GENERAL VIEW
Even with this problem at site, many of the eco-tourists (consumers) who visit still see it as a gift of nature that should not attract any significant charges. It is easily seen that recreational opportunities in protected areas are often under priced. Most parks all over the world frequently charge a little or no price for the recreational opportunities provided. As a result of these, there should be a proper mechanism put in place to generate a steady income.
INCOME-GENERATING MECHANISMS
There are good numbers of relatively simple market-based mechanisms for generating revenues in ecotourism business. These can be described based on the types of fees and charges that exist in an ecotourism or protected area.
TYPES OF FEES AND CHARGES IN PROTECTED AREAS
There are different types of fees in an ecotourism area. Among the existing fees and charges are; entrance fees , admission fees , users fees, licenses and permits, royalties and sales revenue, concession fees, taxes, leases and rent fees and voluntary donations.
- Entrance fees
Theses are fees charged to visitors in order to enter ecotourism site or a protected area. This can be collected: – at the administrative centre; – at the entrance of the site; – It can also be charged directly to the visitors; – Or alternatively on the tour operators who negotiated the visit. In other words, this would be included in the total cost of their tour package. However, some sites do not charge an entrance fees but for the facilities used in the ecotourism site base on the policy and the management operation principles of each site.
- Admission Fees
These are fees collected for the use of facilities in a protected area. It could also be the fees charged for partaken in special activities such as museum, photography class, horse racing and others.
- User Fees
These are fees charged to visitors for the use of a service or a particular facility or opportunity offer by the site which incurs a cost higher than the one covered by the entrance fees. Examples of such facilities are; parking fees for visitors in an organized camping or primitive areas.
- Licenses or Permits
These are fees charged on tour operators for allowing them to manage visitors in the protected areas. Traditionally, these are melting to be renewed annually and can be used by protected area managers as means of controlling and limiting access to an area. They are mostly used for activities that require special supervision or management due to the need for rationing such as rock climbing; fishing etc. They are also means of reducing human impacts. It is also good for monitoring the number of visitors that actually carry out certain activities. Moreover, guides and tour operators may also need special permission to work within the site, for which a fee is usually charged.
- Sales
Profit from the sales of items such as souvenirs, food and other products to visitors by either the site’s administration or third parties within the site must be calculated carefully after deducting all costs, such as purchasing cost or manufacturing cost, labour cost etc. The third parties must also make a profit before the site’s administrator received a percentage.
- Concessions
This is a scenario by which third persons provide a service to visitors within an ecotourism site. The most common examples of these are; lodging provision, food services to visitors within the site, provision of horses for visitor’s use, guided tour and boat for transport. All these can be done through the concession mechanism. However, the administration of some ecotourism sites may choose to carry out all the services in-house without involving concessions. This is a decision that each site management will need to make. It is also subject to the availability of the expertise or the investment capital needed to provide the services in a professional manner and at the same time maintain the profit margin. Notwithstanding, a strong and regularly audited accounting would be necessary for a successful implementation.
OLOWOLE, Femi Peter
