Presentation made at the CBD/IUCN TAPAS Group meeting on "Tourism partnerships and concessions in protected areas: Cooperating for success" meeting in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park

1. Fundamentals of Tourism:
NGOs in Protected Areas
Workshop on Tourism Partnerships
Time Block 2
Paul F. J. Eagles
May 30, 2017

2. Friends Groups
• Common in museums, art galleries, and
historic sites.
• Many park agencies encourage the
development of non-government
organizations, called Friends Groups.
• These are membership organizations that
work through a contract with a park.
• A registered charity, with legal non-profit
status.

3. Activities
• Provide guiding, interpretation, and
environmental education programs to park
visitors.
• Operate environmental and cultural festivals.
• Some operate entire parks.
• There are Friends Groups operating in 25 of
the 110 provincial parks in Ontario, Canada.

4. Income
• Sales of products.
• Donations
• Lotteries

6. Benefits
• Allows park visitors and citizens to
become involved with the park.
• Major conduit for donations of time and
money.

7. Misery Bay Provincial Park

8. Donations

9. Park Management Responsibilities
• Head office has one staff person with the
responsibly to encourage and assist these
NGOs.
• Some are provided with start-up funds.
• Each park has a staff manager with NGO
contact responsibilities.
• Largest Friends Groups have full time staff.

10.
Alternative to Concessionaires
• Friends groups are an alternative to for-profit
concessionaires.
• All income of the Friends Groups return to
park activities and programs.
• Flexibility gives park manages alternatives
and an ability to respond quickly to
opportunities.
• Very important in giving citizens an
opportunity to be involved in a park.

11.
Working groups:
Strengths Weaknesses
Opportuni)es Threats