Providing truly memorable wildlife experiences

 

Providing truly memorable wildlife experiences

Tourists have a lot of choice – there are many kinds of experiences they can seek, many places they can go to.

Even within the field of wildlife tourism there are many choices

How do we provide the kinds of experiences that will be special for them, that they will often recall in a positive way and tell others about?

How can we use these memorable experiences to deliver messages on the fascinating natural behaviours or ecological relationships involving the species they encounter?

How do we relate this in a meaningful way to conservation, especially to actions they might take in their daily lives after returning home?

Some relevant references:

 

  • Presentation by Barry Davies on the value of good eco-guides
  • Ballantyne, R., J. Packer, et al. (1998). “Targeted Interpretation: Exploring relationships among visitors’ motivations, actitivies, attitudes, information needs and preferences.” Journal of Tourism Studies 9(2): 14-25.
  • Ballantyne, R., Packer, J. and Falk, J. (2011). “Visitors’ learning for environmental sustainability: Testing short and long term impacts of wildlife tourism experiences using structural equation modelling.” Tourism Management 32 (6): 1243-1252.
  • Ballantyne, R., Packer, J. and Sutherland, L. (2011). “Visitors’ memories of wildlife tourism: Implications for the design of powerful interpretive experiences.” Tourism Management 32 (4): 770-779.
  • Ballantyne, R. and Packer, J. (in press). Using tourism free-choice learning experiences to promote environmentally sustainable behaviour: the role of post-visit ‘action resources’. Environmental Education Research.
  • Ballantyne, R., Packer, J. and Sutherland, L. (in press) Visitors’ memories of wildlife tourism: Implications for the design of powerful interpretive experiences. Tourism Management.
  • Ballantyne, R., Packer, J. & Hughes, K. (2009).  Tourists’ support for conservation messages and sustainable management practices in wildlife tourism experiences. Tourism Management, 30, 658-664.
  • Ballantyne, R., Packer, J., Hughes, K., and Dierking, L. (2007).  Conservation learning in wildlife tourism settings: lessons from research in zoos and aquariums.  Environmental Education Research, 13 (3), 367-383.
  • Ballantyne, R. and Packer, J. (2005). Promoting environmentally sustainable attitudes and behaviour through free-choice learning experiences: What’s the state of the game?, Environmental Education Research, 11 (3), 281-295.
  • Ham, S. H. (1992). Chapter 1: What is interpretation? Environmental Interpretation – A Practical Guide for people with Big Ideas and Small Budgets. S. H. Ham. Golden, Colorado, North American Press: 3-4.
  • Moscardo, G. (1996). Principles for effective interpretation: what have we learnt from 100 years of presenting heritage to visitors. Fifth Annual Interpretation Australia Association Conference, Bendigo.
  • Moscardo, G. (1997). Birdwatching as a Tourist Activity in the Great Barrier Reef Region. Townsville, James Cook University.
  • Moscardo, G. and B. Woods (2000). Close Encounters – Lessons for Interpreting Wildlife. Townsville, James Cook University.
  • Moscardo, G. and D. Green (1997). Wildlife Viewing as a Rainforest Activity: Visitor Perspectives and Implications for Management. 1997 CRC Trem Annual Conference, Townsville.
  • Moscardo, G., B. Woods, et al. (2001). Understanding Visitor Perspectives on Wildlife Tourism. Gold Coast, CRC for Sustainable Tourism: 1-57.
  • Moscardo, G., Saltzer, R., (2004). Understanding Wildlife Tourism Markets- Chapter 9. Wildlife Tourism-impacts, management and planning. K. Higginbottom, Common Ground Publishing Pty Ltd: 167-185.
  • Moscardo, G., Woods, B., Saltzer (2004). The Role of Interpretation in Wildlife Tourism – Chapter 12. Wildlife Tourism-impacts, management and planning. K. Higginbottom, Common Ground Publishing Pty Ltd: 231-251.
  • Williams, R. and W. Brennan (1999). Evaluating Face-to-Face Interpretation: exploring Best Practice in the evaluation of face-to-face interpretation in a program such as NSW National Parks Discovery – walks, talks and tours. Interpretation Australia Association National Conference: The Human Factor in Interpretation, Hobart, Interpretation Australia Association.
  • Woods, B. (1998). “Animals on display: principles for interpreting captive wildlife.” Journal of Tourism Studies 9(1): 28-39.
  • Woods, B. (2000). “Beauty and the beast: Preferences for animals in Australia.” Journal of Tourism Studies 11(2): 25-35.
  • Woods, B. and G. Moscardo (1996). Adding value to tourist operations through interpretation: is interpretation good for tourism, or tourism good for interpretation? Fifth Annual Interpretation Australia Association Conference, Bendigo.

 

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