Controlling The Ecotourist In A Wild Dolphin Feeding Program

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The Journal of Environmental Education

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Controlling the Ecotourist in a Wild Dolphin Feeding Program: Is Education the Answer?
Mark B. Orams; Greg J. E. Hill

Online publication date: 31 March 2010

To cite this Article Orams, Mark B. and Hill, Greg J. E.(1998) 'Controlling the Ecotourist in a Wild Dolphin Feeding

Program:Is Education the Answer?', The Journal of Environmental Education, 29: 3, 33 — 38 To link to this Article: DOI: 10.1080/00958969809599116 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00958969809599116

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The Journal of Environmental Education, 1998, Vol. 29, No. 3, 33-38

Controlling the Ecotourist in a Wild Dolphin Feeding Program:Is Education the Answer?
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MARK B. ORAMS and GREG J. E. HILL

ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of an education program for tourists who hand-feed wild dolphins at Tangalooma, Moreton Island, in eastern Australia, was evaluated. Data were gathered on tourist behavior during feeding sessions before and after the education policywas implemented. Results demonstrated that, after implementation of the education program, inappropriate behaviors such as touching of dolphins were significantly reduced. The study supports the claim that education is an important strategy when compliance with management regulations is necessary to protect wildlife in ecotourism settings.

ourism is the largest and fastest growing industry in theworld (Miller, 1990). Many people are concerned about the impacts that this growing industry is having on the natural environment. In recent years, a new component of the tourism industry, termed ecotourism, has received much attention (Boo, 1990; Figgis, 1993). Ecotourism has been broadly defined as tourism that is based on the natural environment and that seeks to minimize impacts on thatenvironment (Orams, 1995). However, there is little doubt that increasing numbers of ecotourists also provide a threat to the quality and sustainability of natural ecosystems (Berle, 1990; Zell, 1992). Numerous accounts of tourists’ “loving nature to death” have been reported (Laycock, 1991; Mellor, 1990; Shackley, 1990; Ward, 1990), and concern is

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Mark B. Orams is with the Centre,for TourismResearch at
Massey University Albany, North Shore, New Zealand. Greg J. E. Hl is with the Faculty ojScience at Northern il Territory University in Durwin, Australiu.
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growing that ecotourism is becoming nothing more than a “green” label that dresses up exploitative and destructive human behavior (Wight, 1993). Solutions to the problems of ecotourism impacts have been put forth by a number...