Fees, fines and awards

The collection of visitor access fees is a useful and simple way of ensuring a constant stream of revenue that can be directed at sensitive area and/or protected area preservation and conservation. In Costa Rica, for example, where tourism generates 140,000 jobs and produces 8.4% of the gross domestic product. 25% of the country is classified under some category of conservation management. In 1999, protected areas welcomed 866,083 national and foreign tourists, who generated about US$ 2.5 million in admission fees and payment of services. In addition to collecting money for the direct conservation of protected areas, some governments collect money in more far-reaching and indirect ways. User fees, income taxes, taxes on sale and license fees for activities such as fishing can provide governments with the necessary funds to manage natural resources. Such funds can be used for overall conservation programs and activities, such as park ranger salaries and park maintenance.
In Honolulu for example, the city has established an impact fees system that is meant to deal with the ecological stress that shoreline developments have placed on sewage treatment, water, drainage and transportation systems. These fees, paid by individual developers to the city, cover all costs for infrastructure expansion necessary to accommodate added development. In addition to the fee system, restrictions have been put in place regarding the number of hotel rooms that are permitted in individual tourist zones.

The Seychelles in the Indian Ocean is introducing a US$ 90 tax on travellers entering the Seychelles. Revenue will be used to preserve the environment and improve tourism facilities.
In Belize, a departure tax of US$ 3.75 goes directly to the Protected Area Conservation Trust. This Belizean fund is dedicated to the conservation of the country's barrier reef and rainforest.

Reef tourism attracts millions of divers every year. These tourists often select their location and are willing to pay more to observe undamaged reefs. The value of tourism, and dive tourism in particular, has been critical in providing direct income for management and enforcement activities for some sites. User fees in the marine parks on Saba and Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles for example, provided 60-70 percent of the annual park running costs in 1999. Much of the remaining operational costs were provided by sales of souvenirs and yacht fees. However, even where such direct benefits cannot be calculated, the income provided to individual hotels, dive companies and national economies from dive tourism is clearly enhanced in many countries by the presence of protected areas.