5. Sustainable Wildlife Tourism

This chapter presents and illustrates the concept of sustainability in wildlife tourism. Sustainable wildlife tourism is a concept embracing ethical executions of wildlife tourist operations from attraction to global levels. It considers economic development, community well-being, and environmental conservation in all wildlife tourist activities. It is not an obligation of the governments solely but of all wildlife tourism stakeholders, including tourism businesses, as well as local communities, and wildlife tourists must collaborate, practicing and promoting responsible behaviors. With sustainable wildlife tourism, it is the responsibility of every stakeholder to enforce legislation and support national, regional, and global wildlife conservation-orientated development. However, the wildlife tourist destination should integrate sustainability principles into policy and operations to support the socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental responsibility behaviors among wildlife tourism stakeholders. In wildlife tourism, sustainability increases the intelligent use of wildlife resources while considering the requirements of current and future generations. Sustainable wildlife tourism reflects the suggestions from the Brundtland Report, which stipulated the main principles revolving around societal equity, environmental conservation, and equitable relationships between generations. The sustainability principles regulate the implementation of ethical tourism operations to reduce species endangerment and ecological disturbance, enhance community development, respect indigenous culture, and promote community involvement in wildlife tourism at various levels. Adoption of the social sustainability concept through cultural preservation, community participation, and fair cost-benefit sharing schemes could improve the involvement of the local community in not only wildlife conservation but also wildlife tourism. Sufficient and timely involvement of local communities in decision-making fosters a sense of inclusion and ownership and protects and supports cultural traditions and knowledge against tourism exploitation. Responsible tourism might equally help local economies by developing local economies while supporting local suppliers, promoting small enterprises, and preventing economic leakage.