Unit1商務(wù)英語綜合教程三

Unit1商務(wù)英語綜合教程三ThemeoftheUnit

Whatbenefitsdoestravelingbringtothetravelersandthelocalpeople?

Whatdamagesdoestravelingbringtothelocalpeople?Travel,intheyoungersort,isapartofeducation,intheelder,apartofexperience.Whosaidthissentence?Whatdoesitmean?

FrancisBacon遠(yuǎn)游于年少者乃教育之一部分，于年長(zhǎng)者則為經(jīng)驗(yàn)之一部分。Whatbenefitsdoestravelingbringtothetravelersandthelocalpeople?exoticlandscapefriendsartsandcraftsWhatdamagesdoestravelingbringtothelocalpeople?constructiondestroysscenerylitterHowwouldyoufeelwhenyoufirststeponastrangeland,allalone?Addmoretothefollowinglist:excited,scared,curious,cautiousWhatwouldyoudofirstofall?Addmoretothefollowinglist:findahotel,trythelocalfood,changecurrency,getamapAbouttheAuthorAbouttheTextWhereisCalais?WhatdoesaBritishdoorwaylooklike?ANoelCowardplayWhatcanyoulearnabouttheauthorfromthesecomments?"Brysonisunparalleledinhisabilitytocutacultureoffatthekneesinawaythatissohumorousandsoaffectionatethatthosebeingridiculedarelaughingtoohardtotakeoffense."

—TheWallStreetJournalonTheLifeandTimesoftheThunderboltKid

"Brysonhasbecomeanenormouslypopulartravelwriterbycomingoffasthemostliteratetourguideyou'veeverhad."—TheNewYorkTimesHaveyouheardoforreadanyofhisbooks?Haveyouheardof“NotesfromaSmallIsland”?ItisahumoroustravelbookontheUnitedKingdombyAmericanauthorBillBryson,firstpublishedin1995.ThetextistakenfromthePrologueofthebook.aprefaceorintroductorypartofadiscourse,poem,ornovelpro logue

beforediscourse,speechn.b.WhereisCalais?CalaisissituatedonthenorthcoastofFranceandistheclosestFrenchtowntotheUnitedKingdom–about90minutesbyferrytoDover,

atownandmajorferryportinSouthEastEngland.ItissituatedonthemostfrequentedshippinglanesintheworldandhasbecomethebindingfactorfortradeandtourismbetweenFranceandEnglandviatheEnglishChannel.WhatdoesaBritishdoorwaylooklike?CanyouimaginehowtheAmericantrippedonastepofaBritishdoorwayinthedark?aNoelCowardplayWhoisNoelCoward?(1899-1973)Englishplaywright,actor,andcomposer,knownforhislikablesophisticationandsharpsenseofhumor.Althoughhewrotesomeofthemostpopularplaysofhistime,hewasalsoknownforhisentertainingpersonalityandhisabilitiesasawittystoryteller.CowardwashonoredinrecognitionofhistalentsandservicetohiscountrywhenhewasmadeaknightbyEngland'sQueenElizabethin1970.Whatarehischaracterslike?ThecharactersandsettingsofmostofNoel’sworksareofthehighsociety.Hewasboththeepitomeofupper-classEnglishmannersandasatiristwhoexposedthefoiblesandhypocrisiesofhisage,althoughhewasborntoalower-middleclassfamily.Noel’sPrivateLivesNotesfromaSmallIslandBillBrysonMyfirstsightofEnglandwasonafoggyMarchnightin1973whenIarrivedonthemidnightferryfromCalais.Fortwentyminutes,theterminalareawasaswarmwithactivityascarsandlorriespouredforth,customspeopledidtheirduties,andeveryonemadefortheLondonroad.ThenabruptlyallwassilenceandIwanderedthroughsleeping,low-litstreetsthreadedwithfog,justlikeinaBulldogDrummondmovie.ItwasratherwonderfulhavinganEnglishtownalltomyself.Theonlymildlydismayingthingwasthatallthehotelsandguesthousesappearedtobeshutupforthenight.Iwalkedasfarastherailstation,thinkingI’dcatchatraintoLondon,butthestation,too,wasdarkandshuttered.IwasstandingwonderingwhattodowhenInoticedagreylightoftelevisionfillinganupstairswindowofaguesthouseacrosstheroad.Hooray,Ithought,someoneawake,andhastenedacross,planninghumbleapologiestothekindlyownerforthelatenessofmyarrivalandimaginingacheeryconversationwhichincludedtheline,“Oh,butIcouldn’tpossiblyaskyoutofeedmeatthishour.No,honestly–well,ifyou’requitesureit’snotrouble,thenperhapsjustaroastbeefsandwichandalargedillpicklewithperhapssomepotatosaladandabottleofbeer.”ThefrontpathwaspitchdarkandinmyeagernessandunfamiliaritywithBritishdoorways,Itrippedonastep,crashingface-firstintothedoorandsendinghalfadozenemptymilkbottlesclattering.Almostimmediatelytheupstairswindowopened.“Who’sthat?”cameasharpvoice.Isteppedback,rubbingmynose,andpeeredupatasilhouettewithhaircurlers.“Hello,I’mlookingforaroom,”Isaid.“We’reshut.”“Oh.”Butwhataboutmysupper?“TrytheChurchill.Onthefront.”“Onthefrontofwhat?”Iasked,butthewindowwasalreadybangingclosed.TheChurchillwassumptuousandwelllitandappearedreadytoreceivevisitors.ThroughawindowIcouldseepeopleinsuitsinabar,lookingelegantandsuave,likecharactersfromaNoelCowardplay.Ihesitatedintheshadows,feelinglikeastreeturchin.Iwassociallyandsartoriallyill-suitedforsuchanestablishmentandanywayitwasclearlybeyondmymeagerbudget.Onlythepreviousday,Ihadhandedoveranexceptionallyplumpwadofcolorfulfrancstoabeady-eyedPicardyhotelierinpaymentforonenightinalumpybedandaplateofmysteriouschasseurcontainingthebonesofassortedsmallanimals,muchofwhichhadtobesecretedawayinalargenapkininordernottoappearimpolite,andhaddeterminedthenceforthtobemorecautiouswithexpenditures.SoIturnedreluctantlyfromtheChurchill’sbeckoningwarmthandtrudgedoffintothedarkness.FurtheralongMarineParadestoodashelter,opentotheelementsbutroofed,andIdecidedthatthiswasasgoodasIwasgoingtoget.Withmybackpackforapillow,Ilaydownanddrewmyjackettightaroundme.Thebenchwasslattedandhardandstuddedwithbigroundheadedboltsthatmaderecliningincomfortanimpossibility-doubtlesstheirintention.Ilayforalongtimelisteningtotheseawashingovertheshinglebelow,andeventuallydroppedofftoalong,coldnightofmumbleddreamsinwhichIfoundmyselfbeingpursuedoverArcticicefloesbyabeady—eyedFrenchmanwithacatapult,abagofbolts,andanuncannyaim,whothwackedmerepeatedlyinthebuttocksandlegsforstealingalinennapkinfullofseepyfoodandleavingitatthebackofadresserdrawerofmyhotelroom.Iawokewithagaspaboutthree,stiffalloverandquiveringfromcold.Thefoghadgone.Theairwasnowstillandclear,andtheskywasbrightwithstars.Abeaconfromthelighthouseatthefarendofthebreakwatersweptendlesslyoverthesea.Itwasallmostfetching,butIwasfartoocoldtoappreciateit.IdugshiveringlythroughmybackpackandextractedeverypotentiallywarmingitemIcouldfind—aflannelshirt,twosweaters,anextrapairofjeans.Iusedsomewoolensocksasmittensandputapairofflannelboxershortsonmyheadasakindofdesperateheadwarmer,thensankheavilybackontothebenchandwaitedpatientlyfordeath’ssweetkiss.Instead,Ifellasleep.Iwasawakenedagainbyanabruptbellowoffoghorn,whichnearlyknockedmefrommynarrowperch,andsatupfeelingwretchedbutfractionallylesscold.Theworldwasbathedinthatmilkypre-dawnlightthatseemstocomefromnowhere.Gullswheeledandcriedoverthewater.Beyondthem,pastthestonebreakwater,aferry,vastandwelllit,slidregallyouttosea.Isatthereforsometime,ayoungmanwithmoreonhismindthaninit.Anotherboomingmoanfromtheship'sfoghornpassedoverthewater,re-excitingtheirksomegulls.Itookoffmysockmittensandlookedatmywatch.Itwas5.55a.m.Ilookedattherecedingferryandwonderedwhereanybodywouldbegoingatthathour.WherewouldIgoatthathour?Ipickedupmybackpackandshuffledoffdowntheprom,togetsomecirculationgoing.NeartheChurchill,nowitselfpeacefullysleeping,Icameacrossanoldguywalkingalittledog.Themannoddedagood-morningasIdrewlevel.“Mightturnoutnice,”heannounced,gazinghopefullyataskythatlookedlikeapileofwettowels.Iaskedhimiftherewasarestaurantanywherethatmightbeopen.Heknewofaplacenotfarawayanddirectedmetoit.“Verypopularwiththelorrydrivers.Theyalwaysknowthebestplaces,don’tthey?”Hesmiledamiably,thenloweredhisvoiceafractionandleanedtowardsmeasifabouttoshareaconfidence.“Youmightwanttotakethempantsoffyourheadbeforeyougoin.”Iclutchedmyhead—“Oh!”—andremovedtheforgottenboxershortswithablush.Itriedtothinkofasuccinctexplanation,butthemanwasscanningtheskyagain.Thecaféwasoutstanding—livelyandsteamyanddeliciouslywarm.Ihadaplatterofeggs,beans,friedbread,baconandsausage,withasideplateofbreadandmarge,andtwocupsoftea,allfor22p.Afterwards,feelinganewman,Iemergedwithatoothpickandaburp,andsaunteredhappilythroughthestreets,watchingDovercometolife.ItmustbesaidthatDoverwasnotvastlyimprovedbydaylight,butIlikedit.Ilikeditssmallscaleandcosyair,andthewayeveryonesaid“Good-morning,”and“Hello,”and“Dreadfulweather—butitmightbrightenup,”toeveryoneelse,andthesensethatthiswasjustonemoreinaverylongseriesoffundamentallycheerful,well-ordered,pleasantlyuneventfuldays.NooneinthewholeofDoverwouldhaveanyparticularreasontoremember21March1973,exceptformeandahandfulofchildrenbornthatdayandpossiblyoneoldguywithadogwhohadencounteredayoungfellowwithunderpantsonhishead.Whatdoesthesentencetellyouabouttheconditionoftheauthor?Paraphrasethesentence.TheChurchillissuchaluxurioushotelthatitisonlysuitableforthoserichpeoplewhoaresociallyrespectableandwelldressed.Forme,apoormannotwelldressed,itisdefinitelynotsuitable.BesidesIdidnothavemuchmoneytospendandcouldnotafforditanyway.Iwassociallyandsartoriallyill-suitedforsuchan

establishmentandanywayitwasclearlybeyondmymeagerbudget.ill-suited:notsuitableill:adv.badly,poorlyDoyouknowanyotherphraseswith“ill”?ill-treated,ill-conditioned,ill-advised,ill-prepared,ill-manneredestablishment:n.theplacewhereabusinessiscarriedonmeagerbudget:notenoughmoneymeager:a.deficientinquantityorquality;inadequate ameagersalary;ameagerharvest scanty,insufficient plentiful,sufficient,abundantWhatotherwordscanyouusetomodify“budget”?tight,small,reasonable,generouse.g.Syn.

Ant.FurtheralongMarineParadestoodashelter,opentotheelementsbutroofed,andIdecidedthatthiswasasgoodasIwasgoingtoget.Canyouparaphrasethesentence?InthedistanceontheMarineParadeIfoundastructurewitharoofalthoughitwasexposedtonaturalforces.Idecidedthatitcouldservemypurposeandwouldbeasgoodasaroominaguesthouse.Whyisinvertedsentencesusedusually?1)toemphasizee.g.Onlyinthiswaycanweleadamorerelaxedlife.2)toachievevividnesse.g.Downcamethehammerandoutflewthesparks.3)tobalancepartsofthesentencee.g.SosaysDr.RobertS.Eliot,authorofanewbooktitledFromStresstoStrength:HowtoLightenYourLoadandSaveYourLife.4)toconnectwiththepriorinformatione.g.Thechurchisaveryattractivemodernbuildingcompletedjustbeforethelastwar.Attachedtoitisaresidentialhomeforoldpeople.Abeaconfromthelighthouseatthefarendofthebreakwatersweptendlesslyoverthesea.far:a.1)beingatagreatdistance;remoteintimeorplace:afarcountry;thefarfuture2)extendingtoagreatdistance:thefarfrontiersofempire3)moredistantofthetwo:thefarsideIsatthereforsometime,ayoungmanwithmoreonhismindthaninit.Whatistheyoungman’sstateofmind?－Ithoughtwemighteatouttonight.－Wheredidyouhaveinmind?tobethinkingaboutsthasapossibilitytohavesthinone’smindn.b.

tohavesthonhismind:ifsthisonsb'smind,s/heisthinkingaboutitalotorworryingaboutit.I'msorryifI'vebeenabitirritablerecentlybutI'vegotalotonmymind(=I'mworryingalot)atthemoment.e.g.e.g.Otherphraseswith“mind”:Matchthefollowingphraseswiththeirmeanings.givesomeoneapieceofone'smindoutofone'smindintwominds,oftwomindshavehalfamindtodosthinone'smind'seyesetone'smindatrest,putone'smindatrestatthebackofyourmindslipone'smindinsanetocriticizesomeonefranklyorvehementlypassoutofone'smemoryinone'simaginationormemorynotdefiniteorresoluteundecided;waveringsthworryingyouisalwaysinyourmindalthoughyoudonotspendtimethinkingaboutitstopworrying,allayone'sanxietyAfterwards,feelinganewman,Iemergedwithatoothpickandaburp,andsaunteredhappilythroughthestreets,watchingDovercometolife.Paraphrasethesentence.AfterthebreakfastIfeltlikeanewmanandwalkedoutofthecaféwithatoothpickinmymouthandburped.Iwanderedonthestreetleisurelyandhappily,seeingDoverbecomemorelively.Payattentiontothesentencestructure:…

feelinganewman,Iemerged……

sauntered

throughthestreets,watching…e.g.Thegirlleftthepalaceandwenttothelake,weepingbitterly.Shebeggedhimnottodrinktoomuch,remindinghimthathe'dhavetodrivehome.aswarm:a.filled,esp.inmotiontobeaswarmwithe.g.Thegardenisaswarmwithbees.swarm:n.1)alargegroupofinsects,especiallybees,movingtogetherinthesamedirection

aswarmofbees

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locusts

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flies2)alargegroupofpeople,especiallywhentheyareallmovingquicklyinthesamedirectione.g.swarm:v.(oftendisapproving)(ofpeople,animals,etc.)tomovearoundinalargegroupe.g.Touristswereswarmingallovertheisland.threaded:a.interwovenorornamentedwiththreadsbethreadedwith…e.g.silkthreadedwithgoldstreetsthreadedwithfog(metaphor)rather:ad.toasignificantornoticeableextente.g.

Ididn’tfailtheexam;infactIdidratherwell!dismaying:a.disappointingdismay:n.aworried,sadfeelingafteryouhavereceivedanunpleasantsurprisetoone’sdismaydismay:v.tomakesbfeelshockedanddisappointede.g.e.g.Thenewshasbeengreetedwithdismaybylocalbusinessleaders.Helookedatherindismay.e.g.Thenewlawdismayedsomeofthemoreconservative

politicians.e.g.Shewasdismayedtolearnoftheirdisloyalty.shutter:v.tocloseorprovidewithshutterstoclose(astoreorbusiness

operations)forthedayorpermanentlye.g.Sheshutteredthewindows.shutter:n.asolidorlouveredmovablecoverforawindowputuptheshutters:closedowntheirbusinessesbring/putdowntheshutters:stoplettingsbknowwhatyourthoughtsorfeelingsare;stoplettingyourselfthinkaboutsthpitch:n.ablackstickysubstancemadefromoilorcoal,usedonroofsorthewoodenboardsofashiptostopwaterfromcomingthrough瀝青e.g.Touchpitch,andyouwillbedefiled.近墨者黑e.g.pitchdark漆黑的Doyouknowothermeaningsof“pitch”?pitch:n.-afootballpitch-ahighpitchofexcitement-salespitch-tomakeapitchtosb:tomakeadeterminedefforttogetsthortopersuadesbofsth-pitchinvasion:(BrE)anoccasionwhenacrowdofpeoplewhoarewatchingasportsgamerunontothefield,forexletocelebratesthorprotestaboutsth

pitch:v.fall,throw,slope,encpitchsth(atsb):toaimordirectaproductorserviceataparticulargroupofpeopleSyn.

clatter:v.tomakealoud,rattlingsound,asthatproducedbyhardobjectsstrikingrapidlyoneagainstthe

other

Theshuttersclatteredinthewind.e.g.e.g.Thenherememberedthatitwasnofunbeingangryunlesshehadsomeonetofrightenandmakemiserable,andherushedtohisbiggongandmadeitclatterasloudashecould.clatter:n.anonomatopoeiatheclatterofhorses'hoofsDoyouknowanyotheronomatopoeia?Whatmakethefollowingsounds?e.g.cling-clang;click;clank;clump;crack;bang;pop;quack;chirp;meow;grunt;mooplump:a.(ofamountsofmoney)generous;leaplumpchequee.g.Othermeaningsof“plump”:1)havingasoft,roundbody;slightlyfat:ashort,plumpwoman,aplumpface2)bulging,aswithcontents;full:aplumpwallet3)lookingsoft,fullandattractivetouseoreat:plumpcushions,plumptomatoes4)v.todroporthrowheavilyorsuddenly(oftenfollowedbydown):Heplumpedhimselfdownandfellasleep.e.g.e.g.e.g.e.g.assorted:a.variousdifferentsorts:assortedflavors;assortedsizese.g.Themeatisservedwithsaladorassortedvegetables.e.g.bathed:a.bebathedin(literary)coveredwithlightThecastlewasbathedinmoonlight.e.g.recede:v.1)tomovegraduallyawayfromsborawayfromapreviousposition2)(especiallyofaproblem,feelingorquality)tobecomegraduallyweakerorsmaller3)(ofhair)tostopgrowingatthefrontofthehead

e.g.Thesoundofthetruckrecededintothedistance.Shewatchedhisrecedingfigure.e.g.Theprospectofbankruptcyhasnowreceded(=itislesslikely).

e.g.amiddle-agedmanwithrecedinghair

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arecedinghairlinefraction:n.1)averysmallamount;alittlebitItwasonlyafractionawayfromcompletion.2)asmallpartoramountofsthafractionofsthIffractionisusedwithapluralnoun,theverbisusuallyplural.OnlyafractionofcarsintheUKuseleadedpetrol.Ifitisusedwithasingularnounthatrepresentsagroupofpeople,theverbcanbesingularorpluralinBrE,butisusuallysingularinAmE.Atinyfractionofthepopulationnevervote

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votes.e.g.e.g.n.b.e.g.e.g.confidence:n.(formal)asecretthatyoutellsb:Thegirlsexchangedconfidences.

e.g.e.g.IcouldneverforgiveMikeforbetrayingaconfidence.beinsb’sconfidence:tobetrustedwithsb’ssecretstakesbintoyourconfidence:totellsbsecretsandpersonalinformationaboutyourself

e.g.HeissaidtobeverymuchinthePresident’sconfidence.e.g.Shetookmeintoherconfidenceandtoldmeabouttheproblemsshewasfacing.confidential:a.tobekeptsecret;nottobemadeknowntoothers

e.g.confidentialinformation

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documentsYourmedicalrecordsarestrictlyconfidential(=completelysecret).toimpartsecretstrustfully;discussprivatemattersorproblems(usuallyfollowedbyin)Sheconfidesinnoonebutherhusband.e.g.v.confide

ahandfulofasmallamount,number,orquantityahandfulofmene.g.Whatcomestoyourmindatthementionofecotourismornaturetourism?CanyounameanyWorldHeritageSites?Whatareecologicalreserves?Whatcomestoyourmindatthementionofecotourismornaturetourism?conservation,preservation,management,education,quota,wildlifeprotection,naturalresources,minimalimpact,sustainability,respectforlocalcultureCanyounameanyWorldHeritageSites?inChinatherearemorethan40:

intheworld:

e.g.theGreatWall,Mt.Taishan,PekingMan,AncientcityofPingYao,SummerPalace,YungangGrottoes,WestLakee.g.SharkBay,Australia;TajMahal,India;OldCityofAcre,Israel;DurhamCathedralandCastle,UK;DinosaurProvincialPark,Canada;RobbenIsland,SouthAfrica;CoffeeCulturalLandscape,Colombia,ThePalaceandParkofVersailles,FranceWhatareecologicalreserves?ecologicalreservesareareasoflandthatisprotectedandmanagedinordertopreserveaparticulartypeofhabitatanditsfloraandfaunawhichareoftenrareorendangered.TheThresholdofSustainabilityforProtectedAreasAndyDrummInspiteofthebumpsintheroadcreatedbywars,emerginginfections,andterrorism,internationaltourismtodevelopingcountrieshasincreasedenormouslyoverthelast30years.Oneinfiveinternationalflightsnowgoestoadevelopingcountry(manyofthosecountriesareintheSouthernHemisphere),anddespitehighfuelprices,theUNWorldTourismOrganizationexpectsinternationaltourismtogrowrapidlyfortheforeseeablefuture.ForSouthernHemispheredestinations,tourismisamajorsourceofforeignincomeaswellasamajoremployer.Naturetourismandecotourism,properlyharnessed,couldgoalongwaytowardclosingtheyawningfinancialgapsbetweencurrentbudgetsofprotectedareasindevelopingcountriesandtheminimumrequiredtoprovideeffectiveconservationandmanagementoftheirresources.Unfortunately,inmostprotectedareas,tourismisnotbeingadequatelyharnessedinthisway.TheironyisthatwealthynorthernerstravellargelyinsearchofthecultureandnaturethatAfrica,LatinAmerica,andSoutheastAsiahaveinabundanceintheirnationalparks,WorldHeritageSites,andecologicalreserves.ThinkofGalápagos,MachuPicchu,Serengeti,andKruger,whichdrawmillionsofvisitorseachyear.ThePeruviangovernmentreportsthatanimpressive71percentofthatcountry’sinternationalvisitorsin2007cametovisitaprotectedarea.Alltold,internationalvisitorslastyearinjected$800millionintothePeruvianeconomy.Tourismtodevelopingcountriesought,onitsface,tobegoodbusinessallaround,yieldinghappytravelers,increasedrevenuesforparksystems,andhigherinvestmentinconservation.Butparksystemsinmostdevelopingcountriesarefailingtoinvestatanywherenearthenecessarylevelstobuildcapacityformanagingthegrowthinparkvisits.Asaresult,tourismisnowathreattobiodiversityratherthanabenefit.Itisnotjustthemegastarsofinternationalnaturetourismdestinationsthatarebecomingcrowded.VisitorsarecominginincreasingnumberstoparkssuchasGuatemala’sYaxhá,Bolivia’sEduardoAvaroa,Tanzania’sManyara,andIndonesia’sKomodo.Indeed,conservationscientistsattheNatureConservancyhaveidentifiedtourismasathreatin78internationalconservationareaplansithasproducedoverthepastsevenyears.Thefailureofdestinationcountriestobudgetadequatelyfortourismmanagementinparksiserodingtheverynaturalcapitalthatvisitorstraveltosee.Ifthecurrentlevelsofinvestmentcontinue,thetourismboomislikelytobefollowedbeforelongbyabust.Primehabitatswillbecomedegraded,wildlifewillbecomescarce,thequalityofthevisitorexperiencewilldecline,andeventuallypeoplewillchooseotherdestinations.Insomeplacesadeclineinthequalityofthevisitorexperienceisalreadyapparent.IntheGalápagosIslandsNationalParkandMarineReserve,forexle,thenumberofsitesthattouristsareallowedtovisithasbeenincreasedtoaccommodatethesurgeindemand.Additionalislandshavebeenopeneduptocruiseships.Evenso,managingvisitorsisstartingtolooklikecrowdcontrol,asguidestrytokeeptheirclientsonthenarrowmarkedtrailswhiletheysqueezepastothertouristgroups.Asrecentlyasthemid-1980s,itwaspossibletovisitoneoftheGalápagosislandsaspartofagroupofeightorfewerandnotrunintoanotherpersonduringawholeday.Today,itisunusualtobepartofagroupoffewerthan16,andyouarelikelytoencounteranother10groupsalongtheshorttrailsyouarepermittedtofollow.AdeclineinthequalityofthevisitorexperienceisnottheonlychangethathasfollowedinthewakeofthegrowthofGalápagostourism.Impactsonthefaunaandflorahaveincreased.Bothchangeshaveoccurredbecausetheindustrylacksadequatechecksandbalancesthataresensitivetoquality.Sofar,themarkethasexhibited,ineconomicterms,inelasticdemand:thenumberofvisitorscontinuestogrow.Butnobodyshouldexpectthistocontinueindefinitely.ThesituationformanyparksintheSouthernHemisphereislikethatofabusdrivermakingalivingfromsellingfares,butneverputtingoilintheengine.Forawhile,aslongasthedriverputsinthediesel,thebuskeepsgoingandoperatingcostsarelow.Butthebusinesswillcome,inevitably,toacatastrophicend.Asidefrommanagingthethreatstourismposes,conservationistsshouldalsofocusondevelopingthefinancialopportunitythatthegrowthintourismrepresents.RecentstudiescarriedoutbytheNatureConservancyinEcuadorandPeruindicatethatalthoughtourismisstillbyfarthebiggestsourceofself-generatedrevenueforthesecountries’parksystems,theparksystemscaptureonlyatinypartofcurrenttouristspending.Moreover,theyinvestmuchtoolittleinensuringbasictourismmanagementcapacityontheground.Yet--andthisisthegoodnewsthatgivesusconfidencethatasolutioncanbefoundbothinternationalanddomesticvisitorswouldbewillingtopaysignificantlymoretovisitEcuador’sandPeru’sparksthantheyarecurrentlybeingaskedtopay.Simplyboostingrevenueswillnotbyitselfsolvetheproblem,ofcourse.Therevenuesmustbereinvestedappropriatelyatthespecificsitesthatgeneratethem,atleastataleveladequatetopreventlossofnaturalcapital.TheNatureConservancyisproposinganewparadigmfortourisminprotectedareasindevelopingcountries.Werealizethatsimplydisapprovingoftourismisnothelpful,nordowewanttoallowthestatusquotocontinue.WorkingwiththeEcuadorianandPeruviangovernments,wehavethereforedevelopedtheconceptofthe“thresholdofsustainability”.Thisistheminimumlevelofinvestmentinthetourismmanagementcapacityofaprotectedareaneededtoensurethatthearea’snaturalcapitaldoesnotdecline.Thethresholdofsustainabilityisreachedbyensuringadequateinvestmentineachoffivekeymanagementcapacityareas:impactmonitoring;basicinfrastructure;security;interpretationandinformation;andstaffsalariesandtraining.Theseelementsshouldbebuiltintoasustainablefinanceplanforeachprotectedarea,andmustbeanintegral