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4th International Lakes Tourism Conference
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 “Making Lake Conservation Work For Communities – And For Lakes”
21 -25 June 2009
Lakehead University
Thunder Bay, Ontario
The 4th International Lakes Tourism Conference is scheduled to take place at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada and the communities of Red Rock and Nipigon on the shores of the recently declared Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area from 21 to 25 June, 2009.
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Initial call for papers
Lakes are among the least protected of the major biomes on earth, despite their obvious value as tourism and recreation venues and the many threats they face from the impacts of human activities (Hall & Harkonen, 2006). The declaration by the Canadian Government in 2007 of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, after many years of negotiation, is a welcome addition to the international efforts for lake protection. This, the most extensive lake protected area in the world set in the second largest body of fresh water on earth, will present many opportunities and challenges for both park managers and communities on its shores.
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The declaration of the new park comes at a particularly opportune time for the rural communities along its shores providing the possibility for diversification beyond sole dependence on extractive industries. This initiative can provide a focus for these communities to capitalise further on the abundance of recreational, tourism, aesthetic and natural resources on their doorstep which can in combination, provide a solid base for social and economic prosperity.
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The 4th International Lakes Tourism Conference seeks to draw together researchers, agencies and local communities in exploring the potential of lake conservation areas to contribute to social and economic sustainability by sharing their research findings and experiences both exemplary and cautionary from around the world in “Making Lake Conservation Work for Communities†*AND* for Lakes!
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Papers are invited from researchers and students addressing (but not limited to) the thematic areas listed below. Further details on all aspects of the conference can be found at http://www.laketourism.org/content/view/37/70/
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Conference Themes
o     Lake protected areas and community tourism development
o     Lakes and amenity migration
o     Planning and management of tourism in protected lakes
o     Lake tourism and global climate change
o     Cultural and historical dimensions of lake tourism
o     The impacts of tourism on lakes
o     Marketing lake tourism
o     Sustainability and lake tourism
o     Indigenous tourism and lakes
o     Issues in lake tourism
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Contact:
R.J. Payne, Professor
School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism
Lakehead University
Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1
Canada
Tel. 807-343-8758
Fax 807-346-7836
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