- Destination Description
Yellowstone National Park is located in the state of Wyoming in the United States. However, the national park extends into Idaho and Montana. More precisely, the park is located on coordinates 44°36′North of the equator and 110°30′ West of the Prime meridian. The park was established on the 1st of March in 1872 through an Act of Parliament signed by the then president. Yellowstone National Park extends in five counties of the Wyoming, Montana and Idaho states. The population of the Park County in Wyoming according to the 2010 census was 28, 205. The population of Teton County in Wyoming State according to the 2010 census was 21, 294. Gallatin County in Montana according to the 2010 census had a population of 89, 513. Park County in Montana according to the 2010 census had a population of 15,636. According to the 2010 census, the population of Fremont County in Idaho was 13, 242. By summation, Yellowstone National Park is surrounded a by a population of 167890. Nonetheless, the park received three million, three hundred and ninety four thousand, three hundred and twenty six (3,394, 326) visitors in 2012. The park has a destination management organization in the name of the United States National Park Service. The destination management organization tends to the park and the needs of the visitors. There are a number of mainstream tourist activities that take place in the park. Among the many include animal watching and photography, visiting the geological sites like the geysers and camping.
- Buckley Theme # 1:Protection
Protection is important in the management and sustainability of ecosystems. Tourism has a role to play in the increase, expansion, and proper management of protected areas. Protection of certain areas and species of organism is very important. Due to various economic activities of humans, some animals and plants are facing extinction. Various parts of the Destination Competitive and Sustainability model can be used to inspire innovative ideas to enhance protection of endangered species (Wang, Li, Beauchamp & Jiang, 2011 Pp.104). For instance, for instance, under destination management, Ritchie & Crouch (2003) posit that information and research is important in destination competitiveness and sustainability (Ali & Frew, 2012, Pp.109).
Through information and research, the destination management organization at Yellowstone National Park can enumerate the endangered species in the park in order to monitor the changes in the population of such species. This is important so as to avoid the extinction of such species. When marketing the tourist destinations, destination management organizations can enhance the protection of the endangered species. For instance, the reintroduced wolves can be used in the marketing of Yellowstone National Park as a tourist destination. This will not only create awareness on the plight of the endangered species in the ecosystem, it will also educate the local population on the need to nurture the dwindling populations of the wolves. This will lead to sustainability of the tourist destination.
- Buckley Theme # 2:Population
The population of tourist destinations is important to its sustainability. Increases and decreases in the population affect the sustainability of tourist destinations in both negative and positive ways. As such, it is important to monitor the carrying capacity of the ecosystem in the tourist destination. According to Ritchie & Crouch (2003) in his Destination Competitive and Sustainability model, the carrying capacity of the ecosystem is an important and amplifying factor to destination competitiveness and sustainability. Tourist demands that exceed the carrying capacity result in the deterioration of tourism resources and assets, especially if there is further tourism growth.
In order to enhance the sustainability of the carrying capacity of a destination, the destination management organization can create special activities that are spread out throughout the year in order to encourage an even distribution of tourism visits throughout the year. For instance, tourists visit the Yellowstone National Park for various activities. It would be dangerous if the tourists visit the park predominantly at certain times of the year because this might exceed the carrying capacity of the resources. It would help if the destination management organization created special activities so that tourists have reasons to visit the park throughout the year.
Secondly, through monitoring and evaluation, the destination management organizations can track the effects of the population; both tourists and different species of microorganisms have on the environment. For example, the marine population in the lake in the park can be monitored through tagging with special aquatic cameras. This not only monitors the movement of the various species but also monitors changes in the environment.
- Buckley Theme # 3:Prosperity
The link that exists between sustainability of tourism and prosperity is very complex. There is a cycle in the relationship between prosperity and sustainability. Sustainability of tourist destinations results in prosperity and prosperity helps enhance the sustainability of tourist resources. Different parts of the Destination Competitive and Sustainability model can help form a basis for innovative ideas that can lead to prosperity. For instance, under destination policy, planning and development, positioning and branding of the tourist destination is outlined as a determinant of destination sustainability and competitiveness.
The positioning of a tourist destination is important in its operations and by extension its revenue generation. For instance, a tourist destination can be branded as s fishing ground in order to attract tourists who endeared by fishing. The Yellowstone National Park has an extensive lake in which lives a variety of marine wildlife. At certain times of the year, the destination management organization in the park can organize fishing expeditions in the lake with the winner bagging a cash price or other merchandise. The fish that are caught are to be released back into the waters. This will not only popularize the park as a destination site but also enhance sustainability through the reinvestment of the money accrued.
Another example is through a mix of activities under the core resources and attractions in the Destination Competitive and Sustainability model. The destination management organization can ensure that there are a wide variety of activities in the tourist destination in order to cater for the varied needs of tourists. For instance, the destination management organization at Yellowstone National Park can organize for rock climbing activities, kayaking in the cataracts in the rivers traversing the park, camping, water sports, animal photography and many more. This ensures that the ark is visited throughout the year hence generating more revenue that can be reinvested in the community.
- Buckley Theme # 4:Peace
There is an important relationship between peace and tourism. The dividends that are enjoyed when there is peace have environmental, social and economic components. Terrorism and wars disturb the prevailing peace and therefore decreases tourism though for a short period of time. However, it is important to underscore the importance of tourism in fostering peace. Tourism can help create or contribute towards peace by fostering cross-cultural understanding. Culture and history are important aspects in the destination sustainability and competitiveness. Additionally, this part of the Destination Competitive and Sustainability model can be used to foster peace. For example, culture and history helps reiterate the need for peace. A good example of how culture and history can be used to foster or contribute towards peace is through staging cultural events. Tourist destinations can showcase different cultures on the same stage. The cultural exchanges help foster peace through exchange of knowledge about different cultures. Another example of how culture and history can be used to foster peace in a community is through learning (Mccool & Moisey, 2008, Pp.236). When history is passed down the generation, there is continued understanding among the populace of the factors leading to and surrounding certain events. Through such an understanding, people are able to move on and embrace the happenings.
References
Ali, A., & Frew, A. J. (2012). Information communication technologies and sustainable tourism. New York: Routledge.
Buckley, R., 2012, “Sustainable Tourism: Research and Reality” Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 39, No.2, pp 528-546,
Mccool, S. F., & Moisey, R. N. (2008). Tourism, recreation, and sustainability: linking culture and the environment. Wallingford [England], CABI.
Ritchie and Crouch, 2003, “The Competitive Destination: A Sustainable Tourism Perspective,” CABI.
Wang, Z., Li, Z., Beauchamp, G., & Jiang, Z. (2011). Flock size and human disturbance affect vigilance of endangered red-crowned cranes. Biological Conservation, 144(1), 101-105.
