Conference proceeding
Benefits and challenges of managing tourism partnerships within protected areas: a case study of five commercial leases in New South Wales national parks
Proceedings of the 18th Annual Council for Australian University Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE) conference, pp.874-889
CAUTHE 2008: Tourism and Hospitality Research, Training and Practice; "Where the 'Bloody Hell' Are We?" (Surfers Paradise, Qld., 11/02/2008 - 14/02/2008)
2008
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Abstract
This paper focuses on the benefits and challenges to protected area managers coming from public-private partnerships (PPPs) with the private tourism sector. The focus in particular is on relationships between New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW NPWS) and the private tourism businesses who lease infrastructure within the Service's system of national parks, nature reserves and state conservation areas. Over the past 40 years, the NSW NPWS has entered into or inherited more than 250 concessions, primarily in the form of lease arrangements for private businesses who wish to operate tourist or recreation activities within its protected areas. Most of these concession arrangements are based within Kosciuszko National Park ski areas. The NPWS has identified a need to research and better understand these relationships, to ensure their best practice and sustainable management. A qualitative, interpretive methodology guided this research project. Face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen key stakeholders, at five protected areas where businesses leased NSW NPWS infrastructure to provide visitor services. Both NPWS staff and business operators ('lessees') were interviewed, but this paper only presents the viewpoints expressed by NPWS. Grounded analysis of interview transcripts reveals a number of benefits and challenges for NSW NPWS in managing their commercial lessee relationships. These benefits and challenges are outlined and then discussed in relation to literature on tourism PPPs in protected areas.
Details
- Title
- Benefits and challenges of managing tourism partnerships within protected areas: a case study of five commercial leases in New South Wales national parks
- Creators
- Erica Christine Wilson (Author) - Southern Cross UniversityNoah Nielsen (Author)Jeremy Buultjens (Author) - Southern Cross University
- Contributors
- Scott Richardson (Editor of compilation)Liz Fredline (Editor of compilation)Anoop Patiar (Editor of compilation)Megan Ternel (Editor of compilation)
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the 18th Annual Council for Australian University Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE) conference, pp.874-889
- Conference
- CAUTHE 2008: Tourism and Hospitality Research, Training and Practice; "Where the 'Bloody Hell' Are We?" (Surfers Paradise, Qld., 11/02/2008 - 14/02/2008)
- Publisher
- Griffith University; Brisbane, Qld.
- Identifiers
- 1229; 991012821294702368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Business, Law and Arts; Management; School of Business and Tourism
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding