1) Protected areas are designated spaces that conserve nature and cultural values through legal protection. Sustainable tourism in protected areas balances economic, environmental, and social impacts. 2) IUCN promotes sustainable tourism by providing guidance and standards, supporting conservation businesses, and strategic partnerships. 3) The TAPAS group advises on sustainable tourism in protected areas through knowledge sharing, capacity building, and connecting professionals in the field.

1. Sustainable Tourism and
Protected Areas
IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas
Tourism & Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPAS group)
Photographs © Anna Spenceley

2. Presentation outline
A. Tourism and protected
areas
B. IUCN and Tourism
C. IUCN WCPA Tourism
and Protected Areas
Specialist (TAPAS)
Group
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3. A. Sustainable tourism and
protected areas
A protected area is
a clearly defined
geographical space,
recognised, dedicated and
managed, through legal or
other effective means,
to achieve the long-term
conservation of
nature with associated
ecosystem services
and cultural values
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www.unep-wcmc.org © Conservation International

4. A. Sustainable tourism and
protected areas
7 IUCN PA categories:
Ia: Strict nature reserve
Ib: Wilderness area
II: National Park
III: Natural monument
IV: Habitat/species
management area
V: Protected
landscape/Seascape
VI: Managed resource
protected area
www.unep-
wcmc.org/protected_areas/ 4
categories/index.html © Conservation International
© Conservation International

5. A. Sustainable tourism and
protected areas
• Economic: viable business,
$ for conservation, value chains Economic
linkages, poverty reduction
• Environment: biodiversity,
resource use (energy, water), waste,
infrastructure footprint, behaviour
changes wildlife
• Social: inhabitants/local
Environment Social
communities, linkages, culture,
education, public support, tourists
Convention on Biological Diversity, CoP, Nagoya, Japan - www.cbd.int
• Target increase terrestrial PAs to 17% & marine PAs to 10% by 2020 5

6. A. Sustainable tourism and
protected areas
• Types of tourism in protected areas include:
– Terrestrial: photographic, hunting, hiking, climbing,
mountain biking, horse riding, veterinary, cultural
sites/activities
– Marine: Fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling, canoeing
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7. B. IUCN and tourism
• IUCN is a democratic union with + 1,000 member organizations
Strategy on tourism: “For the tourism sector to recognize the value of the planet’s
natural assets and internalize this value into their products”
Five strategic directions:
1. Provide a platform for innovative
thinking
2. Develop and promote the wide
application of standards & guidance
3. Promote a landscape level approach
to sustainable tourism
4. Support existing conservation-based
enterprises: livelihoods, biodiversity
5. Establish strategic partnerships with
high-level organizations 7

8. C. Tourism and Protected Areas
Specialist (TAPAS) Group
Objectives:
• Strategic advice on sustainable tourism in
protected areas
• Strengthen capacity and effectiveness of
protected area managers, policy makers
and others
• Develop and disseminate knowledge on
tourism and protected areas
• Provide an interactive forum for people
working on protected areas and tourism
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9. C. Tourism and Protected Areas
Specialist (TAPAS) Group
IUCN Program on Protected Areas
World Commission on Protected Areas
Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group
Chair & Executive Full members (WCPA Members)
Committee & Associates
Working Groups
Membership Knowledge
Linkages and Capacity
conferences Development and
building
Communications Dissemination
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10. C. Tourism and Protected Areas
Specialist (TAPAS) Group
Executive Committee:
• Dr Anna Spenceley - Chair
• Dr Glen Hvengaard and Professor Ralf
Buckley - Knowledge development and
dissemination
• Professor Steve McCool - Capacity
building
• Dr Elizabeth Halpenny - Membership
• Professor Paul Eagles - Communications
• Professor Robyn Bushell - Linkages and
conferences
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11. For more information
Online membership form:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q69N3PG
General TAPAS group information:
www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_what/
wcpa_capacity/wcpa_tourismtf/
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