Preface

The act of spending time away from home in pursuit of recreation, relaxation, and pleasure is called tourism. The tourism industry is directly and/or indirectly associated with per capita income. Since 2019, the tourism sector has been suffering badly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has stalled economic activities and restricted traveling.

Many factors attract international tourists, including transportation infrastructure and visa policies, both of which facilitate travelers' access to their desired destinations. However, a high crime rate and lack of tourist security create harmful effects on the tourism industry and portray a country's negative image.

This book presents case studies and practices in the tourism sector from different parts of the world. It also examines the challenges and obstacles faced by the tourism sector due to lack of environmental policies, high crime rates, and poverty. Further, the book also discloses some potential opportunities in the tourism sector.

We would like to thank the contributors to this book for their extraordinary hard work in writing their valuable and innovative chapters. We would also like to thank Author Service Manager Ms. Marijana Francetic for coordinating and facilitating the authors. We also extend our thanks to IntechOpen for publishing this work.

Thank you,

**Dr. Syed Abdul Rehman Khan, Ph.D.** Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou, China

Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Spatial Information Engineering, Beijing, China

**1**

Section 1

Introduction

Section 1 Introduction

**3**

**Chapter 1**

Amazon

**Abstract**

activities with cetaceans.

natural potential imperative [2].

**1. Introduction**

Challenges and Advances in the

River Dolphins in the Brazilian

*Marcelo Derzi Vidal, Priscila Maria da Costa Santos,* 

Planning of Tourism with Amazon

*Maria do Perpétuo Socorro Rodrigues Chaves and Robert Swett*

Being considered charismatic cetaceans are among the animals most sought after in tourist interactions that may involve observation, touch, swimming, and provisioning food. This tourism model has the potential to generate socioeconomic and conservationist benefits. However, when carried out in a disorderly manner, this can have a negative impact on cetaceans and tourists alike. In this chapter, we discuss the challenges and advances within the process of participatory planning of tourism with Amazon River dolphins (*Inia geoffrensis*). Our goal is to present strategies that can support the development of projects and public policies aimed at management of wildlife tourism in other areas. Since its implementation at the Anavilhanas National Park - Brazil, the activity had never had its impact monitored by any competent bodies, and this has led to problems and quick spreading to other sites. The rules and guidelines implemented in have significantly reduced risks for tourists and dolphins alike, improving tourist experience and promoting the awareness of animal life. However, many issues remain and need to be solved, especially in the protected areas. These include reduced staff levels, which limits the ability to implement and monitor planned actions. Such shortcomings lead to setbacks in the development of tourist

**Keywords:** *Inia geoffrensis*, protected area, public policy, visitors, wildlife

The settlement and development of the Amazon were started based on the paradigm of a relationship between society and nature, meaning that economic growth is seen as linear and infinite, and on the continuous exploitation of natural resources [1], which has contributed to the depletion or extinction of species, caused environmental imbalances, gaps in knowledge about how many and which species exist in the region, and loss of potentially exploitable economic resources. This has made the search for tools that allow the best use and exploitation of its
