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161 Does Absence of Charismatic Species Impact the Ecotourism Potential of Central Mediterranean Islands?

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one cannot blame this on the absence of charismatic Cutajar, S., Sebrechts, T., Bennett, C., Scholier, T.,
species. Other challenges need to be overcome includ- Festjens, F., Marsboom, C., . . . Jocuque, M. (2017).
ing island connectivity, lack of innovative ecotourism Initiating a collaborative monitoring system to sur-
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ing made by policy makers and operators on mass tour- take on conservation-based ecotourism for Natural
ism. Lack of management of protected areas due to lack Habitat Adventures. J. Ecotourism, 13(1), 71–77.
of funding, extensive detrimental environmental impact Deidun, A. (2010). Challenges to the conservation of
and lack of environmental awareness among locals and biodiversity on small islands: the case of the Maltese
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Acknowledgements
beaches: fact or artefact? Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci.
The authors would like to thank the Malta Government 58, 83–92.
Scholarship Scheme for part-financing this study and Deidun, A. & Schembri, P. J. (2005). A report of nest-
the participants of interviews and focus groups. The ing on a Maltese beach by the Loggerhead Turtle
authors would also like to express gratitude to Mr. Ed- Caretta caretta (Linnaeus 1758) (Reptilia: Chel-
win Lanfranco for his feedback on a draft of this paper. oniidae). Cent. Mediterr. Nat. 4(2), 137–138.

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