Biologically-Respectful Tourism - LinkBC

SUMMARY
This report summarizes graduate‐level research undertaken by Catherine A. Evans through to early 2012 as part of the Masters of
Tourism Management program at Royal Roads University.
Her research was spurred by an interest in the relationship between biological diversity and tourism. Evans first investigated this
relationship by reviewing literature and case studies of regions that have adopted biologically‐friendly societal and tourism
strategies.
The bulk of Evans’ original graduate research looked at environmentally‐themed campaigns conducted by Non‐Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) in the Lower Sunshine Coast region of British Columbia. Her use of the critical incident technique culminates in
a conceptual model: Effective strategies for community environmentally‐themed campaigns that can serve as a resource for
organizations creating transformational change towards biologically‐respectful attitudes and behaviours (p. 31).
INTRODUCTION
NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
There has been growing global awareness of biodiversity at risk as an impetus for change in recent decades. Nonetheless, a disparity
persists between what people say they value, and their actions. Given the enormity of global tourism, and its cumulative negative
impacts on the natural landscape, remedies are of the utmost importance.
RISE OF NON‐GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS)
Princen & Finger suggest that NGOs appear to be key actors in moving societies away from environmental degradation and toward
sustainable economies (2004, p. 11). The sheer numbers of NGOs worldwide is astonishing. According to the organization Wiser
Earth, there are more than one million organizations actively working toward ecological sustainability, economic justice, human
rights protection, political accountability and peace – issues that are systemically interconnected and intertwined (Wiser Earth, n.d).
CASE STUDY: THE LOWER SUNSHINE COAST
The lower Sunshine Coast of British Columbia is home to 404 tourism businesses
(Carlysle‐Smith & Evans, 2002, p. 12). Accelerated population growth combined with a
proximity to Vancouver has brought the region under typical growth pressure, resulting in
escalating land use conflicts between economic sectors. At present the region has less
than 3% in protected park status, well below the 14% BC standard, and marine protected
areas in the region amount to less than 1%. Plans for mitigating human impacts are
unclear as the area is lacking both a regional land use plan, and a regional growth strategy
(Sunshine Coast Regional District, SCRD, n.d). The regional DMO (Destination Marketing
Organization) 2007 tourism plan mentions ‘sustainability’ solely in the context of financial
viability (2007, p. 20).
Despite these challenges, the region’s residents display high conservation values evidenced by an astoundingly high number of
active community environmental and social service organizations, most of NGO status. The resulting unique situation on the
Sunshine Coast provides an opportunity to examine the complex relationship between biodiversity, society and the tourism industry
and examine the growing NGO environmental phenomenon.
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