Fresh perspectives on conservation tourism
A new Springer publication co-edited by Jakomijn van Wijk (Maastricht School of Management), Rene van der Duim (Cultural Geography Group Wageningen University) and Machiel Lamers (Environmental Policy Group Wageningen University) was launched on 10 March at the office of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WNF) in Zeist.
The book “Institutional Arrangements for Conservation, Development and Tourism in Eastern and Southern Africa. A Dynamic Perspective”describes and analyzes six novel conservation arrangements in Eastern and Southern Africa, illustrating how tourism is increasingly used and promoted as a key mechanism for achieving conservation and development objectives outside state-protected areas.
MSM has a vast experience in sustainable tourism development in emerging and developing economies, focusing on research, training and capacity building. Currently MSM is engaged in a collaborative project with the Institute of Finance and Economics in Mongolia aimed at strengthening the institute’s knowledge base in ecotourism. This project is sponsored by the Netherlands Fellowship Program. Furthermore, MSM annually organizes the executive training onSustainable Tourism Management for tourism professionals such as tour operators, hoteliers, governmental bodies, higher education institutes and environmental NGOs.
MSM’s tourism research aims to identify viable strategies in using tourism as a means for achieving sustainable development in emerging economies. For instance, DBA candidate Adu-Ampomah Yaw Junior examines the motivational factors and perceptions behind local procurement decisions in the hotel industry in Ghana in order to develop recommendations on how tourism can positively contribute to local economic development.
The book presented at the WNF office was the end product of the research project on responsible innovations in conservation tourism sponsored by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
During the book presentation, René van der Duim, Personal Professor in the Cultural Geography chair group of Wageningen University, highlighted how different actors such as communities, private tourism entrepreneurs, governments, NGOs and donors collaborate to achieve conservation objectives through the launch of eco-lodges, safari camps and trophy hunting. He also described the opportunities, challenges and dilemmas involved in such collaborative arrangements. After a lively debate with WNF-staff members, a copy of the book was offered to WNF Director Johan van der Gronden.
For more information on MSM’s tourism projects, please contact Dr. Diederik de Boer (deboer@msm.nl) or Dr. Jakomijn van Wijk (wijk@msm.nl).
Further reading:
Tourism and coffee: a great combination
Tourism Conservation Enterprises
Conservation tourism as institutional innovation
MSM Faculty earns PhD in Tourism and Sustainable Development
Article “Nature conservation meets market in Eastern Africa”, (website of The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), dd. 11 December 2013)
