Dissertation
Let the oceans speak: The interactive effect between the intensity of wild dolphin-based tourism experiences and high quality education/interpretation commentaries and the impacts on participants
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast
2009
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00595
Abstract
The Cetacean watching industry is symbolic of the global conservation movement and also generates more than $US1billion in 87 nations around the world (Hoyt 2001). The Australian whale and dolphin-based tourism industries have experienced an unprecedented 15% growth rate per annum since the late 1990s, and brings over $29 million to the nation's economy per annum (Hoyt 2001, IFAW 2004). However, dolphin-based tourism encounters remained a minor component of the rapidly growing Cetacean watching industry until 2000, when the emphasis and attention had previously been on regulating and promoting whales. Sustainable tourism practices are essential in the growing global conservation ethic and a priority for minimising and managing negative impacts of marine wildlife-based tourism on the fauna and the marine environment while maximising the positive impacts on the human participants. Education combined with interpretation is seen as a key sustainable wildlife tourism management strategy. However, compared to the other 87 nations in the world conducting Cetacean encounters, Australia was considered to be significantly lacking in the aspect of quality education and/or interpretation (Hoyt 2001).Management and regulation of dolphin-based tourism by Australian protection and conservation bodies has been patchy and inconsistent across all states. In most cases the businesses developed and self-regulated their own codes of conduct for the marine wildlife encounters (Papin 2002). Although rapid growth has occurred in the number and variety of opportunities for dolphin-based encounters, dolphins were recognised as a marine mammal species worthy of its own set of regulations and monitoring as late as 2005 (ANZECC 2005). Additionally, little research has focussed on the effects of education/interpretation in a wildlife tourism context in Australia and/or internationally (Higginbottom 2004a).
Details
- Title
- Let the oceans speak: The interactive effect between the intensity of wild dolphin-based tourism experiences and high quality education/interpretation commentaries and the impacts on participants
- Authors
- Gayle J Mayes
- Contributors
- Pamela K Dyer (Supervisor)Peter Innes (Supervisor)
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- DOI
- 10.25907/00595
- Organisation Unit
- School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; USC Business School - Legacy; Engage Research Lab; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449994802621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
Metrics
1276 File views/ downloads
2126 Record Views