2.5 Challenges And Opportunities in Recreation, Park, And Leisure Services
2.5 Challenges And Opportunities in Recreation, Park, And Leisure Services
Challenges And Opportunities In Recreation And Park Services
“Outdoor recreation and adventure tourism operators heavily rely on intact environments and healthy ecosystems,” (Westcott & Anderson, 2021, 5.3 section, para. 2), both of which are threatened by habitat destruction and climate change (Hewer & Gough, 2018).
Access to wilderness areas for tourism operators presents several challenges. Some zones in these areas are designated for recreation, such as provincial and national parks. However, for official permission to conduct commercial operations in these same places, gaining access often entails extensive permitting applications that usually impose restrictions on the types of activities and number of visitors allowed.
Furthermore, parks are generally limited to non-motorized activities, thereby presenting restrictions for tourism operators seeking to provide mechanized recreation. “In some instances, priority may be given to resource extraction or development rather than outdoor operators” (Westcott & Anderson, 2021, 5.3 section, para. 3).
Westcott and Anderson (2021) also point out:
Despite some of the challenges faced by recreation, outdoor recreation, and adventure tourism, the industry as a whole remains an exciting, dynamic, and growing sector of the… tourism economy. Employment opportunities abound, and the potential for economic contribution to the province, protection of wilderness areas, and diversification of rural economies away from resource extraction are exciting prospects. (5.4 section, para. 1)
The Mission of National Parks: A Management Paradox
The NPS Mission Statement states, in part, “The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources… for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations” (NPS, 2023b, para. 4). These two objectives, preservation and enjoyment, are in conflict, which creates numerous challenges in terms of determining park management strategies.
Finding the right balance between protection and availability for recreation (enjoyment) is further complicated by the NPS’ commitment to equal and affordable access for all visitors. After all, the parks belong to the American people, and they must be accessible to everyone.
The first national parks were free to visitors and were financed by private hotels that paid concessionaire fees. However, the development of the car travel industry results in considerable changes in consumer preferences. Throughout the early 20th century, more visitors conducted day-trips by car to the parks as opposed to traveling by train or stagecoach, which was more commonplace in earlier decades. As a result, in 1908 Mount Rainier in Washington state became the first national park to charge fees for automobile admissions (Mackintosh, 1983). At present, approximately 26% of parks within the NPS system charge entrance fees per vehicle, motorcycle, or person;