Tourists’ knowledge, perceptions and behaviours toward invasive species

SHACKLETON, ROSS; PIZARRO, CRISTOBAL; ROSSI, SEBASTIAN DARIO

Tourism, Recreation and Biological Invasions

CABI

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2022;

In this chapter, we review the contributions of past research on tourists’ knowledge, perceptions, and behaviours towards invasive non-native species (INNS) globally. Although this is an underrepresented topic in the invasion science research field, we highlight its importance for improving scientific understanding, policy, and management. In particular, a better understanding of tourists’ knowledge and perceptions can help with well-targeted education and awareness campaigns to mitigate their role in the introduction and spread of INNS as well as help to develop strategies to mobilize tourists to contribute to the control of invasions in the sites they visit. For example, enhancing tourists’ knowledge and engagement could also provide extra revenues to better manage invasions at popular touristic sites, as illustrated by numerous willingness-to-pay studies. A better understanding of the perceptions and behaviours of tourists, tourism-related stakeholders and other actors could also give insights into conflicts and inform measures to mitigate them in the future. More engagement with this topic could help to develop strategies and policies to build broader buy into INNS management and make control actions more socially acceptable.