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portation and support networks, is part of and
constrained by the requirements of national and
regional environmental plans. At the community,
resort and development area levels, environmental
plans integrate tourism into overall desired
development patterns �this level should ideally also
include consideration of community wishes and
community participation in decision making).
At the site planning level, the emphasis is less on
environmental planning policy and more on how
the location and layout of buildings and structures,
engineering design, parking, landscaping, recreational
facilities and related uses conforms to sound
environmental planning.
Therefore, environmental planning can fulfil
economic, social and cultural needs while maintaining
the ecological integrity of a given area. It
can assist in providing for today's tourism while
protecting and enhancing the same opportunities
for the future. However, it also involves making
hard political choices based on complex social,
economic and environmental trade-offs. It requires
vision that encompasses more than just local
regulation of polluting activities and/or environmental
rehabilitation after the event, and must
be based upon the following to provide an effective
tool. All of this must be part of an overall approach
to sustainable development strategies for a
region or a nation. It should be cross-sectoral and
integrated, involving government, industry,
citizens' groups and individuals for the widest
possible benefits.
Good information, research and communication
on the nature of environments and potential
developments is essential, especially for local people,
so that all can participate in and influence the
direction of development and its effects as much as
possible in the individual and collective interest.
Integrated environmental, social and economic
planning analyses should be undertaken prior to
the commencement of major project development,
with careful consideration being given to alternatives
and the ways in which they might link with
existing uses, ways of life and biophysical considerations.
Throughout all stages of planning and
development, a careful assessment, monitoring
and environmental mediation programme should
be conducted in order to allow local people and
others to take advantage of emerging opportunities
or respond to environmental change.
The deterioration of environmental conditions
worldwide is of major significance. Certainly, the
planning of all tourism development must include
consideration of its potential impact on the social,
economic and environmental qualities of host
areas. Recent growth in the techniques and
concerns of environmental planning ensure that
economic development is not now an exclusive
goal of developers and host communities, and a
proactive environmental protection stance is fast
emerging on all sides. Environmental planning can
ensure that development objectives, visitor desires
and environmental protection are compatible goals
for any community, at any level.
See also: codes of ethics, environmental;
conservation; ecologically sustainable tourism;
environmental engineering; environmental
management systems; environmental
management, best practice; legislation,
environmental; planning, environmental.
Further reading
Gunn, C.A. �1994) Tourism Planning, 3rd edn,
Washington: Taylor & Francis.
World Tourism Organization �1993) Sustainable
Tourism Development:Guide for Local Planners,
Madrid: WTO.
planning, recreation
planning, recreation 441
MALCOLM COOPER, AUSTRALIA
Recreation planning aims at shaping a desirable
recreational environment based on the society's
preferences. In outdoor recreation planning,
the process begins with an inventory of resources
which are evaluated for their potential
uses. Based on this assessment of site capabilities, a
physical plan is decided upon, involving the
allocation of site facilities and the construction of
access routes to the sites.
There are three popular planning approaches.
First, single-site planning is characterised by a
supply orientation and incrementalism which, in
the long run, usually leads to overcrowding and