1. Tourism, Recreation & Coral Reefs Elizabeth Halpenny Nature Tourism Solutions / University of Waterloo

2. Overview The “Big Picture”: impacts of tourism and recreation Solutions & case studies

3. The big picture: Impacts Tourism and recreation are: - here to stay - big business, largest economic sector - US travel receipts for 2001 were US$72.3 billion

4. TIAA (1997) 83% of US travelers support “green” travel companies and are willing to spend on average 6.2% more for environmentally responsible travel services and products

5. The big picture: Impacts Tourism and recreation are: - here to stay - big business, largest economic sector - US travel receipts for 2001 were US$72.3 billion - diverse (small and large scale companies) (broad range of activities)

6. The big picture: Impacts

7. Positive impacts - income generation for MPAs - income generation for local communities - increased environmental awareness - health benefits to humans from recreational activities

8. The big picture: Impacts

9. Negative Impacts - trampling of corals - siltation - pollution (suntan oil, boat fuel, motor noise, sewage, etc.) - increase fresh water runoff - increase in fish harvesting

10. The big picture: Review Tourism & recreation are: -Big business -Entrenched, here to stay -Diverse and complex -Brings positive and negative impacts -Hard to measure, manage, or plan for

11. Solutions: Case Studies Hawaii: ReefWatchers; ReefTeachers; Watchable Wildlife Project

12. Solutions: Case Studies Florida: Sea Smart, Dive Smart Program; REEF Fish Survey Project; Great American Fish Count

13. Solutions: Case Studies California: Coral Parks Program and recreationists guidelines; Protect the Living Reef campaign

14. Solutions: Case Studies Kosrae, FSM: Kosrae Village Ecolodge

15. Solutions Overview Education and Outreach Monitoring Increased understanding of tourism and recreation sector Guidelines Financing

16. Thank you Elizabeth Halpenny Nature Tourism Solutions / University of Waterloo Email: ehalpenny@sympatico.caehalpenny@sympatico.ca & The International Ecotourism Society Web: www.ecotourism.org