Nothing easy about ecotourism
If done correctly, ecotourism can be an important contributor to conservation of a protected area. It can be very beneficial for local communities and generate financial support for management of the park. What are the findings of African Parks, in the ecotourism business for over ten years? “It’s not easy.”
Ecotourism plays a significant role as an economic multiplier in marginal areas. It also provides an important way for people to experience the natural world and emotionally connect to it. If done correctly, it has a positive effect flowing to many areas.
Nothing easy about it
However, there is definitely nothing easy about ecotourism. Every dollar needs to be earned with hard work, both from the tourism operators and the protected area management.
Currently, in Africa it is a saturated and competitive market in which tourism operators are constantly seeking new opportunities. Destination and access are the most predominant factors of the success of an ecotourism investment. Furthermore, each location is unique and requires a specific approach – ecotourism can easily become a threat to a protected area! There needs to be a balance between promotion and conservation, between numbers of visitors and their impact. At the same time, ecotourism needs to provide the local communities with a sustainable socio-economic environment.
Prerequisites for success
As stated above, the ecotourism business is not an easy one. African Parks defines the following prerequisites for success.
Access
In such a competitive market, one needs to be able to develop a unique product that is perceived to outweigh the cost and effort for a tourist to get there. It also helps if a tourist can experience different wildlife experiences and environments in one country, which is the case in countries such as Rwanda, Malawi and Zambia.
Finances
African Parks works in two different ways: either lease out a concession to others within the framework of the African Parks’ Tourism Development Plan or develop the tourism product themselves. The latter may be preferred from a long-term financial sustainability standpoint. However, developing a tourism product from scratch requires risk capital and free reserves that AP, like many NGOs, doesn’t have. Developing and offering tourism services themselves is only possible with dedicated donor funding. Since African Parks evaluates any ecotourism project on more than just its financial merits a quick return on investment is less required.
Wildlife density
Compared to established, thriving protected areas across Africa, the parks of African Parks are more challenging. African Parks typically takes on protected areas whilst they are in a state of degradation or decline. Wildlife density isn’t always at a level compared to established safari destinations. Therefore, the story of conservation behind each project is an integral part of the product and the tourists’ experience needs to be carefully focused on the most unique areas of the park.
The availability of hospitality staff, logistics and procurement
In countries with existing tourism infrastructure, finding suitable staff and suppliers tends to be easier than in less developed regions. And exactly the latter are the ones African Parks is operating in. African Parks offers training programs in areas where suitable skills are lacking among local people, and sets up local providers for essential products (for example vegetables). The ability to source essentials such as fuel or food at local markets can significantly facilitate or complicate running a tourism area.
Political stability and safety
Tourists want to be sure that their trip will not be dangerous, and staff should be safe at all times. This means that sometimes tourism development is not possible. In Benin the development of the first 5-star safari lodge concession in West Africa had to be paused when the Jihadist movement in West Africa grew and destabilized the country.
Program
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Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Goal
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The development and protection of Odzala-Kokoua National Park and a fundamental innovation in park management and nature conservation: the Conservation Performance Cycle.
Partner
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African Parks
Four of the African Parks projects
Program
____________________________
Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Goal
____________________________
The development and protection of Odzala-Kokoua National Park and a fundamental innovation in park management and nature conservation: the Conservation Performance Cycle.
Partner
____________________________
African Parks
Four of the African Parks projects
Four of the African Parks projects
Program
____________________________
Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Goal
____________________________
The development and protection of Odzala-Kokoua National Park and a fundamental innovation in park management and nature conservation: the Conservation Performance Cycle.
Partner
____________________________
African Parks