ABSTRACT
A key aspect of the use of tourism in environmental policy and management is its relationship to protected areas, especially national parks. Tourism offers a potential economic rationale for nature conservation through the establishment of protected areas. However, in the absence of professional and committed environmental management it also has the potential to cause environmental degradation. Since the inception of the first national park in Yosemite in 1872, the balance between conservation and the use of nature for enjoyment by urban populations is one that has required close management. This chapter explores the relationship between tourism and protected areas, focusing on national parks and also tourism’s relationship to World Heritage Sites.
