Zoos and Tourism: Conservation, Education, Entertainment?

by Warwick Frost

Overview

Zoos are important and popular tourist attractions. Spread around the world, they are typically located in major cities, with visitation levels comparable to other major attractions. Nature-based attractions constructed in artificial settings, they face the challenge of trying to balance potentially conflicting aims of conservation, education and entertainment. The best are continually developing fresh and effective techniques on visitor interpretation and management, the worst highlight the manipulation of animals for human gratification. Taking a global approach, this book examines the problems and paradoxes of zoos as they try to balance their roles as visitor attractions while repositioning themselves as leading conservation agencies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781845411633
Publisher:	Multilingual Matters Ltd.
Publication date:	12/15/2010
Series:	Aspects of Tourism , #46
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Warwick Frost is an Associate Professor at La Trobe University, Australia. His research interests include natural and cultural heritage and the interplay between tourism and popular culture. His recent publications include Books and Travel (with Jennifer Laing, 2012).

Table of Contents

Contributors vii

Acknowledgements ix

1 Rethinking Zoos and Tourism Warwick Frost 1

Part 1 Conservation 9

2 Zoo Tourism and the Conservation of Threatened Species: A Collaborative Programme in the Philippines Corazon Catibog-Sinha 13

3 A Typology of Animal Displays in Captive Settings Amir Shani Abraham Pizam 33

4 Ecotourism and the Commodification of Wildlife: Animal Welfare and the Ethics of Zoos Stephen Wearing Chantelle Jobberns 47

5 The Rhetoric versus the Reality: A Critical Examination of the Zoo Proposition Liam Smith Betty Weiler Sam Ham 59

6 Conservation, Education or Entertainment: What Really Matters to Zoo Visitors? Sharon Linke Caroline Winter 69

Part 2 New Developments 83

7 Fun, Fascination and Fear: Exploring the Construction and Consumption of Aquarium Shark Exhibits John Dobson 85

8 Singapore Zoo and Night Safari Joan C. Henderson 100

9 Heterogeneous Spaces of Tourism and Recreation at Mumbai Zoo, India Kevin Hannam 112

10 Zoos as Tourist Attractions: Theme Parks, Protected Areas or Museums? Warwick Frost 121

Part 3 The Visitor Experience 131

11 Up Close and Personal: Rethinking Zoos and the Experience Economy Warwick Frost Jennifer Laing 133

12 Feeding Time at the Zoo: Food Service and Attraction Management Philipp Boksberger Markus Schuckert Richard Robinson 143

13 The Value of Zoo Volunteer Programmes Kirsten Holmes Karen A. Smith 154

14 I Can't Look: Disgust as a Factor in the Zoo Experience Nancy Cushing Kevin Markwell 167

15 Visitor Expectations and Visit Satisfaction at Zoos Gary Crilley 179

Part 4 Media 187

16 Zoos and the Media Peter Mason 189

17 Zoos Victoria: Branding, Marketing and Designing Multi-Location Zoos Leanne White 204

18 From Winnie-the-Pooh to Madagascar: Fictional Media Images of the Zoo Experience Warwick Frost 217

19 Zoos and Tourism in a Changing World Warwick Frost 227

References 236

Index 261

Editorial Reviews

This book, edited by Frost (La Trobe Univ., Australia), fills a long-standing gap in the tourism literature by examining the complex relationship between zoos (including aquariums) and tourism....The book sets a positive tone by showing that tourism can and should play an active role in transforming zoos into institutions of nature conservation. This, in turn, contributes to meaningful visitor experiences—a key output of sustainable nature-based tourism. This book has ce11ainly built a foundation for future tourism research and practice involving zoos and aquariums. It will serve very well as a primary or supplemental resource in tourism and conservation courses. Summing Up: Highly recommended.

Y-F. Leung

Overall, ‘Zoos and tourism’ fulfils its aims and is a very useful book for anyone who is starting research, or for someone who wants to get new ideas about, potential research topics in zoo tourism, especially with regards to the conflicting roles of zoos in conservation, education and entertainment.

Dirk Reiser

This book provides a detailed and critical examination of the conflicting roles and identities of the modern zoo from a tourism perspective and as such reminds us that zoos are as much about the people who visit them as about the animals that they display. At a time when they are under continual critical scrutiny, this book delivers a fresh approach to our understanding and appreciation of zoos and of the challenges and opportunities that they face as they strive to remain relevant within modern society.

Andrew Tribe