Visitor Management Lesson

Visitor Management: On-Line Lesson

This Module is based on the Galapagos National Park (GNP). The issues raised are applicable to all ecotourism sites and the challenges for the protected area agency (land management agency); concessionaires and local communities. For an overview of the Galapagos National Park (See International Galapagos Tour Operators Association). Please review the visitor management challenges facing GNP according to the International Tour Operators Association (See Issues Facing the Galapagos).

Goal of Visitor Management

The number of visitations to a protected ecotourism area should not be allowed to exceed the management capability to handle such private or commercial visits.

Current Visitor Management Problems:

	visitor health and safety
	introduction of nonindigenous (exotic) plant and animal species
	guide training and pay scales
	pressure to increase the number of visitation zones
	tour scheduling
	need for new facilities

Concessionaires Visitor Responsibilities

	transport
	educate
	provide support services (lodging, food service etc.)

Protected Area Manger's Responsibilities

	protect resources
	maintain the quality of the visitor experience
	provide quality facilities

Visitor Management Issues

Permits (Types)

License to operate a concession: a business's professional ability to provide quality tours of a specific type: marine, river, horseback, hiking, diving or lodging tours (See The state parks of Alaska). The acquisition of a permit allows a business to operate using public resources. Protected area managers should have control over permit issuance.

Permits to operate in an assigned area: These permits relate to zoning and whether allowing a concessionaire to operate in a given area will enhance the management objectives for the area.

Guided Truck Tour
Canyon De Chelly, AZ

Park Staffing and Personnel

The presence of identifiable park staff: create a hospitable environment for visitors; ensure visitor compliance with park rules and policies; and increase visitor safety.

Park staff should not only be found at visitor and interpretive centers but on regular and random patrols throughout the protected area.

Providing Commercial and Noncommercial Visitor Opportunities

Create a balance between the areas and activities provided by commercial vendors and those offered directly by the protected area's management. Options to offering more commercial activity within a protected are is to promote the development of private lands adjacent to the protected area.

New facilities offering diverse recreational experiences in less environmentally sensitive areas should be developed to relieve visitor pressure form existing sites in fragile areas.

Guided Horse Tour
Canyon De Chelly, AZ

Zoning

Zoning is used to protect resources and provide diverse visitor experiences. Zoning should be based on the "impact" on the environmental and visitor's experience. Zoning may be based on:

	resource limitations (soil type, altitude, precipitation, unique features, needs of wildlife)
	desired visitor opportunities (availability, type, location and distribution of visitor amenities)

Zones should be established and managed for distinctive setting attributes (what is desirable for visitor density; evidence of human activity; remoteness; type of travel; appropriate equipment and level of regulation).

Pairing Visitor Motivation With Particular Setting Attributes Increase Visitor Satisfaction

Proposed Zoning Spectrum

Rural: areas adjacent to the park.
Intensive/recreational: developed park and local community recreation areas designed for high visitor use.
Intensive/natural: areas with outstanding wildlife, ecosystem, natural or cultural history value but less environmentally sensitive. Designed for high visitor use.
Extensive/natural: areas with outstanding wildlife, ecosystem, natural or cultural history value more environmentally sensitive. Designed for low/moderate visitor use.
Semiprimitive: backcountry or remote areas limited to foot, animal or nonmotorized travel is required. Designed for low visitor use.
Pristine/scientific: high ecosystem value usually remote and highly ecologically sensitive. Restricted to scientists with strict regulations.
Intensive/recreational: easy access to developed recreational facilities. Designed for high visitor use.
Village use zone: traditional areas important to local people for fishing, hunting, gathering and limited resource extraction (firewood, sand etc.).

Guided Jeep Tour
Canyon De Chelly, AZ

Setting Attributes

Experience Settings: activities including swimming, boating, picnicking, sightseeing, affiliation with others, educational facilities, and shopping.
Physical Settings: roads, trails, boat docks, restrooms, visitor and interpretive centers. Areas are "hardened" (designed for heavy visitor use with minimal environmental impact).
Social Settings: reflects the density of visitors and the frequency of encounters with other visitors. Areas offer visitor programs, high level of security and visitor amenities (lodging, food, shopping and entertainment).
Managerial Setting: Area designed for large groups but regulated for operating hours and may charge fees for certain activities. Access to natural areas is restricted by barriers. Extensive education, enforcement and cooperation with local authorities used for visitor management.

Regulations for Visitor Management

Once "zones" are established then regulations for each area can be set. Regulations are based on a combination of:

	carrying capacity
	ecological criteria
	visitor experience opportunities

Use zones not managed for the integrity of specific setting attributes will evolve to heavier visitor use; a more developed setting; increased evidence of human activity; and easier access.

Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC)

Most zoning efforts are based on some type of carrying capacity concept. however, there is no direct correlation between numbers of visitors and negative impacts that affect soil, vegetation, wildlife or other visitors' experiences. The degree of impact depends on many variables including:

	degree of site hardening
	motivations and visitor behaviors
	mode of transportation
	types of lodging
	effectiveness of guides and park personnel
	group size
	environmental variables (soil type, slope, vegetation types, precipitation and season of use)

LAC Process

Select indicators for the management parameters that concern you at a given site in a given zone.
Establish standards for each indicator that set some limits of acceptable change.
Monitor conditions and if acceptable limits are exceeded, make management changes that will bring resources or social conditions back within limits.

For complete LAC process (See Limits of Acceptable Change and Limits of Acceptable Change: A Framework for Managing National Protected Areas: Experiences from the United States).

Trails

Trails are critical in any protected area. The proper design of a trail system will help control environmental impact and enhance visitor experiences. Proper trail design and maintenance will avoid costly trail reconstruction efforts. Trails should be properly graded (not to exceed 6% grade), hardened, sloped for drainage, and of a width consistent with the type of use planned.

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