreation activity
areas and facilities
(e.g. boat launch
sites, campgrounds)
but with low
numbers of users
Rural tourism
Resource
management and
some development
Moderately
accessible on
secondary and
primary roads
Mix of natural and
managed
environment and
landscape with
evidence of human
habitation
User impacts that
are prevalent in
small areas due to
site development
and management
plus some
concentrations
of users (e.g.
marinas, motels)
Rural–urban
tourism
Resource
management
and economic
development
Accessible on
secondary and
primary roads:
some public
transportation
Moderately
managed
environment and
landscape with
evidence of
human
habitation
Moderate user
impacts due to
site development
and management
plus moderate
volume of users
(e.g. full service
resorts, developed
attractions)
Urban tourism
Economic
development and
enterprise
Easy access on
highways and
roads by vehicles
and public
transportation
Extensively modified
and man-altered
landscape and
environment for
human habitation
and enterprise
High degree of user
impacts due to
extensive site
development and
management plus
high volume of
users (e.g. theme
parks, retail store
complexes)
Continued
C.P. Dawson 45