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Questions and Answers
What is one of the primary reasons British tourists visit Phuket, Thailand?
What has significantly contributed to the growth of international tourism in China from 1999 to 2019?
What type of tourism-related innovation do search engines like Expedia and Trivago provide?
What has driven the popularity of budget airlines such as AirAsia in Southeast Asia?
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How did the introduction of the Shinkansen impact travel time between Tokyo and Osaka?
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What is one main advantage of the expansion of Changi Airport’s Terminal 4?
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What motivates tourists to learn more about Balinese culture in Bali, Indonesia?
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Which factor has helped lower accommodation costs for tourists?
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What positive cultural ecosystem service does the Great Barrier Reef provide?
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What negative impact was associated with the commercialization of hula dance in Hawaii?
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What was the primary reason for banning climbing on Uluru?
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What conservation effort is demonstrated by the Galapagos Islands?
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What action is taken at Yosemite National Park to support ecosystem restoration?
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What negative environmental impact is noted about Maya Bay in Thailand?
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Which stakeholders are involved in promoting sustainable development in Sentosa, Singapore?
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How does the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund contribute to environmental efforts?
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What percentage has ocean acidity increased since the Industrial Revolution?
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Which of the following regions experienced increased precipitation due to climate change?
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What was the impact of the 2016 and 2017 rising sea temperatures on the Great Barrier Reef?
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How far on average have tracked bird species in North America expanded their range?
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What caused the death of 102 million forest trees in California between 2012 and 2016?
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What was a significant consequence of increased private car ownership in the 1950s USA?
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Which destination experienced a rapid increase in tourist arrivals in 2019?
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What was the significant health impact attributed to climate change in Bhutan in 2019?
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What change occurred in the Atlantic Ocean due to climate change?
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What economic issue was highlighted regarding the Maldives' tourism growth?
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What was a significant social impact of tourism in Bhutan?
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What has been the effect of warmer temperatures on tropical marine species?
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What event led to a drastic decrease in tourist arrivals in the Caribbean Islands in 2017?
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What characterizes the tourism situation in Blackpool, UK, currently?
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Which factor contributed to employment opportunities in the Thai tourism sector in 2020?
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What negative impact can tourism overdependence have on a region like the Caribbean Islands?
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What is the primary goal of the Paris Climate Agreement?
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What impact does glacier retreat in the Swiss Alps primarily indicate?
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What strategy do the Amazon Region Protected Areas primarily focus on?
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What environmental issue is primarily addressed by the Eden Reforestation Projects in Madagascar?
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What is the aim of Singapore's '30 by 30' plan?
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Which of the following best describes the purpose of carbon capture and storage (CCS) at the Sleipner Gas Field?
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What adaptation strategy is being implemented in Nepal to cope with drought?
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What primary benefit does the Stamford Detention Tank in Singapore provide?
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Study Notes
Tourism Growth
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Need for relaxation: A survey revealed that relaxation is a key reason for British tourists visiting Phuket, Thailand, an island famous for its beautiful beaches.
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Need for personal growth and self-fulfillment: Many cooking schools have emerged in Bali, Indonesia, catering to tourists' desire to learn about Balinese culture.
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Need for unique experiences: Tourism numbers in Antarctica have significantly increased in the last two decades, highlighting a growing desire for unusual travel experiences.
Ability to Travel
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Increase in disposable income: China witnessed international tourism growth from 9 million departures in 1999 to 154 million departures in 2019, coinciding with a four-fold increase in GDP.
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Increase in leisure time: In 2015, the Chinese government encouraged employers to grant workers half-day paid leave on Fridays during summer, aiming to boost domestic tourism.
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Business innovations in tourism-related industries: Search engines like Expedia and Trivago allow travelers to compare reviews, prices, and book trips directly.
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Lower transportation costs: Budget airlines, such as AirAsia, offering significantly lower prices, have gained popularity in Southeast Asia.
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Lower accommodation costs: Airbnb has expanded the variety of accommodation options for tourists, with an estimated 2 million people staying in Airbnb properties daily in 2019.
Mobility to Travel
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Expansion of private transport services and infrastructure: The opening of Changi Airport's Terminal 4 in Singapore has increased flight connectivity from other Asian regions, facilitating travel within the region.
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Introduction of new modes of travel: The introduction of the Shinkansen (bullet train) in 1965 significantly reduced travel time between Tokyo and Osaka, from 6 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes.
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Increased private car ownership: In the 1950s, a surge in private car ownership in the U.S. led to a rise in domestic tourism.
Tourism Development
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Exploration: Jaco Island, Timor Leste, receives few international visitors due to its inaccessible location and lack of tourism facilities.
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Involvement: Authorities invested in improving facilities at Kuang Si Waterfall in Laos.
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Development: Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, experienced a rapid increase in tourist arrivals, reaching 5.1 million in 2019.
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Consolidation: Goa, India, witnessed foreign tourists (7 million) surpassing locals (1.5 million) in 2019.
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Stagnation: Tourism arrivals and expenditures in Hawaii, USA, started declining in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
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Decline: Blackpool, UK, lost its appeal in the 1990s due to competition from other European coastal destinations offering more competitive pricing.
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Rejuvenation: Blackpool, UK, has repositioned itself as a Muslim-friendly and disabled-friendly destination.
Economic Impacts
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Employment opportunities in formal and informal tourism sectors: A 2020 study in Thailand estimated 3.5 million locals employed informally in the tourism sector, primarily providing accommodation and food services.
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Income generation from tourists’ spending on consumer goods and services: The Maldives, once one of the world’s poorest nations, has seen economic growth due to tourism opportunities, resulting in low poverty rates.
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Economic leakages resulting in less tourism revenue: UNEP reports that only US5outofeveryUS5 out of every US5outofeveryUS100 spent by a tourist in a developing country remains in the local host community.
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Overdependence on tourism, which increases vulnerability to sudden fall in tourist numbers: The Caribbean Islands' tourism suffered a significant setback in 2017 due to hurricanes, resulting in millions fewer tourist arrivals and estimated revenue losses exceeding US$700 million.
Social Impacts
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Cultural preservation: Bhutan levies a daily fee on tourists, contributing to funding for cultural preservation projects.
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Enhancing cultural ecosystem services: The Great Barrier Reef in Australia provides opportunities for recreational diving, snorkeling, and educational tours, thereby enhancing cultural ecosystem services.
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Commodification of cultural rituals and artforms: The hula dance, originally a sacred practice in Hawaii, has been commercialized for tourist entertainment.
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Cultural clashes: Uluru, Australia, became a popular tourist destination with visitors climbing the rock despite its deep spiritual significance. This led to the banning of climbing Uluru in 2019 to respect and protect its cultural significance.
Environmental Impacts
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Conservation of natural environments and preservation of biodiversity: The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, have designated 97% of their area as a nature reserve, leaving only 3% for residential and recreational use.
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Restoration of degraded aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems: Yosemite National Park in California, USA, uses the entry fee (US$35 per vehicle) to fund habitat restoration and wildlife research.
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Pollution: Maya Bay in Thailand was closed for two months in 2024 to allow its ecosystem to recover from damage caused by excessive tourism and pollution.
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Depletion of natural resources and threats to wildlife habitats: Excessive tourism in Boracay Island, Philippines, resulted in wastewater being discharged into the sea, endangering marine life and depleting natural resources.
Stakeholders Influencing Sustainable Development
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Governments: Singapore authorities are collaborating with stakeholders to make Sentosa Island more sustainable, aiming for carbon-neutral status by 2030.
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International organizations: The UN SDG Fund is supporting conservation efforts in Tanzania, ensuring the environmental development of the region.
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Businesses: Quicksilver Cruises in Australia works with planning authorities to promote ecotourism.
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Locals: Locals in Singapore can seek guidance from the National Environment Agency on sustainable tourism practices when hosting international events, meetings, and conventions.
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Tourists: Tourists visiting Bali, Indonesia, are advised to dress modestly when visiting religious sites.
Impacts of Climate Change on Natural Systems
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Changes to ocean circulations: The ocean current in the Atlantic Ocean has slowed by about 15%.
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Changes in precipitation on land: Increased precipitation and excess rainfall have been recorded in the Poles, parts of Southeast Asia, and central Africa.
Aquatic Impacts
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Threats to coral reefs: The Great Barrier Reef in Australia was severely affected in 2016 and 2017 due to rising sea temperatures, leading to the death of up to two-thirds of corals in the northern section.
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Ocean Acidification: Ocean acidity has increased by 25% since the Industrial Revolution (1800s), impacting the Great Barrier Reef's coral cover, which has dropped to about 30% of its 1960s level.
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Disruptions of marine food webs: Tropical species, such as parrotfish and rabbitfish, have migrated polewards, and a study indicated a significant drop in species diversity in tropical waters over the past 50 years.
Terrestrial Impacts
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Threats to flora and fauna: About 170 bird species tracked in North America have expanded their range northwards by 50km on average over the past four decades.
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Impacts of droughts: The droughts in California, USA, between 2012 and 2016 led to the death of 102 million forest trees due to water scarcity and disease spread.
Impacts of Climate Change on Human Systems
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Direct Impacts
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Extreme weather events: The 2003 heatwave in Europe lasted for two weeks and resulted in the deaths of around 70,000 people.
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Indirect Impacts
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Affects provisioning ecosystem services: The 2020 drought in Thailand, caused by reduced rainfall and a shorter monsoon season, resulted in dried up reservoirs and barren land, hindering crop production.
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Affects regulating ecosystem services: Mosquitoes, previously non-existent in Bhutan's mountainous regions due to cold temperatures, were prevalent in 2019, leading to the country's first national dengue epidemic.
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Affects cultural ecosystem services: Rising global temperatures have caused glaciers in the Swiss Alps, including the Aletsch Glacier, to melt at an accelerated rate, leading to the degradation of natural landscapes.
Building Community Resilience to Climate Change
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Mitigation Strategies
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International agreements and cooperation: The Paris Climate Agreement (2015), legally adopted by 191 parties, aims to limit surface temperature rise to 1.5°C.
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Use of low-carbon technologies: The Sleipner Gas Field in Norway, one of the world's longest-running carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, captures CO2 from natural gas production and injects it into deep saline aquifers under the North Sea.
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Use of clean energy sources: Singapore aims to increase its solar capacity by 2030 to meet 4% of its current electricity demand.
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Changes in consumption patterns: The United States discards approximately 85% of all textiles annually. Many of these clothes take up to 200 years to decompose, releasing methane and other harmful gases into the atmosphere during the process.
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Mitigation Strategies that Enhance Carbon Sinks
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Reducing deforestation: The Amazon Region Protected Areas restrict land-use changes, particularly forest conversion to agricultural land, helping preserve the forest's carbon sequestration capacity.
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Restoring mangroves: Eden Reforestation Projects in Madagascar has restored vast mangrove areas along coastlines, planting over 16 million mangrove trees since 2007.
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Adaptation Strategies
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Structural adaptation strategies: Stamford Detention Tank in Singapore provides temporary storage for excess water.
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Technological approaches: Singapore's "30 by 30" plan aims to increase local food supply to meet 30% of residents' nutritional needs by 2030 through high-tech farms.
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Social approaches: In Nepal, communities are encouraged to plant drought-resistant crops, like apples, to adapt to prolonged droughts.
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