Tourism Impacts

Tourism Impacts

• Tourism impacts can be categorized into three: economic, socio-cultural, and environmental.
• Impacts can be positive (beneficial) or negative (detrimental) and depend on the value and judgment of the observer.

Economic Impacts of Tourism

• Positive economic impacts:
• Foreign exchange earnings
• Contribution to government revenues
• Generation of employment
• Balance of payment/trade account balance
• Stimulation of infrastructure investment
• Enhancement of local environments
• Negative economic impacts:
• Inflation
• Opportunity costs
• Dependency
• Seasonality
• Leakage
• Enclave tourism
• Seasonal character of jobs
• Prostitution

Environmental Impacts of Tourism

• Environmental costs:
• Inappropriate development
• Loss of natural habitat and effects on wildlife
• Pollution
• Loss of spirit
• Overcrowding and traffic congestion
• Activities affecting the natural environment

Inappropriate Development

• Long-term planning in environmental terms should be done to prevent inappropriate development.
• Examples of inappropriate development:
• Costa del Sol
• Pattaya, Thailand

Loss of Natural Habitat and Effects on Wildlife

• Development of facilities and tourist use can result in rapid or gradual effects on habitats.
• Examples of loss of natural habitat and effects on wildlife:
• Trampling causes disturbance to vegetation and soil
• Golden Toad in Monteverde Cloud Rainforest, Costa Rica
• Loggerhead Turtle in the Greek Island of Zakynthos

Pollution

• Types of pollution:
• Water pollution
• Air pollution
• Noise pollution
• Solid waste
• Examples of pollution:
• Deforestation in Nepal
• Effects of trampling
• Pollution in the Caribbean Area

Overcrowding and Traffic Congestion

• Occurs when the volume of tourists exceeds the capacity of an environment.
• Effects of overcrowding and traffic congestion:
• Environmental damage through erosion
• Restricts visitor appreciation of the destination
• Inappropriate parking
• Congestion damages vegetation, causes erosion, and adds to localized pollution

Effects of Activities

• Skiing/alpine tourism:
• Mountain ecosystems are fragile and prone to intensive use
• Skiing requires associated development, causing erosion and deforestation
• Ecotourism:
• Can lead to deterioration in environmental quality
• Requires proper planning and management

Tourism, Global Warming, and Climate Change

• Contribution to greenhouse gas emissions expected to rise from 3 to 7% by 2050.
• Expected effects of climate change on tourism:
• Rising temperature in central European culture cities in peak season will lead to a decline in visitors
• Specific ecosystems (e.g., coral reefs) will be affected
• In Alpine areas, shorter skiing seasons may arise

Specific Measures to Minimize Environmental Damage

• Tourism-related companies:
• Hotel sector:
• Installing water-saving devices
• Abolishing individually wrapped food items at the breakfast buffet
• Using recycled paper and reusable bottles
• Resorts:
• Decreasing automobile traffic
• Using electric buses
• Travel agencies:
• Publishing brochures with tips and information on species protection and environmentally proper behavior
• Transportation:
• Using high-capacity airplanes to reduce noise and emissions
• Implementing "garbage return initiatives"
• Cities and towns:
• Using solar energy
• Replacing regular light bulbs with energy-saving bulbs