WH SITE AND SIZE

COUNTRY

ANNUAL TOURISTS

COMMENTS

Great Smoky Mts.

USA

(1996)

Economic impact of $689,220,799 and 10,338 jobs in 1994. Most visited park in USA.

Canadian Rocky Mts.

CANADA

9 million

Total includes visitors to four of seven park complex.

Grand Canyon

USA

(1996)

Economic impact of $495,955,903 and 14,879 jobs in 1994.

Yosemite

USA

(1996)

Economic impact of $1,130,590,972 and 22,612 jobs in 1994. After recent floods and years of heavy tourism, park has proposed drastic changes to reduce vehicle access.

Wet Tropics

AUSTRALIA

(1997)

Economic impact of over $500 million (US) per year. 30% visit as part of guided tours. 56 tour companies have services in the park.

Olympic

USA

3,348,723

Economic impact of $171,857,382 and 5,156 jobs in 1994. Most visitors remain near coast and road near border of park. 125,000 visitors in backcountry per year.

Yellowstone

USA

(1996)

Economic impact of $643,070,526 and 12,861 jobs in 1994. Only 100,000 visit in winter and only 20,000 backcountry. Over 600 km of roads and 1,930 km of trails in the park.

Great Barrier Reef

AUSTRALIA

(1993)

The 2 million + tourists in 1993 were taken to the park in 542 vessels and spent 1.8 million visitor nights on the reefs and islands generating $70 million.

Waterton

USA

(1996)

1,720,805 people visited Glacier and 350,000 visited Waterton in 1997. In 1994, the economic impact from tourism at Glacier was $159,486,238 and 2,392 jobs.

Central Eastern Rainforests

AUSTRALIA

(1997)

Recent study has been conducted on tourism.

Pyrénées - Mont Perdu

SPAIN / FRANCE

(1997)

Most visit in concentrated 2 month period.

Mammoth Cave

USA

(1996)

Economic impact of $45,377,008 and 681 jobs in 1994. 60% visit in the summer. Average of 1.5 million visitors per year since 1979.

Iguazu / Iguacu

ARGENTINA / BRAZIL

and 1 million on Brazil side (1993)

10,300 visited during Holy Week alone. Plans exist to increase tourism and build new facilities.

Hawaii Volcanoes

USA

(1996)

Economic impact of $215,748,160 and 5,394 jobs in 1994. Kilauea Volcano was first climbed in 1974 and has been a tourist attraction since 1840.

Tongariro

NEW ZEALAND

(1997)

An increase from 90,000 in 1960. Economic impact of $1 million (NZ) to the local economy from tourism.

Te Wahipounamu

NEW ZEALAND

(1997)

The Park has nine visitor centres, the newest being Haast (1991), specifically built to interpret the World Heritage site.

Everglades

USA

(1996)

Economic impact of $55,583,245 and 1,667 jobs in 1994. Tourist facilities are extensive for many activities with five visitor centres.

Lake Baikal

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

(1994)

Many local, national and international tourists visit the Lake each year,

Carlsbad Caverns

USA

(1996)

Economic Impact of $20,008,950 and 600 jobs in 1994.

Tasmanian Wilderness

AUSTRALIA

(est.)

Economic impact of $308 million (US) in 1997. Peak season is in January. The most popular site is Cradle Mountain which received 178,000 visitors in 1995.

Mount Huangshan

CHINA

(1989)

Garajonay

SPAIN

450,000

Mostly day visitors

Redwood

USA

(1996)

Economic Impact of $38,714,919 and 774 jobs in 1994. 15% of visitors are foreigners, 42% of which are German.

Tatshenshini Alsek/ Kluane/ Wrangell-St. Elias/ Glacier Bay

USA

(1997)

304,374 visitors to Glacier Bay, 74,469 to Kluane, 31,467 to Wrangell-St. Elias and 1,000 to Tatshenshini-Alsek. In 1994, the economic impact of Glacier Bay was $62,211,600 and 622 jobs. The economic impact of Wrangell-St. Elias was $9,450,403 and 21 jobs.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta

AUSTRALIA

(1997)

64% visited from May to September, 85% arrive by road and the remainder by air. Tourism steadily increasing.

Pirin

BULGARIA

400,000

Ha Long Bay

VIETNAM

(1997)

Economic impact is over $10 million each year and increasing rapidly. 50% of visitors are foreign.

Wulingyuan

CHINA

350,000

Giant's Causeway

UNITED KINGDOM

350,000

50% of visitors are foreigners. Northern Ireland's most visited site.

Mt. Emei

CHINA

300,000

Victoria Falls Mosi-oa-Tunya

ZIMBABWE

(1997)

As one of the most frequently visited parks in Zambia, the tourism numbers are expected to rise to 1.5 million per year in next decade.

Plitvice

CROATIA

(1997)

Tourism reached 800,000 in mid 1980's (70% foreign) with peak numbers in July and August and revenue over $2.5 million (US), but with outbreak of civil war in 1991 and occupation of the park, tourism ceased and buildings were damaged. In 1996, a tourism revitalisation program began.

Machu Picchu

PERU

(1996)

Gros Morne

CANADA

(1994)

Doñana

SPAIN

250,000

A local guide is required. Each day, two four wheel drive excursions are permitted with a maximum of 125 people per trip.

Kakadu

AUSTRALIA

(1991)

Tourism increased from 45,800 in 1982. Annual gate revenue A$2.4 million of which 38% goes to park's traditional owners.

Fraser Island

AUSTRALIA

(1997)

In 1997, 140,000 passengers (71% day visitors) use commercial boat operators and 90,000 camping permits were issued (overlap with boat passengers).

Caves of Aggtelek and Slovak Karst

SLOVAKIA

200,000

Tourism began in 1806.

Jiuzhaigou

CHINA

200,000

Increasing rapidly with 500,000 expected in 2000.

Ngorongoro

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

(1994)

Tourism has quadrupled since 1983. 50% of visitors are foreigners.

Huanglong

CHINA

(1991)

Increasing rapidly

Shark Bay

AUSTRALIA

(1997)

Increasing slowly. 60% of tourists visit the Dolphin site.

Belize Barrier Reef

BELIZE

(1994)

Tourism generates $75 million per year.

Danube Delta

ROMANIA

100,000

Permission needed to visit the nature reserves which are closed during bird breeding season. The number of tourists has dropped dramatically in recent years, but in 1990, 40 private agencies operated.

Canaima

VENEZUELA

100,000

90% of visitors to the park visit the Gran Sabana since it is near the road on the east side and travel to the west side is restricted to air.

Huascaran

PERU

(1994)

5% of visitors are foreigners. The park has the largest and most developed trekking system in Peru.

Belovezhskaya / Bialowieza

BELARUS / POLAND

80,000

30% visit the core protected area.

Keoladeo

INDIA

(1984)

In 1994-95 an education and interpretation centre was established.

Los Glaciares

ARGENTINA

(1995)

78,000 was the average from 1990 to 1995 mainly in the Nov. to March season.

Lapponian Area

SWEDEN

75,000

Most tourists visit one area - Sjofallet National Park.

Serengeti

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

(1990)

From 1978 to 1985, tourism numbers decreased due to isolation as a result of the closed border with Kenya, but number of tourists increased 400% from 1985 to 1991. Further expansion of new lodges and other infrastructure projects have increased visitor numbers.

Galapagos

ECUADOR

(1996)

1986 figure was 26,000. $55 million generated by tourism in 1996.

Sites

AUSTRALIA

(1997)

42,000 used commercial tours and additional 15,000 visited Riversleigh. Number of non-paying tourists to site is unknown, but small.

Vallée de Mai

SEYCHELLES

53,000

Day visits only.

Skocjan Caves

SLOVENIA

(1996)

The caves have been used for tourism since 1819. 50% of visitors are foreign.

Willandra Lakes

AUSTRALIA

(1997)

Interpretative tours offered by Aboriginal resident guides. 80% of tourists are Australian, 90% of whom arrive April to October.

Manas

INDIA

(1984)

Closed 1989-1997 due to civil strife in Assam.

Komodo

INDONESIA

(1996)

Tourism has increased from only 100 visitors in 1980, creating over 1,800 local jobs. 90% of visitors are foreign

Royal Chitwan

NEPAL

(1989)

An increase from less than 1,000 in 1974.

Tikal

GUATEMALA

(1989)

Tourism is increasing.

Ichkeul

TUNISIA

(1987)

Visitor composition is 41% school groups and 7% foreign.

Mount Kenya

KENYA

(1992)

This site was inscribed in 1997.

Sagarmatha

NEPAL

(1996)

An increase from only 1,400 visitors in 1972. The local economy has become dependant on tourism.

Morne Trois Pitons

DOMINICA

(1997)

Day use.

Kaziranga

INDIA

(1997)

Reduced from 49,300 in 1995 due to unrest in Assam.

Volcanoes of Kamchatka

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

(1995)

30% of visitors are foreign. 2,000 people visit the Valley of the Geysers each year, the only geysers in Russia. Eco-tourism projects are being planned.

Yakushima

JAPAN

(1997)

Trail access only.

Kilimanjaro

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

(1995)

91% of hikers use the Marangu Trail.

Lord Howe

AUSTRALIA

(1997)

Number is legislatively limited by LHI Regional Environmental Plan. There are 393 bed licenses.

Lake Malawi

MALAWI

(1997)

There is some tourist development in the park and several small hotels are planned which will be designed to blend with local environment. Cape Mclear is most used recreation site.

Thungyai - Huai Kha Khaeng

THAILAND

(1997)

Tourism is restricted with permits given annually to naturalists, and scholars.

Game Reserve

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

(8,700 bed-nights)

Hunting is permitted in 45 of the 47 plots in Selous generating $1.5 million per year with an extra $150,000 from lodging. 3% of the park is reserved for photo safaris.

Mana Pools National Park and Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas

ZIMBABWE

(1997)

Most of site is not developed for tourism and the number of cars is limited. A tourist camp is located at the convergence of the Chikwenya, Sabi and Zambezi rivers. Recreational hunting is permitted.

Virunga

CONGO (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF)

(1988)

None at present due to civil unrest.

Wood Buffalo

CANADA

(1994)

Ujung Kulon

INDONESIA

(1997)

An unspecified number of tourists visit Krakatoa (within site) as well. 50% of visitors are foreign.

Sundarbans

BANGLADESH

(1996)

This site was inscribed in 1997.

Messel Pit

GERMANY

(1997)

Access by guided tour only.

Djoudj

SENEGAL

5,000

A new eco-tourism museum was recently constructed.

Bwindi

UGANDA

(1991)

Most tourists come to see the mountain gorillas. 10-12 permits are issued each day at $150 each generating over $1 million per annum.

Sangay

ECUADOR

(1991)

Shirakami-Sanchi

JAPAN

3,000

Visitors come to climb the mountain. There are no roads or services in the park.

Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino

MEXICO

(1990)

Tourists visit Laguna San Ignacio to watch the whales.

"W"

NIGER

3,000

Visitors arrive from December to May.

Niokolo-Koba

SENEGAL

(1997)

Tourism is moderate with an average of 2,617 visitors per year since 1990. Visitors arrive from up to 38 different countries each year.

and Marine Park

COSTA RICA

(1997)

Site inscribed in 1997.

Virgin Komi

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

2,000

Trails and helicopters used for access.

Tsingy de Bemaraha

MADAGASCAR

(1997)

Despite lack of facilities, tourism has increased 1,000% past 5 years with visitors from 29 countries (80% European).

St. Kilda

UNITED KINGDOM

(1997)

Charter companies run short trips, but visitors must remain on board at night. NTS and other scientists visit more often and are housed in cottages.

Tubbataha Reef

PHILIPPINES

1,500

Visitors are foreign divers who visit between March and June.

Nahanni

CANADA

(1993)

Tourist season is short with 89% of visitors in July and August.

Rwenzori

UGANDA

(1991)

7,000 mountaineers visited between 1990 and 1995.

Aldabra Atoll

SEYCHELLES

(1996)

All tourists arrive by cruise ships.

Sian Ka'an

MEXICO

(1991)

Increased since then but no data available.

Manu

PERU

(1986)

The first lodge was built in 1986. A tourism study undertaken in 1989.

Macquarie Island

AUSTRALIA

(1991)

La Amistad

PANAMA

(1997)

Increase of 600% since 1995, 90% of which are nationals.

Simen

ETHIOPIA

150

Tourism expected to increase since a road was built to the park.

Arabian Oryx

OMAN

150

Tourism limited due to lack of accommodation.

Banc d'Arguin

MAURITANIA

100

Ecotourism plan recently developed.

Sibiloi Central Island

KENYA

(1996)

Heard and McDonald Islands

AUSTRALIA

0

Dja

CAMEROON