Wildlife Tourism and Management Politics in a Chinese Protected Area The Case of Bird Island

Wan, Fang (2004) Wildlife Tourism and Management Politics in a Chinese Protected Area The Case of Bird Island. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The study is aimed at seeking opportunities to develop effective wildlife tourist management strategy in Chinese protected areas where. With a basic belief that to understand tourists' motivations and experience is the key to reach the goal, the emphasis of the dissertation is on tourist aspect. Specifically, three research questions are listed, respectively related to tourists' motivation study, tourists' experience study, and tourists' attitude to tourism in development areas.

Bird Island in Qinghai Lake was chosen as the case of the study, considering it a well-known developing bird tourism attraction in China, and with significant wildlife and ecosystem valuables being conserved. More and more problems and conflicts are shown with the arriving of huge number of visitors. This is an important original study that almost no similar research has been done in the area and other protected areas in China.

Qualitative research methods were used and interviews were conducted on 40 samples. It should be noted that, for a broad and deep exploration and understanding of site policies, and problems related to tourists, not only tourists were interviewed, but also site staff and the local residents. These interviews together help the author to understand the conflicts and problems from different attitudes and explanations.

After analyzing the result, several visitor management implications are suggested. It is argued that managers in both Bird Island and other Chinese protected areas should give more consideration on visitors. Opportunities such as education and interpretation should be provided. However, with the number one objective of conservation, environmental issues should be considered with priority when serious conflicts generate between environment and tourism.

Item Type: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Keywords: Tourism, Wildlife, Conservation
Depositing User: EP, Services
Date Deposited: 20 Apr 2007
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2018 13:19
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/20839

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