Tensions among players, conservation and development of the ecotourism industry? The case of The National Park Mont-Orford (Quebec, Canada)

Abstract

The controversies that often arise around the issues of planning, implementation and management of national parks, and that put into play states, state corporations, local authorities, local communities, environmental groups and (eco) touristic business promoters, put dual issue about land management to accommodate a national park and ways of tourism that respect the natural environment and local people. Strategies used by players in a conflict over a park may explain the difficulty in reaching an agreement on the qualification process of a territory between protected areas and sustainable development area and also find a form of integration between development and conservation, which are collectively admitted, through a tourism shared project. As study case, it has been used the conflict of Mont-Orford National Park, its changes. The debate opposes two major kinds of values: 1) conservation through ecological and territorial integrity, 2) development of a modern and competitive tourism offer taking part of the attractiveness of a National Park host area. Thus the analysis of social players strategies draws lessons on ecotourism and territorial governance. In particular, the issue of ecotourism model is seen and discussed as a solution to the sustainable development of local communities. Finally, two key conditions for an ecotourism project establishment are highlighted: the first relates to the operating content innovation of the project; the second relates to the territorial management and the role of a key player - a committee, an association or another independent organization able to prioritize a protected area partnership management.