INTRODUCTION
The natural environment is crucial to the attractiveness of almost all
travel destinations and recreation areas. Natural resources, the ecosystem,
regional ecology, whatever may be the designation or concept, in
their physical expressions, provide an important “backdrop” to comBryan
Farrell is Professor of Orography. at University of California (Santa Cruz CA
95064. USA). He has vritten cstensivcly on development. cultural and environmental
chanqe. and tourism I’rom an ecological and svsrcmic viewpoint. Dean Runyan is
Principal of Dean Runyan Associates which sprc&l~zcs in research and the planning of
tourism and recreation. His work focuses on pro,ject feasibility studies, economic
impact analyses, and travel rcsc’arc h