ABSTRACT
Over the past four decades ever-increasing numbers of visitors to recreation and tourist areas have created concerns among many planners, managers, owners and users of destinations about resulting problems of overuse and unwanted impacts. Such feelings are still not universal, there are many involved in the promotion and development aspects of recreation and tourism facilities who are keen to continue to attract even more visitors; however even bodies such as the World Tourism Organization (WTO) have begun to recognise that the sheer volume of tourism has negative as well as positive impacts on destination environments and populations (WTO 1999). With the exception of 1991 (Gulf War) and 2001 (September 11 World Trade Center attack) international tourist numbers have increased every year since statistics have been collected (WTO 2001). There is little to indicate that this trend will end unless a global catastrophe occurs, although of course individual areas and destinations are likely to increase and decrease in popularity depending on their attractions, management and local conditions. The problems which increasing numbers bring to recreation and tourist areas have been recognised for many years (see for example, Darling and Eichom 1967; and Young 1973).
