Introduction
The establishment of a national park in an area has a significant impact on the local economy and becomes a natural draw for visitors to the area. This in turn provides opportunities for local tourism businesses, entrepreneurs and the local economically poor. Visitors to the area will purchase accommodation, transport and guiding services as well as refreshments and souvenirs, and business providing services for visitors will also need supplies.

In order to maximise the opportunities for local people to benefit from the national parks, the park needs to make positive steps to engage with the community. The creation of a national park often results in losses and gains to local communities. Losses may include restricted land for hunting, food gathering and other natural resources. Tourism needs to compensate for those losses.

The large number of visitors creates an opportunity for national parks to highlight other experiences and tourism services in the area. Through its website, visitor centre or signage, a cultural heritage site can encourage visitors to stay longer in the area, visit local villages, food and drink producers or craftspeople thereby spending more money in the local economy. Such actions, although seemingly small to a large site, can have a significant impact on the local economically poor.

The National Park itself has purchasing and recruitment power. The National Park will be seen as a source of authority by visitors and therefore the park has an important role to play in directing visitors’ behaviour, providing opportunities for visitors to engage with locally economically poor communities who may have living cultural heritage, crafts, local food and natural heritage attraction to share and from which they can earn tourism revenue. The key message is not to exclude the local community, better find ways of working with them to improve their livelihoods.

The Benefits

• Enhance your own brand and USP. Competitive advantage is gained from a more distinctive product. Sites that invest in interpreting their natural and cultural heritage in the context of the locality and connecting with the communities around them stand out from others and create a larger area to visit.
• Greater local support. The support of the local community can be very important to a National Park Authority, particularly when it comes to enforcing regulations, protecting natural areas and the safety of visitors.
• Staff morale and improved service. Staff want to work for an organisation that delivers benefits for the local community.
• Satisfied visitors. People visit national parks for a range of reasons. A well-rounded experience which includes the natural and local cultural environment is undoubtedly a richer experience for visitors and will encourage repeat visits and recommendations.
• Employ local staff purchase local goods and serivces Boosting local linkages can improve relationships with neighbours.

Ways You Can Help

Supply Chain

Purchase directly from local businesses which employ the economically poor

Support for local arts and tourism services which benefit the economically poor

Employment

Increase recruitment of local staff from amongst the economically poor

Increase training opportunities for local people, particularly for the economically poor

Encourage Guests to Purchase from the Economically Poor

Encourage tourists to take local excursions

Encourage tourists to buy local crafts

Provide the opportunity for tourists to donate

Poor people can also benefit from tourism through non-market mechanisms, such as:

Neighbourhood Partnerships

Business Donations

Case Studies

Bolivia: La Yunga - Lodge or Footpath?

Ethiopia: Bishangari Lodge, Oromo - Indirect Benefits for the Community

Examples of Park Fees and Community Support

Morocco: Kasbah du Toubkal - Voluntary Levies