Countries around the world face the dual challenge of reversing ecosystem degradation while sustaining tourism. This research adopts a regulatory perspective to the analysis of how tourism businesses access Protected Areas (PA), distinguishing among four key regulatory dimensions: the prescriptiveness of PA Management Plans with respect to both environmental and visitation outcomes; the method of concession/permit allocations; the types of contracts issued to operators; and the approaches to monitoring and enforcement. To understand whether commercial tourism in PA is likely to develop or remain environmentally sensitive, of the contextual factors affecting each PA investigated are evaluated by applying resilience and vulnerability thinking and concepts. The presentation highlights key findings for several National Parks in New Zealand and preliminary findings for PA in Hawaii.

Video of Valentina Dinica's presentation on 10/17/18 at East-West Center:

Valentina Dinica is an Associate Professor in the School of Government at the University of Wellington, New Zealand. She teaches and carries out research at the intersection of public policy and sustainability. She has published extensively on environmental sustainability issues such as renewable energy policies, green technology diffusion processes, sustainable tourism, water governance systems, public engagement in Protected Area governance, and Protected Area tourism. Valentina can be contacted at [email protected]

Countries around the world face the dual challenge of reversing ecosystem degradation while sustaining tourism. This research adopts a regulatory perspective to the analysis of how tourism businesses access Protected Areas (PA), distinguishing among four key regulatory dimensions: the prescriptiveness of PA Management Plans with respect to both environmental and visitation outcomes; the method of concession/permit allocations; the types of contracts issued to operators; and the approaches to monitoring and enforcement. To understand whether commercial tourism in PA is likely to develop or remain environmentally sensitive, of the contextual factors affecting each PA investigated are evaluated by applying resilience and vulnerability thinking and concepts. The presentation highlights key findings for several National Parks in New Zealand and preliminary findings for PA in Hawaii.

Video of Valentina Dinica's presentation on 10/17/18 at East-West Center:

Valentina Dinica is an Associate Professor in the School of Government at the University of Wellington, New Zealand. She teaches and carries out research at the intersection of public policy and sustainability. She has published extensively on environmental sustainability issues such as renewable energy policies, green technology diffusion processes, sustainable tourism, water governance systems, public engagement in Protected Area governance, and Protected Area tourism. Valentina can be contacted at [email protected]