Sustour Week 2.pdf

TH1803 ENVIRONMENT IN TOURISM PERSPECTIVE Environment is defined in three (3) ways according to Attfield (as cited in Wearing & Schweinsberg, 2019): − As the...

TH1803 ENVIRONMENT IN TOURISM PERSPECTIVE Environment is defined in three (3) ways according to Attfield (as cited in Wearing & Schweinsberg, 2019): − As the surroundings. The most common description of what environment is that it pertains to an individual’s surroundings for the duration of his/her life, including the society s/he associates himself/herself with. − As objective systems of nature. This definition is mostly associated with the natural environment which precedes and succeeds society such as mountains, rainforests, coral reefs, seas, and rivers. − As perceived surroundings of a living organism. It is something that gives a sense of belonging and home (e.g., communities, tribes, race, herd, flock). The environment is one (1) of the three (3) dimensions of tourism. It is used as a resource that affects the quality of experiences provided by tourism. The scope of the environment dimension consists of the following:  Natural Environment – e.g., caves, mountains, beaches, seas, and oceans  Wildlife – e.g., flora and fauna and wild animals  Farms – e.g., agricultural and poultry farms  Built Environment – e.g., infrastructure, villages, cities, and buildings  Natural Resources – e.g., water and air  Weather/Climate – e.g., tropical climate, dry climate, storm, and winter season  Natural Phenomena – e.g., eclipses, tides, and volcanic eruptions Ecosystem refers to the complex relationship and linkage between organisms such as plants and animals found in water or soil (Mason, 2016). There are two (2) major types of ecosystems according to Ecosystem.org (as cited in Cruz, 2016):  Terrestrial ecosystems which include forests, desert, grassland, and mountain ecosystems; and  Aquatic ecosystems which include marine (saltwater) and freshwater ecosystems. The scope of an ecosystem can range from small scale (e.g., ponds) to large scale (e.g., tropical rainforests). All ecosystems are increasingly affected by human activity (including tourism) directly or indirectly. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Environmental quality and infrastructure improvement – Tourism can be a cause for the development of lands of a potential destination. People in charge of tourism development make efforts in improving the look of these potential destinations by constructing aesthetically pleasing landmarks and access roads. They also make sure that cleanliness and orderliness are observed as these contribute to the good quality of their area. For example, tourists who wanted to enjoy the white sand beaches of Boracay before had to hire small, privately owned boats to reach the island. Because of this positive impact of tourism to the area, there are many transportation options that are now available to reach the island—daily scheduled flights, being one. Species regeneration – Infrastructure building for tourism purposes can also help build and enhance habitats for different animals and species. A perfect example of this positive impact is the Kansai International Airport in Japan. It was the first airport built on reclaimed land five (5) kilometers from Osaka Bay. Many feared that the construction of the airport would cause damage to marine life. On the contrary, it was designed to improve the marine ecosystem and help with the biodiversity conservation within the bay. It was reported that during the construction, slopes were installed around the airport island to create shallow waters in order 02 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 1 of 4  TH1803 for seaweeds to get sunlight for survival and provide habitat for different species of fish and shellfish (Morishita, 2017). Environmental protection – Tourism can be a catalyst to start programs for environmental protection. This can be done by establishing policies that will limit the number of visitors and activities that can damage the natural resources. Another way for tourism to help with environmental protection is by setting up national parks and wildlife reserves. These designated areas set aside for special protection and preservation. Preservation of buildings and monuments – Structures that hold significant or historical value to a destination may be preserved through the help of tourism. Good examples are the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites. Another way is to gather income from entrance fees to be used for the maintenance of historic buildings. NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Land degradation – According to the United Nations Environment Programme (as cited in Cruz, 2016), land degradation can be defined as “the temporary or permanent lowering of the productive capacity of land.” This negative impact is often caused by the migration of people to tourism centers and development of commercial establishments near tourist attractions. It leads to a sudden increase in population, which tend to be the culprit of overusing social service infrastructures such as public toilets, parks, and health centers. Waste – Tourism is considered as a big contributor to environmental degradation through the production of wastes. Waste products include both biodegradable (e.g., food waste, leftovers, wastewater, and feces) and non-biodegradable (e.g., plastic, Styrofoam, and cigarette butts). The primary suspects are the careless behavior and utter disregard of tourists for the environment. Lack of facilities for proper waste disposal is also a factor. Pollution – There are five (5) major forms of pollution:  Air pollution – This is often caused by the release of harmful gases that affect the health of the Earth’s atmosphere. Transportation is considered as one of the big contributors to air pollution as it is responsible for 90% of greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, produced by tourism- related activities. This causes global warming, climate change, and the melting of glaciers in the Arctic Ocean.  Water pollution – It is caused by commercial and industrial sources that discharge wastewater (e.g., untreated domestic sewage and chemical contaminants into surface waters).  Light pollution – It can be described as “the excessive, misdirected, or obtrusive artificial light” (Globe a Night, n.d.). It is often seen from strong lights coming from airports, seaports, beach, resorts, hotels, street lights, and neon signage in entertainment districts. There are three (3) considered main sources of light pollution: o Glare – It is considered as a public health hazard and can cause loss of contrast and temporary blindness in people, making driving difficult. o Light trespass – It is described as the unwanted light that enters one’s property, often causing a person to lose sleep. o Sky glow – It is a combination of all the reflected and upward-directed lights, often seen over populated areas.  Visual pollution – It is described as the loss of aesthetic appeal often caused by the presence of unpleasant or distracting sights. Some examples of this are overhead power lines, motorway billboards, and open storage of trash bins and litter. 02 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 2 of 4  TH1803  Noise pollution – It is mostly generated by the transportation sector and industrial equipment. This is when the noise generated in an area exceeds a level, measured in decibels (dB), that is not acceptable. Climate change – Tourism is quite associated with climate change as many of its components and industries operating under or in accordance with its objectives leave a heavy carbon footprint, or the traces of tourism infrastructures and activities that heavily contribute to greenhouse gas and carbon emissions, resulting into climate change. The effects of climate change may include melting of ice glaciers, increased sea levels, and more intense heat waves (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, n.d.). Beach encroachment and crowding – This problem is caused by resort owners who fully exploit beach fronts. They try to extend their properties near the shoreline in order to give a more remarkable experience to tourists. This also causes overcrowding, thus resulting in a lack of space intended for protected zones within the shorelines. Water stress – If not properly regulated, tourism can contribute to the depletion of natural resources. Water, being one of which tourism is dependent on, is also a victim of this negative impact. The scarcity of water is partly associated with pollution, uncontrolled development, and increase in population caused by tourism- related activities. Habitat fragmentation – This is caused by the destruction of natural and native vegetation to make way for the construction of tourism infrastructures like theme parks, resorts, and hotels. It disrupts the natural flow of wildlife and destroys other organisms that can be sources of food and habitat. Animal species extinction – There are a couple of ways where tourism can contribute to the extinction of animal species. One is by exploiting animals as food products. In some countries, there are exotic delicacies offered to tourists (e.g., sea turtle eggs and meat). Another is by hunting wild animals for meat production, usage of their unique body parts as decoration and souvenir items, and the like. Damage to coral reefs – This is often caused by tourism water activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling. Anchoring of boats and yachts also cause physical damage to coral reefs. Tourists collecting rare species of corals as souvenir items hasten their extinction. Constructing resorts also contribute damage to coral reefs due to the toxic chemicals coming from them, which can contaminate the waters as well. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WELFARE For tourism to be sustainable, it must take care of the environment for it is one of the major resources of tourism. The environment is a finite resource if the development of tourism as an industry remains unregulated. Without environmental consideration, it can lead to several environmental issues. Guidelines must be set so that tourism can be sustainable and be used for the welfare of the environment (Das, 2015). Environmental Management The concept of environmental management is concerned with the environment surrounding a business. It serves as the representation of the structure, sequence, and process for the implementation of environmental corporate policy (Das, 2015). An environmental corporate policy is a statement of an organization pertaining to its position and values regarding the environment. However, environmental management must not solely focus on the natural environment alone. The human aspect of the environment, which is represented by cultural diversity, is also a factor. This is represented by the indigenous population who still practice a unique way of living. Most of the authentic representations and expressions from our ancestors are hardly remembered and lie beneath archaeological heritage. It is important that these remaining representations of heritage, ancestry, and culture are properly managed to be passed on to future generations. 02 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 3 of 4  TH1803 Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2013-19 In the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), an executive department of the government responsible for the welfare of the country’s natural resources, provided guidelines for the Ecotourism Planning and Management in the country. The DAO No. 2013-19 aims to recognize and operationalize ecotourism, which is defined as “a form of sustainable tourism within a natural and cultural heritage area aimed to foster and enrich both the host community and visitor satisfaction.” The primary objective is to conserve and sustain the use of natural resources in protected areas. It also defines protected areas as “identified portions of land and water set aside for their unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation.” Listed below are the specific objectives of the Administrative Order:  To institutionalize ecotourism planning and management process in protected area management  To promote advocacy on the concept and principles of ecotourism  To introduce ecotourism businesses in protected areas both as a conservation strategy and an economic development option through viable business partnerships with the local government units or the private sector  To promote inclusive equity of socio-economic benefits to the local community and indigenous cultural communities and encourage community participation  To ensure the participation of both women and men in ecotourism planning and management and that gender-related issues are addressed in the ecotourism management plan. In summary, the DAO No. 2013-19 regulates ecotourism development through its concepts and principles and ensures the equality between the communities and stakeholders in terms of participation and benefits. These are the following internationally accepted concepts and principles of ecotourism:  Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity  Ownership by the local communities providing them business opportunities to sustain their well-being  Gender responsiveness and adherence to inclusive growth that considers women, children, indigenous peoples, and informal sector activities  Promotion of learning experience and conservation awareness  Responsible action on the part of the tourists and the tourism industry  Delivery to an appropriate number of participants and businesses that observe and follow ecotourism and conservation concepts, ensuring appropriate development and visitor control. References: Administrative Order No. 2013-19: Guidelines on Ecotourism Planning and Management in Protected Areas. (2013, July 1). DENR Administrative Orders. Retrieved from Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau website: https://server2.denr.gov.ph/uploads/rmdd/dao-2013-19.pdf on February 19, 2019 Cruz, R.G. (2016). Tourism impacts and sustainability. Manila: Rex Bookstore, Inc. Das, P.K. (2016). An introduction to the concept of environmental management: Indian context. International Journal of Innovation and Economic Development, 2(4), 25–34. Joseph, S. (2018). Managing in ecotourism and sustainable development. India: Random Publications. Mason, P. (2016). Tourism impacts, planning and management. New York: Routledge. Morishita, A. (2017, December 14). Osaka’s ocean-friendly airport teems with life [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/newsroomtokyo/features/20171214.html The effects of climate change. (n.d.). In NASA: Climate Change and Global Warming. Retrieved from https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/ on April 2, 2019 What is an environmental policy?. (n.d.). In Environmental Policy. Retrieved from http://www.environmentalpolicy.com.au/ Wearing, S., Schweinsberg, S. (2019). Ecotourism: Transitioning to the 22nd century. New York: Routledge. 02 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 4 of 4