The Intersection of Tourism and Wildlife Crime: Α Criminological Perspective

• In Event: GREEN Panel 3, Disrupting Criminal Networks: From Waste to Wildlife

Abstract

The connection between wildlife crime and tourism has become increasingly significant, particularly in biodiversity-rich regions. These areas, celebrated for their unique flora and fauna, are critical for tourism but are simultaneously vulnerable to illegal activities targeting wildlife. Crimes such as poaching, illegal trade of endangered species, and habitat destruction not only undermine biodiversity but also threaten the viability of tourism reliant on natural ecosystems.

From a criminological perspective, wildlife crime constitutes a complex and transnational issue. This presentation examines the interplay between tourism-driven demand and illegal wildlife trade networks, utilizing frameworks such as environmental criminology and the routine activity approach. It highlights the involvement of organized crime in exploiting enforcement deficiencies and ecological vulnerabilities, compounding the risks to global biodiversity.

Focusing on the criminological aspects, the study sheds light on the structural dynamics of these illicit networks and their impact on both the environment and the sustainability of tourism. The analysis calls for further exploration of collaborative and community-based strategies to mitigate the intertwined challenges of wildlife crime and unsustainable tourism.

Key Words: Wildlife Crime, Tourism, Environmental Criminology, Illegal Wildlife Trade

Authors

• Fotios Spyropoulos, PHILIPS UNIVERSITY (Cy)

• Martha Lempesi, Center for the Study of Crime

• Evangelia Androulaki, Department of Business Administration, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)