Ecotourism in marine protected areas: Development, impacts and management - a critical review

Abstract

Marine ecotourism offers contemporary attractive alternatives to marine resource use within marine protected areas (MPAs). The article reviews our current state of knowledge on the development, effects and management of ecotourism in MPAs; identifies factors affecting the appropriateness, success and sustainability of ecotourism in MPAs; and highlights research and practice priorities in the future. Although an evolving tourism market sector regarding its definition, principles, and practice, marine ecotourism has infiltrated MPAs due to conformity between ecotourism principles (environmentally benign, socio-culturally empowering, and economically viable) and MPAs objectives (conservation and development). A growing body of literature has demonstrated both positive and negative effects of ecotourism on the natural, the socio-cultural, and the economic environment of MPAs. The advancement of the relationship between ecotourism and MPAs from co-occurrence to symbiosis requires the integration of ecotourism principles in a sustainable manner. We need a world-wide, comprehensive assessment of the level, nature, and intensity of ecotourism penetration to MPAs. Ecotourism incentive, development and practice are expected to differ depending primarily on the socio-economic status of the countries with MPAs. In any case, self-regulation and safeguard of its distinctiveness from other types of tourism are the responsibility and interest of the ecotourism industry. Concurrently, monitoring and enforcement are the responsibility and best interest of the MPAs management authorities, if MPAs are to be able to accommodate a next attractive alternative to marine resource use in the future.©2010 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.