Tourism and national parks: international perspectives on development, histories and change

摘要

A number of academic books have addressed the issue of national parks from multiple angles, one of the best from a tourism perspective is Butler and Boyd (2000). Almost 10 years on, this volume, with almost the same title, can be viewed as a worthy successor. Indeed, it covers many of the same subjects, even using some of the same areas as examples. The very term 'national parks' is a strong, international brand and has been so since, or even before, the Yellowstone area in Wyoming was given that status by the US congress back in 1872. What the term actually covers is another story: an object of study as well as debate. Most people tend at least to agree that national parks are connected with nature and its protection and conservation, and a complex terminology and hierarchy of protected areas has been defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A bewildering number of terms are in play, from 'wilderness area' to 'protected landscape' or even 'national scenic park', depending on their location and the vegetation and landforms found within them. Another competing perspective is that of 'cultural landscapes', clearly illustrated in this book in the chapter on Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, in Australia. Even the national aspect of national parks has been challenged. As noted in the concluding chapter, conservation through the use of protected areas has always been a concept characterized by international innovation and diffusion.