Research Reports Mitigating encroachment of park experiences: Sustainable tourism in gateway communities

There is a misperception that the National Park Service has no or little connection to the tourism community and that what goes on outside parks can be left to gateway communities to be decided without park managers’ infl uence. This approach can prove detrimental to both park resources and visitor experiences. Since the president issued an executive order to highlight and increase visitation to America’s public lands and to enhance job growth, the urgency to engage the tourism community has been heightened. Additionally, the increased recognition of park tourism as a form of community economic stimulus presents the Service with opportunities to become more involved with decision making at the local, state, and national levels. This article presents a perspective that the relationship between parks and the tourism community is interconnected in resource management responsibilities and stewardship. In this case, resource management is expressed in socioeconomic, cultural, and ecological terms. These elements are key in the discussion of balancing tourism growth in gateway communities with their respective capacity to host visitors. Four studies reviewed here demonstrate empirical evidence suggesting a potential equilibrium of economic activity and preservation in gateway communities. Furthermore, park visitors mixing park perceptions with experiences outside parks can be detrimental to park resources. Nevertheless, tools for mitigating negative impacts of tourism are available, so that good resource management practices align with socioeconomic goals.