Lily Burse

Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Baram, Uzi

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies with Political Science Secondary Field

Abstract

Tourism to the national parks is beneficial for the tourist, but the parks themselves are at risk of environmental damage. Sustainable tourism is offered as the solution to minimize the negative impacts of tourism. This thesis aims to outline three ways sustainable tourism can be implemented within the national parks. Specifically, infrastructure, government involvement, and education will be explored alongside the case studies of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Everglades National Parks. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks were used to illustrate the value of infrastructure in sustainable tourism. Infrastructure can be used to encourage sustainable choices, or even entirely eliminate the option of non-sustainable choices. Everglades National Park served as a case study in government intervention. After a history of drainage causing damage to the environment, legislation, regulation, and government funding have all been essential in restoration attempts in the Everglades. Education in sustainable tourism is not as widely discussed, but this thesis proposes that a greater focus on education would be greatly beneficial. Beyond the parks themselves, education can affect a person’s point of view and encourage them to make sustainable choices when they return home. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the future of tourism, encouraging a shift in the philosophy of tourism itself. Rather than an exploitative or transaction-based activity, tourism may one day be seen as entirely sustainable for the environment and the host communities.

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