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One way that tourism can benefit marine reserves and local communities is by providing income, both directly to local people and for covering the running costs of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
The money can come from various sources, for example:
Our work
As part of our work to secure long-term, sustainable financing for MPA management and to help local communities, WWF is promoting tourism both as a financing mechanism for MPAs and as a source of income for local people.
One approach that is working well for financing MPAs is the charging of entrance or diver's fees, with the money being used to fund management and conservation activities. WWF is supporting several systems like this around the world, including in:
We are also working to ensure that local people benefit from sustainable tourism in and around MPAs. Examples include:
- entrance fees charged to visitors for access to protected areas
- user fees charged to visitors undertaking specified activities, or for use of specified facilities (e.g. fishing, hiking, diving, boating, etc.)
- concessions and lease contracts between protected areas and businesses operating within the area
- investment and sponsoring of specific facilities by the tourism industry, e.g. lodge building, reintroduction programmes, etc.
- offering opportunities to visitors to support protected areas through voluntary donations
- in kind donations, e.g., staff contributing to specific park management issues
- purchasing of food and services (guides, drivers, accommodation, etc) from local communities
Our work
As part of our work to secure long-term, sustainable financing for MPA management and to help local communities, WWF is promoting tourism both as a financing mechanism for MPAs and as a source of income for local people.
One approach that is working well for financing MPAs is the charging of entrance or diver's fees, with the money being used to fund management and conservation activities. WWF is supporting several systems like this around the world, including in:
- Bunaken National Park, Indonesia
- Bonaire Marine Park, Netherlands Antilles
- Batangas, Luzon Isand, The Philippines
We are also working to ensure that local people benefit from sustainable tourism in and around MPAs. Examples include:
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize
- Lastovo Island, Croatia
- Qurimbas National Park, Mozambique
- Cape Verde
