The Development of an Interpretive Experience to Foster Positive Tourist Encounters and Manage Turtle Tourism in Northwest Western Australia: Implications for Further Research

Abstract

fund turtle conservation projects, and by encouraging tourists to have a conservation ethic and contribute financially to turtle conservation (Landry & Taggart, 2010;, 2005a, 2005bTisdell, Nantha, & Wilson, 2007. Tourism based on viewing nesting marine turtles occurs both formally (guided) and informally (free independent travelers) at many locations throughout the world, including Costa Rica, Malaysia, South Africa, Brazil, America, THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCE TO FOSTER POSITIVE TOURIST ENCOUNTERS AND MANAGE TURTLE TOURISM IN NORTHWEST WESTERN AUSTRALIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCHL. SMITH,* D. NEWSOME,* AND D. LEE † *School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia †Tourism Programme, Murdoch University, Perth, Western AustraliaIn understanding the importance of interpretation in guiding sustainable turtle tourism, this article reports on the effect of an interpretation program, the Jurabi Turtle Experience (JTE), on the behavior of turtle-watching tourists at the Jurabi Coastal Park, on the Northwest Cape of Western Australia. Ninety-seven turtle-watching tourists in the Jurabi Coastal Park, including people who attended the JTE and others who did not, were sampled during the peak turtle nesting season (December-January) using participant observation and a questionnaire. People participating in the JTE showed increased compliance with a behavioral code of conduct for turtle watching and higher satisfaction with the experience compared with people who did not participate. These increases strengthen the case for continuing the JTE and possibly requiring all Jurabi Coastal Park visitors to participate in a JTE-like experience.