This book provides holistic insights into management of protected areas across East Asia and identifies current trends in mountain tourism within the broader field of human geography and nature conservation. The book describes the diversification in visitors and expanding protected areas territories in different Asian countries during recent years. It also compares protected areas networks in the context of the changing demographic profiles of visitors and provides an interdisciplinary transnational appraisal of mountain-based tourism in Asia based on national and international statistics. The research combines specific case studies at the individual country and destination level with trans-regional trends, thereby offering analysis from both the perspective of supply (parks, protected areas, and stakeholders) and demand (mountain tourist market trends and segments). The book is a useful resource for students and academics in tourism and protected areas studies as well as social scientists and policy-makers interested in Asian countries.

This book provides holistic insights into management of protected areas across East Asia and identifies current trends in mountain tourism within the broader field of human geography and nature conservation. The book describes the diversification in visitors and expanding protected areas territories in different Asian countries during recent years. It also compares protected areas networks in the context of the changing demographic profiles of visitors and provides an interdisciplinary transnational appraisal of mountain-based tourism in Asia based on national and international statistics. The research combines specific case studies at the individual country and destination level with trans-regional trends, thereby offering analysis from both the perspective of supply (parks, protected areas, and stakeholders) and demand (mountain tourist market trends and segments). The book is a useful resource for students and academics in tourism and protected areas studies as well as social scientists and policy-makers interested in Asian countries.

All around the world, as growing numbers of tourists and recreational visitors flock to protected and other natural areas stimulated by a renewed search for physical, mental, and even spiritual health and wellbeing, different practices and behaviours emerge. This book brings together experiences and perspectives from many countries around the world. On the demand side, the experiences are united by the desire of tourists to find a real and regenerating connection in nature. On the supply side, designing and managing tourist systems that preserve natural capital in good condition requires great professionalism to dynamically maintain a fragile and delicate balance between tourists, local communities, and nature. By understanding the attitudes and emerging norms of behaviour within the context of nature-based tourism, we can begin to sketch a roadmap to enable more holistic, enjoyable, healthy and responsible visitor experiences; facilitate ecosystem conservation; contribute to the mental and physical wellbeing of tourists and outdoor recreationists; and build sustainable economies and resilient destinations and livelihoods. This book is of great relevance for academic researchers, advanced tourism and conservation students, and practitioners working in nature-based tourism and conservation, especially those with a focus on natural destinations, as well as those interested in consumer behaviour, business and management, recreation, and sustainable tourism development.

This handbook offers a comprehensive overview of the themes and concepts related to nature-based tourism development. Providing interdisciplinary insights from leading researchers, academics, and practitioners across the globe, it delivers a critical and timely contribution to the knowledge around nature-based tourism. Nature-based tourism is currently the fastest-growing tourism sector globally and for many destinations, the most significant tourism segment. Organized into five parts, this handbook provides contemporary and cutting-edge perspectives on core topics and explores their linkages. It considers, among others, various natural settings and natural attractions where nature-based tourism can be exercised, including: protected and conserved areas, islands, and mountains; the emerging themes shaping the contemporary nature-based tourism development, including ethics, Sustainable Development Goals, COVID-19 crisis, over-tourism, climate change, resilience; and new approaches toward the visitor management and low-impact experience design, including regenerative and transformative tourism, destination stewardship and pro-environmental behaviour. Part I introduces the concept of nature-based tourism and the emerging challenges in the field. Part II explores the key components in the management and planning of nature-based tourism development. In Part III the handbook focuses on visitor experience design and management and Part IV highlights the impacts of nature-based tourism. Part V examines the future of nature-based tourism and possible solutions to mitigate associated challenges in the field. The handbook offers a valuable contribution with a systematic outlook of the phenomenon of nature-based tourism and critical perspectives on key concepts, policy, and practice. It shares current knowledge, innovative tools, and sustainable solutions with substantial evidence and societal impact. The book will appeal to students, researchers, and professionals in the fields of tourism, human geography, leisure studies, business studies, and sociology. Chapter 12 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

This timely book explores how hiking, trekking and climbing mountains, increasingly popular leisure activities, can stimulate change and create opportunities for sustainable development. Using empirical evidence from interviews held in the Himalayas combined with a theoretical grounding, it focuses on the socio-economic and environmental issues of the impact of mountaineering adventure tourism on local communities.