Environmental Impacts
Tourism Impacts on Natural EnvironmentFennell and Ebert (2004) recognize that the economic gain of tourism has come of a cost in which has come at an expense of the natural environment and identify that the precautionary principle has received a lot of attention regarding to the prevention of harm and sustainability of the environment. However before exploring possibilities to sustain and improve the quality of the environment it would be reasonable to identify the different negative contributing factors in addition to the positive impacts as a result of tourism.
Belsoy, Korir, and Yego, (2012) identify direct, indirect and cumulative impacts as categorized contributing arising environmental impacts. Direct impacts are those that are caused as a result of tourism (Belsoy, Korir, and Yego, 2012). An example of a negative environment direct impact stated by Sullivan (2013) in an interview is the construction of an airport outside his town of residence however it provides jobs to the locals and tourist to fly in to the township. Indirect impacts are those in which are linked closely with tourism and typically have greater disconcerting effects on the environment (Belsoy, Korir, and Yego, 2012). For example the farm surrounding Sullivan's township provide the local restaurants and hotels with produce whom feed the tourists however the farmers are likely to have little to no interest on tourism (Sullivan, 2013). Thirdly Belsoy, Korir, and Yego, (2012) express cumulative impacts as the process of a gradual build up of many small impacts contributing towards a larger impact. For example, the introduction of rabbits and foxes onto the remote King Island, located north-west of Tasmania would threaten the existence of the native wildlife on the Island. |
Symbolic Relationship between Tourism & Environment
"In the absence of an attractive environment, there would be little tourism. Ranging from the basic attractions of sun, sea and sand to the undoubted appeal of historic sites and structures, the environment is the foundation of the tourism industry" (Mathieson & Wall, 1982, p.97 as cited in Hall, 2003, p.294).
Above Mathieson and Wall (1982, as cited in Hall, 2003) outline that in order for the tourism industry to survive it dependent upon the environment. The profitability in tourism largely dependent upon the attractiveness of the destination in which tourists initiate to travel to and experience (McIntosh, Goeldner, & Ritchie, 1995). Therefore because destination rely on attractive environments there is an incentive for them to protect and enhance the environmental assets (Weaver & Oppermann, 2000). As a result a counter balance occurs where the profitability from tourism is used in conservation of the environment that is consequently suffering as a result of tourism. |
Goals of Sustainable Tourism & Eco-tourism
Hammitt and Cole (1998, as cited in Turton, 2005) advocate a combination of site and visitor management techniques for managing recreation impacts in protected areas to sustain the impact associated with tourist visitation to the environmental location. This however is one only of many possibilities is achieving sustainable ecotourism. Every tourism attraction is unique and therefore requires its own unique management plan and techniques in order to achieve its ecotourism sustainability goals. Wearing and Neil (2009) address the need for tourists to be educated on their potential impacts to the environment whilst visiting the attraction. Education has the potential to change tourist understanding, attitudes and behaviour towards the environment, however the effect is greater if the tourist already contains some sort of conversation ethic (Wearing and Neil, 2009). In addition to site and visitor management techniques and education other widely agreed goals in sustaining ecotourism are preservation, conservation and precautionary principles to allow for the environment to be nurtured in order for not only present day tourists and the tourism industry to receivie the economic and social benefits from an attraction but those in the future too (Beech & Chadwick, 2006; Fennell & Ebert, 2004; Hall, 2003, 2007).
References
Beech, J., & Chadwick, S. (2006). The business of tourism management. Essex,
England. Pearson Education Limited.
Belsoy, J., Korir, J., & Yego, J. (2012). Environmental impacts of tourism in protected areas. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 2(10): 64-73. Retrieved from
http://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JEES/article/view/3298/3344
Fennell, D. A., and Ebert, K. (2004). Tourism and the Precautionary Principle. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 12(6): 461-479, DOI: 10.1080/09669580408667249
Hall, C. M. (2003). Introduction to tourism: dimensions and issues (4th ed). Frenchs forest, Australia. Pearson education Australian.
McIntosh, R. W., Goeldner, C. R., & Ritchie, J. R. B., (1995). Tourism: principles, practices, philosophies (7th ed). New York, NY. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Sullivan, J. (personal communication, September, 2013)
Turton, S. M., (2005). Managing Environmental Impacts of Recreation and Tourism in Rainforests of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area. Geographical Research. 43(2) 140-151. DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-5871.2005.00309.x
Wearing, S., & Neil, J. (2009). Ecotourism: impacts, potentials and possibilities. (2nd ed). Oxford, UK. Butterworth-Heinemann.
Weaver, D., & Oppermann, M. (2000). Toursim Management. Milton, Australia. John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
Belsoy, J., Korir, J., & Yego, J. (2012). Environmental impacts of tourism in protected areas. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 2(10): 64-73. Retrieved from
http://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JEES/article/view/3298/3344
Fennell, D. A., and Ebert, K. (2004). Tourism and the Precautionary Principle. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 12(6): 461-479, DOI: 10.1080/09669580408667249
Hall, C. M. (2003). Introduction to tourism: dimensions and issues (4th ed). Frenchs forest, Australia. Pearson education Australian.
McIntosh, R. W., Goeldner, C. R., & Ritchie, J. R. B., (1995). Tourism: principles, practices, philosophies (7th ed). New York, NY. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Sullivan, J. (personal communication, September, 2013)
Turton, S. M., (2005). Managing Environmental Impacts of Recreation and Tourism in Rainforests of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area. Geographical Research. 43(2) 140-151. DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-5871.2005.00309.x
Wearing, S., & Neil, J. (2009). Ecotourism: impacts, potentials and possibilities. (2nd ed). Oxford, UK. Butterworth-Heinemann.
Weaver, D., & Oppermann, M. (2000). Toursim Management. Milton, Australia. John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
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