National parks in the 21st century: visitor research and opportunities

Public Lecture by: Professor Paul F. J. Eagles, Ph.D., R.P.P, M.C.I.P. This public lecture describes 10 essential areas for research attention as the 21st century unfolds. Attention to these areas is essential if parks and the tourism which depends on them are to remain viable in Australia and globally.

National parks offer people nature-based activities and respite from the pressures of today’s fast-moving world. They are also repositories for much of the world’s remaining biodiversity. Managing visitors and providing them with high quality experiences is essential for the future of parks in this rapidly changing world. In most countries, visitor numbers to parks continue to increase and in many, tourism is vitally important to regional economic development. This public lecture describes 10 essential areas for research attention as the 21st century unfolds. Attention to these areas is essential if parks and the tourism which depends on them are to remain viable in Australia and globally.

Biography

Paul F. J. Eagles is a Professor at the University of Waterloo. He is a Walter Murdoch Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University. He specialises in environmental, recreation and tourism planning, with 40 years of planning experience. He has undertaken planning and research in this field in over 25 countries and has 360 publications. He was Chair of the Global Task Force on Tourism and Parks for the World Commission on Protected Areas of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) from 1996 to 2008. He has been a consultant on tourism for numerous agencies in Canada, and for the World Bank, the World Tourism Organization, the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Environment Program, the Forestry and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, and the Nature Conservation Agencies of Sweden and Finland.

Following Paul F. J. Eagles presentation will be the launch of the book Natural Area Tourism, Ecology, Impacts and Management 2nd Edition by David Newsome, Susan A. Moore and Ross K. Dowling.

RSVPs by Tuesday 23 April to rsvp@murdoch.edu.au or 9360 6176