Environment in Tourism Perspective

Definitions of Environment in Tourism

• Environment encompasses surroundings, objective natural systems, and perceived surroundings related to belonging.
• Three major dimensions in tourism include the natural environment, wildlife, and built infrastructure.

Scope of the Environment in Tourism

• Natural Environment includes landscapes like mountains, caves, and beaches.
• Wildlife consists of native flora and fauna.
• Farms refer to agricultural sectors providing food resources.
• Built Environment encompasses infrastructure like cities and resorts.
• Natural Resources involve essentials like water and air.
• Weather, Climate, and Natural Phenomena impact tourism experiences.

Ecosystems

• Defined as the relationships between organisms within a habitat.
• Two major types are terrestrial ecosystems (forests, deserts, grasslands) and aquatic ecosystems (marine and freshwater).
• Ecosystems vary in scale from small ponds to extensive rainforests.
• Human activity significantly impacts all ecosystems, particularly through tourism.

Environmental Impacts of Tourism

Positive Impacts

• Tourism can improve environmental quality and infrastructure.
• Entrance fees can fund the maintenance of heritage sites.

Negative Impacts

• Land degradation occurs from increased population and commercial development.
• Waste generation includes both biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials.
• Pollution types:
  • Air pollution mainly results from transportation, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Water pollution arises from industrial waste discharge.
  • Light pollution includes glare and light trespass, affecting health and wildlife.
• Tourism can lead to animal species extinction and degradation of coral reefs due to activities like diving and construction.

Sustainable Tourism

• Sustainable tourism employs practices that care for the environment, ensuring resources remain available.
• Unregulated tourism can result in severe environmental issues necessitating guidelines for sustainability.

Environmental Management

• The focus extends to managing both natural and cultural environments.
• Effective management strategies are needed to preserve cultural heritage alongside natural resources.

Ecotourism in the Philippines

• The DENR's DAO No. 2013-19 outlines guidelines to promote ecotourism, aimed at conserving natural resources while benefiting local communities.
• Objectives include:
  • Institutionalizing ecotourism management processes.
  • Promoting ecotourism advocacy.
  • Fostering partnerships for economic development in protected areas.
  • Ensuring equitable benefits for local and indigenous communities.

Principles of Ecotourism

• Focus on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
• Promote local ownership and community well-being.
• Encourage gender responsiveness in planning.
• Enhance visitor education and awareness on environmental conservation.
• Ensure responsible tourism practices and the involvement of an appropriate number of businesses in ecotourism initiatives.

Explore the multifaceted definition of environment as it pertains to tourism. This quiz highlights key concepts from Attfield and the impact of surroundings and nature in the tourism industry. Test your understanding of how environment shapes tourism perspectives.