Methods of monitoring the visitors inside the natural protected areas

The monitoring activity represents a part of the management plan which is constantly evaluating the actions inside a protected area. The tourists’ monitoring is made through specific means that are established on a scientific basis. It can be done by the staff of the protected area, after an appropriate training or by scientists in joint programs. This process requires considerable resources, time and effort, collecting, processing and interpreting the data, how they will be used and the obtained results. This process also requires time, effort and the availability of the visitors. The information collected from visitors, if they are collected by appropriate means, can support the initiation of educational and interpretation activities within the protected area. Therefore, monitoring should include tourism and educational activities as from its results it could develop long-term trends and ways to be followed in this domain.