Volume: 5  Number: 3  Page: 211–222  doi:10.2167/joe100.0

Research Note Observations of Non-Compliance Behaviour by Tourists to a Voluntary Code of Conduct: A Pilot Study of Turtle Tourism in the Exmouth Region, Western Australia

D. Waayers1, D. Newsome1 and D. Lee2 1School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, Western Australia and 2Tourism Programme, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, Western Australia

This paper reports on the results of a pilot study of observations of non-compliance behaviour by tourists to a voluntary code of conduct based on marine turtles attempting to nest in the Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia. The study used focal-animal sampling to record the response of marine turtles to non compliance behaviour of tourist groups. Results of observations indicated that 77% of tourist groups breached the code of conduct, with 51% of these breaches resulting in a disturbance to marine turtles attempting to nest. The key aspects of the code of conduct that were breached included: shining light on the turtle; being closer than three metres from a turtle; and not staying behind the turtle at all times. The greatest disturbance to marine turtles was from tourists groups shining their torches on the turtles. This work demonstrates the need for further research into disturbance of turtles by tourists and the effectiveness of voluntary codes of conduct

Keywords: voluntary code of conduct, non-compliance, disturbance, green turtles, wildlife tourism

© 2006 D. Waayers et al.

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