"Back from the brink" or "Last chance to see?": Endangered species as an ecotourism development opportunity

Abstract

A growing literature identifies the potential for the nature-based tourism sector to capitalise on the visiting public’s interest in witnessing rare, unique and declining natural phenomena, including wildlife, landscapes and cultures (Dawson et. al., 2011). Often conceptualised as ‘last chance to see’ (Lemelin, Dawson, & Stewart, 2012), this form of tourism can be criticised as fatalistic in outlook, and potentially unhelpful for the features of interest, in that the phrase conveys a sentiment that these attractions are lost causes, and might undermine and/or reduce the possibility that visitors can do anything to assist, influence or change the outcome. Using a case study of the kakī, a critically endangered wading bird once numerous in the braided river systems of New Zealand’s South Island, but now in a phase of recovery, this paper considers the merits of, and opportunities for, an alternative focus on ‘back from the brink’ tourism. The case study suggests that, in some environmentally fragile settings, there may be opportunities to leverage conservation benefit from a recovery narrative, and at the same time, provide excellent community development outcomes for rural economies. Furthermore, developing this form of eco-tourism may assist in spreading positive economic outcomes in areas outside of current high intensity tourist sites. The paper draws on data collected as part of a research thesis, generated via a visitor survey and qualitative interviews with tourism stakeholders and key informants. The discussion culminates in a model which considers the placement of ‘back from the brink’ tourism in the special interest tourism discourse.