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Nature‐based marine tourism in the Gulf of California and Baja California Peninsula: Economic benefits and key species

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Listed:
  • Andrés M Cisneros‐Montemayor
  • Amanda Townsel
  • Claire M Gonzales
  • Andrea R Haas
  • Estrella E Navarro‐Holm
  • Teresa Salorio‐Zuñiga
  • Andrew F Johnson

Abstract

Ecotourism can incentivize social and environmental benefits through marine conservation, in parallel with efforts to better manage fisheries, coastal development, and other human pressures. In Mexico's Gulf of California and Baja California Peninsula (GCBP), marine ecosystems support tourism activities in many communities, but to date there have been no region‐wide studies to estimate their benefits or identify key species. Based on data collected in this study, each year nature‐based marine tourism in the GCBP results in 896,000 visits, US$518 million in expenditures and at least 3,575 direct jobs from formal operations. In interviews with operators, over 40 species groups were named as important; sea lions, whale sharks, whales, and marlin were the highest ranked, highlighting the importance of ecosystem‐wide health for nature‐based tourism sustainability. Local employment and the ability to make economic and conservation goals compatible were noted by operators as significant opportunities provided by nature‐based marine tourism; challenges included pollution and declines in ecosystem health, a lack of infrastructure, poor resource management policies, and high operating costs. As nature‐based marine tourism expands, a wider transition to true ecotourism, a focus on equitable benefits and collaboration between stakeholders and a cross‐scale and ecosystem approach to management will be vital for achieving potential sustainable social, ecological and economic benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrés M Cisneros‐Montemayor & Amanda Townsel & Claire M Gonzales & Andrea R Haas & Estrella E Navarro‐Holm & Teresa Salorio‐Zuñiga & Andrew F Johnson, 2020. "Nature‐based marine tourism in the Gulf of California and Baja California Peninsula: Economic benefits and key species," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 44(2), pages 111-128, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:44:y:2020:i:2:p:111-128
    DOI: 10.1111/1477-8947.12193
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Field, John C. & Francis, Robert C., 2006. "Considering ecosystem-based fisheries management in the California Current," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 552-569, September.
    2. Bennett, Nathan & Lemelin, Raynald Harvey & Koster, Rhonda & Budke, Isabel, 2012. "A capital assets framework for appraising and building capacity for tourism development in aboriginal protected area gateway communities," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 752-766.
    3. Susannah S French & Manuela González-Suárez & Julie K Young & Susan Durham & Leah R Gerber, 2011. "Human Disturbance Influences Reproductive Success and Growth Rate in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(3), pages 1-8, March.
    4. Cisneros-Montemayor, Andrés M. & Cisneros-Mata, Miguel A. & Harper, Sarah & Pauly, Daniel, 2013. "Extent and implications of IUU catch in Mexico's marine fisheries," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 283-288.
    5. Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor & U. Sumaila, 2010. "A global estimate of benefits from ecosystem-based marine recreation: potential impacts and implications for management," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 245-268, October.
    6. Ram Shrestha & John Loomis, 2003. "Meta-Analytic Benefit Transfer of Outdoor Recreation Economic Values: Testing Out-of-Sample Convergent Validity," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 25(1), pages 79-100, May.
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    1. Mónica Moreno-Gutiérrez & Víctor Hernández-Trejo & Ramón Valdivia-Alcalá & Judith Juárez-Mancilla & Plácido Roberto Cruz-Chávez & Ulianov Jakes-Cota, 2024. "Linking Tourist Willingness to Pay and Beach Management: A Travel Cost Analysis for Balandra Marine Park, Mexico," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-20, October.

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