Protected Areas and Tourism a Theoretical Review

Abstract

Protected areas exist with various names, aims, objectives and management models, to facilitate comparison of planning and achievement of conservation goals. Tourism is one of the mq/01· activities in most of the national parks that generates various socioeconomic, environmental, economic benefits to the parks and their surrounding communities. The aim of the paper is to understand the concept of protected areas in general and the importance of tou1ism in protected areas in particular. This paper discusses the evolution of the concept of protected areas and tourism. It explains that tourism is integral part of protected areas and play a major role in prompting the parks conservation activities and creates educational and awareness on the importance of biodiversity to the visitors and helps in maintaining the ecosystems services.