Tourism

Nature reserves are very important for the tourism industry of towns. Many rural and coastal communities rely on regular visitors to fuel their economy. This is because their locations can be fairly isolated and therefore less likely to attract other forms of business.

If a town has a nature reserve in or near it then this will entice more tourists to visit. For this reason local shops will often sell merchandise that is related to the reserve. They often offer useful tools like binoculars and hiking poles. They can also sell confectionery, mugs, t-shirts and other items that bear the name of the reserve.

Families are a lucrative group for these businesses to focus on. For this reason many nature reserve tourism shops sell children’s items that are themed around the local area. For instance, they may sell fluffy animal toy versions of the wildlife found at the reserve.

Sometimes residents will set up their own independent stalls where they can sell their wares to the people who pass by. This is a common sight in England when visitors travel through the many different nature reserves dotted around the map.