Abstract

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.