Scratching beneath the surface: a systems thinking approach for uncovering hidden dynamics impacting tourism and poaching

Abstract

Approaches that capture the complex interplay between tourism and wildlife crime, such as systems thinking, would enable a holistic understanding of tourism systems. The global surge in poaching during COVID-19 lockdowns underscores the need for such holistic understanding to foster tourism resilience post-pandemic. We adopt a systems approach to analyse the hidden dynamics affecting tourism and its relationship to poaching in the Caribbean’s most popular destination: the Dominican Republic. We conducted interviews with key stakeholders to (1) produce a causal loop diagram illustrating underlying factors causing the failure of a community-based ecotourism project to curb illegal fishing in a marine protected area, (2) identify systems archetypes and key strategic leverage points, and (3) propose fit-for-purpose interventions. The findings reveal 4 systems archetypes and 20 feedback loops, with collaboration emerging as a strategic leverage point. We propose a fifth novel archetype, “Intention vs Action”, and suggest interventions centred on mental models and social capital to combat system decline. The methodology offers powerful visual and narrative tools for holistic planning in protected areas to maximise the success of tourism interventions. The study has valuable policy implications for tourism planning and wildlife crime, enabling tourism managers to understand systems holistically before introducing interventions.