Environmental Impacts of Tourism

Tourism Paining & Development 1.
1 Introduction
Environmental Impacts of Tourism
Travel has existed since the beginning of time when primitive mans set out, often traversing great distances, in search of game which provided the food and clothing necessary for survival. The phenomenon of tourism has received worldwide recognition and is growing by leaps and bounds. It has emerged as one of the worlds largest industry with latent vast growth potential. Being an important facet of socio-economic development, it has become one of the crucial concerns of not only the nations but also the international community as a whole.
The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.
In 2007, there were over 903 million international tourist arrivals, with a growth of 6.6% as compared to 2006. Tourism is vital for many countries such as U.A.E, Egypt, Greece, Thailand and many island nations such as The Bahamas, Fiji, Maldives, and Seychelles due to the large intake of money for businesses with their goods and services and the opportunity for employment in the service industries associated with tourism. These service industries include transportation services such as cruise ships and taxis, accommodation such as hotels and entertainment venues, and other hospitality industry services such as resorts.
Tourism is defined as the process, activities and outcomes arising from the relationships and the interactions among tourists, tourism suppliers, host governments, host communities and surrounding environments that are involved in the attracting and hosting of visitors. (Goeldner and Ritchie, 2006) Tourism is a multi-faceted phenomenon that involves movement to and stay in destinations outside the normal place of residence.
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Tourism Paining & Development 1.2 History of Tourism
The earliest forms of leisure tourism can be traced as far back as the Babylonian and Egyptian empires. A museum of historic antiquities was open to the public in the sixth century BC in Babylon, while the Egyptians held many religious festivals attracting not only the devout, but many who came to see the famous buildings and works of art in the cities. The local towns accommodated tourists by providing services such as: vendors of food and drink, guides, hawkers of souvenirs, touts and prostitutes. From around the same date, Greek tourists travelled to visit the sites of healing gods. Because the independent city-states of ancient Greece had no central authority to order the construction of roads, most of these tourists travelled by water, hence seaports prospered.
The lands of the Mediterranean Sea produced a remarkable evolution in travel. People travel for trade, commerce, religious purposes, festivals, medical treatment, or education developed at an early date.
Before the sixteenth century, those who sought to travel had three modes in which to do so. They could walk, ride a horse or they could be carried, either on a little or on a carriers wagon. The development of the sprung coach was a huge advance for those who regularly travelled, and by the mid 1600s, coaches were operating regularly in Britain. In the eighteenth century the introduction of turnpike roads, which provided improved surfaces for which tolls would be charged. The later introduction of the metal, leaf spring suspension also added to comfort. Travel also requires accommodation, and at that time, it was basic. To accommodate the new demand for travel inns was provided. They provided fresh horses, and lodgings were available for rent to visitors when they arrived at their destination.
From the early seventeenth century, a new form of tourism developed as a direct outcome of the freedom and quest for learning heralded by the Renaissance. Young men who wanted positions at court were encouraged to travel to the Continent to finish their education.
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Tourism Paining & Development
Others soon adopted this practice in the upper echelons of society, and it soon became customary for the education of a gentleman to be completed by a Grand tour of major cultural centers of Europe, accompanied by a tutor and often-lasting three years or more. The appeal soon became social, and leisure seeking young men travelled, predominantly to France and Italy, to enjoy the rival cultures and social life of cities such as Paris, Venice, or Florence. By the end of the eighteenth century, the custom had become institutionalized for the gentry. (White, 2006)
The word tourism was used by 1811 and tourist by 1840. In 1936 the League of Nations defined foreign tourist as someone travelling abroad for at least twenty-four hours. Its successor, the United Nations amended this definition in 1945 by including a maximum stay of six months.
Source: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Data as collected by UNWTO, 2007
It is clear that tourism is a major force in the economy of the world, an activity of global importance and significance. It is also a sector that has the capacity to impact negatively upon host environments and cultures, the raw materials of many tourism products. As a result increased prominence has been given to tourism in the United Nations World summits such as the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. Kaushik K. (H-1331) -4-
Tourism Paining & Development 1.2.1 Manila Declaration
Manila Declaration was held at Manila, Philippines, from 27 September to 10 October 1980, convened by the World Tourism Organization with the participation of 107 delegations of States and 91 delegations of observers, in order to clarify the real nature of tourism in all its aspects and the role tourism is bound to play in a dynamic and vastly changing world, as well as to consider the responsibility of States for the development and enhancement of tourism in present-day societies as more than a purely economic activity of nations and peoples.
1.3 Global Tourism
Internationally tourism occupies a very important place in the economies of several countries. Governments all over the world are competing with each other in selling tourism. It is the worlds largest industry which is forecasted to grow at a 4 percent per year till 2010. However as per the WTTCs vision the estimated growth rate over the coming decade has been put at 4.6 percent per annum.
Tourism, the fastest growing sector of the global trade, accounts for 10.7% of Global Gross domestic Product (GDP), 12.8 % of Global Exports, 8.2 % of Global Employment and 9.4 % Global investment. The global market trends in tourism are changing due to the change in the living standards, free time for leisure, advancement in transportation and development of information technology etc. (Fazil, and Ashraf, 2006)
Tourism is the world's largest industry, with annual revenue of almost $500 billion. And it is growing fast, with airline arrivals expected to double by 2010. Leisure is estimated to account for 75 per cent of all international travel. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimated there were nearly 900 million international tourist arrivals in 2007 from 846 million in 2006, an increase of about 6 per cent. This represents nearly 52 million more arrivals than in 2006 and they are expected to reach 1.6 billion by 2020.
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Domestic tourism (people going on holiday in their own country) is generally thought to be 4-5 times greater than international arrivals. The international tourism receipts totaled US $ 733 Billion in 2006.
Globally, tourism accounts for roughly 35 per cent of exports of services and over 8 per cent of exports of goods (WTO). Tourism is said to be the worlds largest employer. In 2001, the International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated that globally over 207 million jobs were directly or indirectly employed in tourism. In the UK alone, 10 per cent of total employment is in the tourism sector. According to the latest research by the industrys World Travel and Tourism Council released in 2008, world travel and tourism is expected to generate close to US $ 8 trillion in 2008, rising approximately US $ 15 trillion over the next 10 years. The long term forecasts by WTTC also point to a steady phase of growth for world travel and tourism between 2009 and 2018 with an average growth rate of 4.4 per cent per annum, supporting 297 million jobs and 10.5 per cent of global GDP by 2018.
For almost 83 per cent of countries in the world, tourism is one of the top five sources of foreign exchange. The Caribbean countries derive half their GDP from tourism (World Resources Institute). The Benidorm's tourism industry accounts for 1 per cent of Spain's GDP.
The significance of tourism has been recognized in both developed and developing countries. This can be seen in the establishment of sophisticated and well resourced government departments of tourism, widespread encouragement and sponsorship of tourist developments, and proliferation of small businesses and multinational corporations contributing to and deriving benefits from tourism industry. Tourism has indeed stimulated employment, investment and entrepreneurial activity, modified land use and economic structure and made a positive contribution to the balance of payments in many countries throughout the world.
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Tourism has been remarkable in its resistance to adverse economic and political conditions. Events such as 9/11, the Bali bombing and SARS clearly demonstrate the sectors ability to regroup and place emphasis on a new vocabulary including words such as safety, security, risk management, crisis, and recovery.
1.3.1 Indian Perspective
With the phenomenon of tourism growing worldwide, India has been no exception. Indias size, geography, terrain, history and people make it a country with immense resource potential, as far as tourism is concerned. The resources are so vast that India is often referred as country of all seasons and reasons. Indias potential has been acknowledged by many writers and travelers. The potential of tourism in India can be judged from the following quote by Allan Bainet of British Airways: 1.3 million visitors in a year fir this greatest show in earth, does not make any sense. It has a potential of five million.
From a mere 16,829 international tourists in 1950, the figure grew up to 2.6 million in the year 2000. Thereafter there was a slight recession and the figures dropped down to 2.38 million during the year 2002. However the year 2003 again saw an increase and figures recorded were 2.75 million.
1.4 Tourism System
A tourist is someone who travels to see something different, and then complains when things are not the same. As an area of study, tourism is still relatively young and this creates a range of issues to be dealt with. In response to those issues it is important at the outset to provide an organizing framework for the study of tourism. Holloway, C. (1994)
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The author would like to adopt Leipers Model which neatly takes into account many of the tourism issues and a range of external environments such as society, politics and economies.
1.4.1 Leipers model
Leipers model arranges tourism as a system with three components. All these three components are organized in such a way within the system that they are interdependent and must occur in a sequential manner for tourism to take place. The three basic elements are: 1. Traveler Generating Region 2. Transit Route Region 3. Tourist Destination Region
Source - Leiper, 1990
The Traveler Generating Region represents the part in the tourism system from where people travel to another region of their choice. In essence it is the generating market for tourism and act as a push force to stimulate and motivate travel. It is from here that the searches for information, makes reservations and ultimately departs.
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The Transit Route Region represents not only the short period of travel to reach the destination, but also the intermediate places, which may be visited en-route. There is always an interval in the trip when the traveler feels they have no yet arrived, where they choose to visit.
The Tourist Destination Region is the ultimate place for where a tourist is headed. It ts in essence the pull force and attracts tourists towards its territory. It is the place where the ultimate impact of tourism is felt. All the planning and management strategies are implemented here and it is the place where most noticeable and dramatic consequences of the system occur.
The major advantages of the Leipers Model are that its general applicability and simplicity which provide a useful way of thinking about tourism. The model could be used at any level or scale of generalization; from a local resort to the international industry. The model is infinitely flexible and allows the incorporation of different forms of tourism. The model demonstrates the highly important principle of tourism studies that all the elements of tourism are related and interact. It has the ability to incorporate the interdisciplinary approaches to tourism to tourism because it is not rooted in any particular subject and or discipline but instead provides a framework within which disciplinary approaches can be located.
1.5 Growth of Tourism
Tourism is one of the world economys growth sectors. Despite crisis-induced slumps the long term growth trend appears to be stable. Tourism is a beneficiary of the irreversible process of globalization and indeed is an accelerating factor for this process. The trend to a division of labor on a worldwide basis has been particularly favorable to tourism, resulting in increased productivity and prosperity in a great many countries. Tourism is today one of the most internationalized sectors of the world economy.
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The world tourism market has been extended a lot, adding considerably to the potential for further growth and at the same time bringing about greater competition between tourism countries. (Keller, (2005)
Since the world is becoming a global village, it makes the tourists are travelling across the globe. Over the past six decades, tourism has experienced continued growth and diversification to become one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors in the world. Over time, more and more destinations have opened up and invested in tourism development, turning modern tourism into a key driver for socioeconomic progress.
Tourism has become one of the major international trade categories. Today, the export income generated by international tourism ranks fourth; after fuels, chemicals and automotive products. For many developing countries, it is one of the main income sources and the number one export category, creating much needed employment and opportunities for development.
1.5.1 International Tourist Arrivals
From 1950 to 2007, international tourist arrivals grew from 25 million to 903 million. The overall export income generated by these arrivals (international tourism receipts and passengers transport) grew at a similar pace, outgrowing the world economy, exceeding US$ 1 trillion in 2007, or almost US$ 3 billion a day.
While, in 1950, the top 15 destinations absorbed 98% of all international tourist arrivals, in 1970 the proportion was 75% and this fell to 57% in 2007, reflecting the emergence of new destinations, many of them in developing countries.
Between 1995 and 2007 growth averaged over 4% a year, in spite of the stagnation between 2001 and 2003 due to terrorism, SARS and the economic downturn.
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For the whole of 2008, a softening of growth is anticipated, due to the uncertainties posed by the global economy affecting consumer confidence and constraining disposable income. By 2010 international arrivals are expected to reach 1 billion, and 1.6 billion by 2020.
The revolution in the international tourist arrivals across the continents is illustrated as follows:
1.5.2 World Tourism Receipts
For many destinations, visitor expenditure on accommodation, food and drink, local transport, entertainment, shopping, etc. is an important pillar of their economies, creating much needed employment and opportunities for development. Nearly 80 countries earned more than US$ 1 million from international tourism in 2007. Kaushik K. (H-1331) - 11 -
UNWTO estimates that worldwide receipts from international tourism reached US$ 856 billion (625 billion Euros) in 2007.
In absolute terms, international tourism receipts increased by US$ 114 billion, but only by 34 billion in Euros due to the devaluation of the US dollar against several world currencies and, in particular, the euro. In real terms, i.e. adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations and inflation, growth in international tourism receipts reached 5.6%. With this increase, international tourism revenues maintained the momentum of 2006 (+5.1%) and added to a series of four consecutive years of substantial growth.
The relative growth in real terms was particularly strong in Asia and the Pacific (+11%) at double the world average in Africa (+8%) and in the Americas (+6%). The performance of the Americas was a significant improvement over the previous years 2% growth. In terms of sub regions, the strongest increases came from South-East Asia (+13%) and North-East Asia (+12%), followed by Central America, North Africa and Central and Eastern Europe (all three at +9%). Only one subregion, the Caribbean, did not increase its receipts in 2007 (-0.4%), largely as a result of a stagnation in arrivals.
For destination countries, receipts from international tourism count as exports and cover transactions generated by same-day as well as overnight visitors. However, these do not include receipts from international passenger transport contracted from companies outside the travelers countries of residence, which are reported in a separate category, International Passenger Transport.
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The availability of comparable international data is limited; the export value of international passenger transport in recent years is estimated at around 16% of the combined receipts from international tourism and passenger transport, corresponding in 2007 to US$ 165 billion against US$ 143 billion in 2006. This takes total receipts from international tourism, including international passenger transport, to over US$ 1 trillion in 2007. In other words, almost US$ 3 billion a day is earned by international tourism.
1.5.3 UNWTOs Tourism 2020 Vision
Tourism 2020 Vision is the World Tourism Organizations long-term forecast and assessment of the development of tourism up to the first 20 years of the new millennium. An essential outcome of the Tourism 2020 Vision are quantitative forecasts covering a 25 years period, with 1995 as base year and forecasts for 2010 and 2020.
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Although the evolution of tourism in the last years has been irregular, UNWTO maintains its long-term forecast for the moment. The underlying structural trends of the forecast are believed not to have significantly changed. Experience shows that in the short-term, periods of faster growth (1995, 1996, 2000, 2004 to 2007) alternate with periods of slow growth (2001 to 2003).
And, the actual pace of growth is in reality in line with the Tourism 2020 Vision forecast as international tourist arrivals show an average growth of 4.2% between 1995 and 2007.
UNWTOs Tourism 2020 Vision forecasts that international arrivals are expected to reach nearly 1.6 billion by the year 2020. Of these worldwide arrivals in 2020, 1.2 billion will be intraregional and 378 million will be long-haul travelers. The total tourist arrivals by region shows that by 2020 the top three receiving regions will be Europe (717 million tourists), East Asia and the Pacific (397 million) and Americas (282 million), followed by Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa are forecasted to record growth at rates of over 5% per year, compared to the world average of 4.1%.
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The more mature regions, Europe and Americas, are anticipated to show lower than average growth rates. Europe will maintain the highest share of world arrivals, although there will be a decline from 60% in 1995 to 46% in 2020. (Tourism Highlights Report, 2008) International tourism is a major foreign exchange earner and a principal export for many low income countries as well as for developed ones. The despite the great volume increase in the global tourism, it is important to realize that the increasing growth of tourism worldwide will have positive as well as negative impacts on the environment.
2.1 Impacts of Tourism
A goal of developing the tourism industry in a community is maximizing selected positive impacts while minimizing potential negative impacts. First, it is essential to identify the possible impacts. Tourism researchers have identified a large number of impacts. (Kreag, 2001)
Tourism development may result in many and complex impacts, this suggests that local elected officials, the tourism industry, and community residents need to work cooperatively and carefully to plan for its growth and development. Planning can help create an industry that enhances a community with minimal costs and disruptions in other aspects of community life. Having broad community involvement and embracing different perspectives during planning helps identify and resolve concerns that would otherwise create problems later. (Kreag, 2001)
Tourism is of major economic and social significance. More than 720 million tourists spend $ 480 billion (US) annually in places outside their own countries. (WTO, 2004) this is one of the largest items in worlds foreign trade. With a world growth rate of 5 percent per annum, tourism has been one of the fastest growing economic activities globally and it has proven to be resilient to political violence and natural disasters, rebounding quite rapidly once these have passed. It is the most important export industry and earner of foreign exchange in many countries.
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Tourism Paining & Development The impacts of tourism can be categorized as follows:
2.2 Economic Impacts
Tourism increases employment opportunities. Additional jobs, ranging from low-wage entry-level to high-paying professional positions in management and technical fields, generate income and raise standards of living. As tourism grows, additional opportunities are created for investment, development, and infrastructure spending.
Tourism encourages improvements in transport infrastructure resulting in upgraded roads, airports, public transportation, and non-traditional transportation. Tourism encourages new elements to join the retail mix, increasing opportunities for shopping and adding healthy competitiveness. It often increases a community's tax revenues. Lodging and sales taxes most notably increase but additional tax revenues include air travel and other transportation taxes, business taxes, and fuel taxes. New jobs generate more income tax revenues.
Some tourism-related businesses are volatile and high-risk ventures that are unsustainable. Greater demand for goods, services, land, and housing may increase prices that in turn will increase the cost of living. Tourism businesses may claim land that could have higher- value or other uses. Additionally, non-local owners and corporations may export profits out of the community.
The community may have to generate funds to maintain roads and transportation systems that have become more heavily used. Similarly, if additional infrastructure (water, sewer, power, fuel, medical, etc.) is required, additional taxes may also be needed to pay for them. (Kreag, 2001)
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Source: Kreag, 2001
2.3 Social and Cultural Impacts
The social and cultural ramifications of tourism warrant careful consideration, as impacts can either become assets or detriments to communities. Influxes of tourists bring diverse values to the community and influence behaviors and family life.
Individuals and the collective community might try to please tourists or adopt tourist behaviors. Interactions between residents and tourists can impact creative expression by providing new opportunities or by stifling individuality with new restrictions.
Increased tourism can push a community to adopt a different moral conduct such as improved understanding between sexes or increased illicit drug use. Safety and health facilities and staffing tend to increase at the same time safety problems such as crime and accidents increase.
Calamities such as natural disasters, energy shortages, terrorism, political upheaval, disease outbreak, a chemical spill, or even widespread negative publicity could shut down tourism abruptly but sometimes can attract curious visitors.
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Tourism can improve the quality of life in an area by increasing the number of attractions, recreational opportunities, and services.
Tourism can come to a community with a dark social and cultural side, too. Illegal activities tend to increase in the relaxed atmosphere of tourist areas. Increased underage drinking can become a problem especially in beach communities, areas with festivals involving alcohol, and ski villages. Development of tourist facilities in prime locations may cause locals to be or feel excluded from those resources. (Kreag, 2001)
Source: Source: Kreag, 2001
2.4 Environmental Impacts
2.4.1 Tourism and the Environment
The environment whether it is natural or artificial, is the most fundamental ingredient of the tourism product. However, as soon as the environmental activity takes place, the environment changes inevitably, either to facilitate tourism or through the tourism process. (Cooper, Flethcher, Fyall, Gilbert, and Wanhill, 2005)
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As tourism moves further into the twenty-first century, the enterprise will have to make the environment a priority. Tourism is now the worlds largest industry, the environment is taking centre stage in tourism development. Tourism is not only a powerful economic force but not environment in the future projects that are economically feasible but not environmentally desirable will remain unbuilt. The environment is the core of the tourism product. Profitability of tourism depends on maintaining the attractiveness of the destination people want to see and experience.
Tourism has the power to enhance the environment, to provide funds for conservation, to preserve culture and history, to set sustainable use limits and to protect the natural attractions. It also has the power to destroy.
If tourism is not properly planned and implemented, it can destroy vegetation, create overcrowding, litter trekking areas, pollute beaches, cause housing problems, and ignore the needs and structure of the host community.
It is being recognized that tourism must preserve the environment and natural attractions so that sites will be truly sustainable. The problem is how to do this. Concepts such as ecotourism, nature tourism, sustainable development, carrying capacity, and alternative tourism have been proposed. (Goeldner and Ritchie, 2006)
It is not possible to develop tourism without incurring environmental impacts, but it is possible, with correct planning, to manage tourism development in order to minimize the negative impact while encouraging the positive impacts. (Cooper, Flethcher, Fyall, Gilbert, and Wanhill, 2005)
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Tourism Paining & Development 2.4.2 Positive Environmental Impacts
On the positive side, the direct environmental impacts associated with tourism include: x The preservation/restoration of the ancient monuments, sites and historic buildings, such as Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Stonehenge and Warwick Castle. x The creation of national parks and wildlife parks, such as Yellowstone Park (USA), the Amboselli National Park and the Maasai Mara National Reserve (Kenya), Las Canadas (Tenerife), the Pitiier National Park (Venezula), Fjord Land National Park (New Zealand) x x x x The protection of reefs and beaches, the Great Barrier Reef (Australia), Grad Anse (Grenada) The maintenance of forests such as the New Forest (UK), Colo I Suva (Fiji). The contribution of Nature heritage tourism to the conservation of natural areas and biodiversity. Development and use of new and appropriate technologies that minimize the impact of tourism activities on the environment and the extended conservation of natural resources. x x Establishment of management of regulatory and certification bodies to manage tourism-environment issues. The promotion and use of Environmental Management Systems, environmental impact assessment and similar environment management tools.
Areas with high-value natural resources, like oceans, lakes, waterfalls, mountains, unique flora and fauna, and great scenic beauty attract tourists and new residents (in-migrants) who seek emotional and spiritual connections with nature. Because these people value nature, selected natural environments are preserved, protected, and kept from further ecological decline. Lands that could be developed can generate income by accommodating the recreational activities of visitors.
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Tourist income often makes it possible to preserve and restore historic buildings and monuments. Improvements in the areas appearance through cleanup or repairs and the addition of public art such as murals, water fountains, and monuments (part of making a community ready for tourism) benefit visitors and residents alike. Tourism is generally considered a "clean" industry, one that is based on hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions, instead of factories.
2.4.3 Negative Environmental Impacts
Negative impacts from tourism occur when the level of visitor use is greater than the environments ability to cope with this use within the acceptable limits of change. Uncontrolled conventional tourism poses potential threats to many natural areas around the world. It can put enormous pressure on an area and lead to impacts such as soil erosion, increased pollution, discharges into the sea, natural habitat loss, increased pressure on endangered species and heightened vulnerability to forest fires.
It often puts a strain on water resources, and it can force local populations to compete for the use of critical resources. (Kreag, 2001) The physical deterioration of both natural and built environments can have serious consequences. The qualities of water, air and noise levels are disturbed with any such modification in the environment. (Cooper, Flethcher, Fyall, Gilbert, and Wanhill, 2005)
Attracting a high volume of tourists can have negative impacts, such as the impact of 33 million tourists a year on the city of New York, or the potential to impact fragile environments negatively, or the impact of the December 26, 2004 tsunami on the tourists themselves. The environment can be affected negatively by cruise ship pollution in many ways, including ballast water discharge, and by pollution from aircraft. (Anon, (Undated) Environmental Impacts of Tourism, http://www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/envi/one.html, Date accessed 19/01/09.)
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Tourism Paining & Development Overuse/Improper Use of Natural Resource
Natural resource attractions can be jeopardized through improper uses or overuse. Providing tourist services can alter the landscape's appearance. For instance, visual pollution may occur from billboard proliferation. As tourism develops, demand for land increases, especially for prime locations like beachfronts, special views, and mountains. Without forethought, natural landscape and open space can be lost. The destruction or loss of flora and fauna can happen when desirable plants and animals are collected for sale or the land is trampled.
Wastage of Water resources Tourist-related development can also have significant cumulative impacts on water quality and the aesthetics of host communities. Water, and especially fresh water, is one of the most critical natural resources. The tourism industry generally overuses water resources for hotels, swimming pools, golf courses and personal use of water by tourists. This can result in water shortages and degradation of water supplies, as well as generating a greater volume of waste water. Golf Tourism has also been contributing to create a negative impact on the environment.
Depletion of Local Resource Tourism can create great pressure on local resources like energy, food, and other raw materials that may already be in short supply. Greater extraction and transport of these resources exacerbates the physical impacts associated with their exploitation. Because of the seasonal character of the industry, many destinations have ten times more inhabitants in the high season as in the low season. A high demand is placed upon these resources to meet the high expectations tourists often have (proper heating, hot water, etc.).
Land degradation Important land resources include minerals, fossil fuels, fertile soil, forests, wetland and wildlife. Increased construction of tourism and recreational facilities has increased the pressure on these resources and on scenic landscapes.
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Direct impact on natural resources, both renewable and nonrenewable, in the provision of tourist facilities can be caused by the use of land for accommodation and other infrastructure provision, and the use of building materials.
Deforestation Forests often suffer negative impacts of tourism in the form of deforestation caused by fuel wood collection and land clearing. For example, one trekking tourist in Nepal - and area already suffering the effects of deforestation can use four to five kilograms of wood a day. Tourists or the businesses that cater to them often remove plants, animals, rocks, fossils, coral, and cultural or historical artifacts from an area.
Uncontrolled visitation or overuse by visitors can degrade landscapes, historic sites, and monuments. Construction of ski resort accommodation and facilities frequently requires clearing forested land. Coastal wetlands are often drained and filled due to lack of more suitable sites for construction of tourism facilities and infrastructure. These activities can cause severe disturbance and erosion of the local ecosystem, even destruction in the long term.
Marina development Development of marinas and breakwaters can cause changes in currents and coastlines. Furthermore, extraction of building materials such as sand affects coral reefs, mangroves, and hinterland forests, leading to erosion and destruction of habitats. In the Philippines and the Maldives, dynamiting and mining of coral for resort building materials has damaged fragile coral reefs and depleted the fisheries that sustain local people and attract tourists.
Threat to Wild-Life Travelers can also inadvertently introduce non-indigenous species, as can increases in the trade of animals and plants. A constant stream of visitors and domestic pets may disrupt wildlife by disturbing their breeding cycles and altering natural behaviors. (Kreag, 2001)
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Tourism Paining & Development Climate Change
The tourism industry is a contributor to issues such as climate change, species loss, habitat destruction, water availability, pollution and waste. It has been slow to respond to these issues, show leadership and take firm action to initiate change and manage its impacts (Worboys, Lockwood & De Lacy, 2005).
Infrastructure Development Tourism impacts on the environment occur in different ways. The construction of major tourism infrastructure (e.g. hotels and marinas) can impact local environments and encourage a greater influx of visitors than would otherwise visit the area. The additional demand on water and energy supplies may also require further infrastructure development. Large developments also have the potential to generate significant quantities of waste that may lead to pollution and degradation of ecosystems if inadequately managed.
Solid waste and littering In areas with high concentrations of tourist activities and appealing natural attractions, waste disposal is a serious problem and improper disposal can be a major despoiler of the natural environment - rivers, scenic areas, and roadsides. For example, cruise ships in the Caribbean are estimated to produce more than 70,000 tons of waste each year. Today some cruise lines are actively working to reduce waste-related impacts. Solid waste and littering can degrade the physical appearance of the water and shoreline and cause the death of marine animals. In mountain areas, trekking tourists generate a great deal of waste. Tourists on expedition leave behind their garbage, oxygen cylinders and even camping equipment. Such practices degrade the environment with all the detritus typical of the developed world, in remote areas that have few garbage collection or disposal facilities. Some trails in the Peruvian Andes and in Nepal frequently visited by tourists have been nicknamed "Coca-Cola trail" and "Toilet paper trail".
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Source: Source: Kreag, 2001
While environmental impact can be addressed through good design and best practice, impacts caused by inappropriate location of tourism activities will be difficult to address.
Examples of inappropriate location impacts include coastal camping and activities like sand boarding and four-wheel driving in fragile dunes, resorts with high water use in arid environments, and concentrated recreational and charter fishing in sensitive marine habitats. (Anon, 2007)
3.1 Costal Tourism
Coastal areas are transitional areas between the land and sea characterized by a very high biodiversity and they include some of the richest and most fragile ecosystems on earth, like mangroves and coral reefs. At the same time, coasts are under very high population pressure due to rapid urbanization processes. More than half of todays world population lives in coastal areas (within 60 km from the sea) and this number is on the rise.
Additionally, among all different parts of the planet, coastal areas are those which are most visited by tourists and in many coastal areas tourism presents the most important economic activity. In the Mediterranean region for example, tourism is the first economic activity for islands like Cyprus, Malta, the Balearic Islands and Sicily.
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Forecast studies carried out by WTO estimate that international tourist arrivals to the Mediterranean coast will amount to 270 millions in 2010 and to 346 millions in 2020 (in 2000 around 200 million foreign visitors per year).
Around the world, coral reefs are under assault from a multitude of sources. Depending on their location, reefs have been damaged directly through harmful practices such as coral mining, fishing with dynamite, or overfishing; haphazard coastal development; or even careless pleasure diving by tourists. Reefs have also suffered indirectly from sediment from inland deforestation and removal of coastal mangroves; from industrial pollution; and from nutrient pollution contributed by sewage, fertilizers, and urban runoff. Coral reefs have developed all over the world, in the two tropical zones and in the three oceans. They expand near the surface along coasts where the sea water temperature is above 20 C.
Impacts from tourism activities include both direct physical impacts (such as diver damage and anchor damage), as well as indirect impacts from resort development and operation, and development of tourism infrastructure in general.
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Tourism Paining & Development 3.2 Impact of Tourism on Coral Reefs
Tourism has both direct and indirect impacts on coral reefs. Snorkeling, diving and boating can cause direct physical damage to reefs, and fishing and collecting can contribute to over-exploitation of reef species and threaten local survival of endangered species. Indirect impacts relate to the development, construction and operation of tourism infrastructure as a whole (resorts, marinas, ports, airports, etc.).
Tourism-related impacts on coral reefs are significant, but they are also compounded by other impacts that are not easily distinguished from those of tourism. This does not mean that we must disregard the impacts of tourism activities. On the contrary, the tourism sector and government agencies involved in tourism development must try to eliminate or reduce those impacts that can be controlled, even if there is no 100% proof that a certain impact is directly related to a tourist activity.
3.3 Tourism activities affecting the costal areas
Activities with Direct Impacts Snorkeling
Actual and/or Potential Impacts Physical Damage (breakage, lesions),
Kicking up Sediment Scuba Diving Motor Boating and Yachting Physical Damage (breakage lesions) Physical Damage from anchoring, boat groundings Fishing Contribute to over-exploitation of reef fish stocks, Complete with local fishers Collecting (shells. Lobsters, conch, coral) Threatening local survival of rare species, contributing to over-exploitation and
competing with local fishers.
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Tourism Paining & Development Activities with Indirect Impacts Resort Development and construction Sewage Resort Operation Disposal,
Environmental Impacts of Tourism Actual and/or Potential Impacts Increased sedimentation
Fertilizer Nutrient Enrichment
run off, Irrigation Solid Waste Disposal Leaching of toxic waste substances disposal, from Litter
inappropriate
(especially Plastics) Seafood Consumption Over-exploitation of high-priced resource species (snapper, grouper, spiny lobster, conch) Demand for marine curiosities Exploitation of rare/ endangered/
vulnerable species such as shells, black coral, turtles Construction of artificial beaches and Increased beach replenishment Airport construction or extension sedimentation (from sand
removal or from beach instability) Increased sedimentation from dredging and infilling
Marina construction Marina operation
Increased sedimentation from dredging Pollution from inappropriate disposal of oils and paint residues Pollution from fueling
Motor boating and yachting
Nutrient enrichment from sewage disposal Pollution from fueling
Cruise ships
Nutrient enrichment from illegal sewage disposal Litter from illegal or accidental solid waste disposal
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Tourism Paining & Development 3.4 The Caribbean Islands
The Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands, and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and North America, and to the north of South America.
The region comprises of more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs and cays. These islands, called the West Indies, generally form island arcs that delineate the eastern and northern edges of the Caribbean Sea.
The Caribbean islands are classified as one of the conservation internationals biodiversity hotspots because they support exceptionally diverse ecosystems. The hotspots contain dozens of highly threatened species, ranging from birds, to mammals and reptiles.
The Caribbean, as a single destination usually ranks sixth in terms of tourist receipts. In 1999, the Caribbean attracted 3.1% of the tourist arrivals in the world. In the Caribbean region, the benefits of the tourism industry continue to increase faster than all other regions in terms of revenue and employment.
The tourism sector in the Caribbean has assumed prominence as a result of consistent stagnation in the traditional economic sectors. Tourism earnings account for approximately 25% of the regions Gross Domestic Product.
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Tourism Paining & Development 3.4.1 Tourism Growth in Caribbean
International and Caribbean Tourist Receipts: 1980-2004 (US $ Billions)
Source: http://www.onecaribbean.org/
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International and Caribbean Tourist Arrivals 1970-2004 (Millions)
Source: http://www.onecaribbean.org/ Kaushik K. (H-1331) - 31 -
The importance of travel & tourism to the Caribbean is indisputable. However, the Industrys potential is a long way from being fully tapped, and both government and Industry will have to overcome a number of challenges to ensure sustainable long-term growth. During the last decade alone, there has been a significant effect on the reef ecosystem surrounding the beautiful islands.
3.4.2 Positive impact of tourism on the Caribbean
Many Caribbean islands offer a diversity of landscapes in a small area. The Caribbean is fairly free of disease, pests and European and North American visitors can speak their own language. The common languages that European and North American tourists can speak in the Caribbean are English, French, Dutch, or Spanish.
Caribbean islands now depend on tourism for their economy, often being referred to as the engine of their growth. Tourism has also benefited farmers, fishermen, and merchants because they must grow and supply more fish, meat, poultry, eggs, vegetables, and fruit to feed the large number of visitors.
Tourism as a force for peace Travelling brings people into contact with each other. As sustainable tourism has an educational element it can foster understanding between people and cultures and provide cultural exchange between guests and hosts. This increases the chances for people to develop mutual sympathy, tolerance and understanding and to reduce prejudices and promote the sense of global brotherhood.
Strengthening communities Sustainable Coastal Tourism can add to the vitality of communities in many ways. For e.g. events and festivals of the local communities, where they have been the primary participants and spectators. Often these are refreshed, reincarnated and developed in response to tourists interests.
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The jobs created by tourism can act as a very important motivation to reduce emigration from rural areas. Local people can also increase their influence on tourism development, as well as improve their jobs and earnings prospects through tourism-related professional training and development of business and organizational skills.
Revitalization of culture and traditions Sustainable Tourism can also improve the preservation and transmission of cultural and historical traditions. Contributing to the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources can bring usually the chance to protect local heritage or to revitalize native cultures, for instance by regenerating traditional arts and crafts.
Encouragement social involvement and pride In some situations, tourism also helps to raise local awareness concerning the financial value of natural and cultural sites. It can stimulate a feeling of pride in local and national heritage and interest in its conservation. More broadly, the involvement of local communities in sustainable tourism development and operation seems to be an important condition for the sustainable use and conservation of the biodiversity.
Benefits for the tourists of Sustainable Tourism The benefits of sustainable tourism for visitors are plenty: they can enjoy unspoiled nature and landscapes, environmental quality of goods or services (clean air and water), a healthy community with low crime rate, thriving and authentic local culture and traditions.
Foreign exchange earnings Tourism expenditures, the export and import of related goods and services generate income to the host economy. Tourism is a main source of foreign exchange earnings for at least 38 % of all countries (World Tourism Organization).
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Tourism Paining & Development Employment generation
The rapid expansion of international tourism has led to significant employment creation. Tourism can generate jobs directly through hotels, restaurants, taxis, souvenir sales and indirectly through the supply of goods and services needed by tourism-related businesses; for e.g. conducted tour operators. Tourism represents around 7 % of the worlds employees (World Tourism Organisation). Stimulation of infrastructure investment Tourism can influence the local government to improve the infrastructure by creating better water and sewage systems, roads, electricity, telephone and public transport networks. All this can improve the standard of living for residents as well as facilitate tourism.
Contribution to local economies Tourism can be a significant or even an essential part of the local economy. As environment is a basic component of the tourism industrys assets, tourism revenues are often used to measure the economic value of protected areas. Part of the tourism income comes from informal employment, such as street vendors and informal guides. The positive side of informal or unreported employment is that the money is returned to the local economy and has a great multiplier effect as it is spent over and over again. The World Travel and Tourism Council has estimated that tourism generates an indirect contribution equal to 100 % of direct tourism expenditures.
Direct financial contributions to nature protection Tourism can contribute directly to the conservation of sensitive areas and habitats. Revenue from park-entrance fees and similar sources can be allocated specifically to pay for the protection and management of environmentally sensitive areas. Some governments collect money in more far-reaching and indirect ways that are not linked to specific parks or conservation areas. User fees, income taxes, taxes on sales or rental of recreation equipment and license fees for activities such as hunting and fishing can provide governments with the funds needed to manage natural resources.
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3.4.3 Negative Impacts of Tourism on the Caribbean
Tourism contributes less to the long-term economy than expected. Tourism requires larger capital because of the infrastructure that is necessary. Much of the profit from tourism leaves the region. The real economic benefits of tourism to a country are from what is left over after deducting the amount which stays or returns overseas. A lot of the profit goes to foreign investment and foreign control of the Caribbeans tourism industry since, two-thirds of the hotel rooms in the region are foreign owned, and the tour companies who arrange visitors activities are often foreign owned.
Tourism development has brought an inflation of food and land prices. Specifically, land for the construction of hotels, marinas, and other tourist facilities commonly sell for more than the current local price. This brings the inflation for the price of land, making it out of reach for many locals. On many of the Caribbean islands, local people can no longer afford to live along their own coastline due to the inflation that is being experienced, or the construction of many hotels. One island in particular is taking action, this is Barbados. A pressure group formed in Barbados known as the Windows of the Sea.
The tourism industry has also functioned to negatively impact the indigenous Caribbean culture. As a thriving economic source, it remains an important factor for the growth of the Caribbean. Additionally, its ability to connect other nations and globalize the islands also remains to have an influential impact, but has served to be a negative impact according to some proponents. Numerous historians and cultural anthropologists have complied theories that address this particular impact and its effects on the indigenous culture of the Caribbean.
Species and Habitat Loss The anchors of motorboats and yachts also cause direct harm to the reef as it destroys the corals and habitats of the species in the ecosystem. The collection of samples is causing an insignificant effect on the ecosystem of the reef.
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The fish may be abundant and the reef may cover miles but the collection of the indigenous species without the intention of returning them to the sea is just the tip of the iceberg. Such an activity is incurable as this may lead to the danger of extinction of some rare or endangered species.
Carrying capacity and infrastructure With the augmented tourist inflow, the resort development or construction is needed to be accommodated. The increase in sedimentation in the reefs closer to the shoreline has been seen and forces the corals and other species to move farther from the shore. The nutrients that ocean wildlife doesnt need to survive are often passed into the water as sediment is overturned or eroded into the sea.
Waste Collection As more and more people are visiting the place to witness the beauty of the islands, the more waste is accumulates in the island. There are a lot of proper waste disposal areas or units around the island, to protect the flora and fauna.
Change in Sediment Loads Tourism in the coastal zone contributes to increases in sediment loads for both back bay and shore areas, from construction, access and transport systems (especially dirt roads and some ferry activities), facility operations, and run off. Upland tourism facilities, which are not the direct focus of this report, contribute to sediment loads from rivers and other upland surface run off conditions. The Caribbean is especially susceptible to heavy sediment pulses because of the probability of heavy rains.
Visual Impacts Visual impacts have a high esthetic component which can be culturally biased, but they also derive from poor design, inattention, and large-scale physical alterations to land. Scenic landscapes and other natural attractions provide the basis for tourism in the Caribbean and their value in the region to the tourism industry must be fully appreciated. (Jackson, 1990 as cited by UNEP, 1996)
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Tourism Paining & Development Near Coastal Waters and Fringing Reefs
The outer limits of these near coastal and fringing reef areas is a broad band, possibly out to 20-fathom depths. Most offshore islets and cays which are an entire topic for protection unto them are in this area. Impacts result from: x x x x x x x The construction and operation of docks, piers, wharves, groins, breakwaters and other physical structures; Sediments stirred up by sea traffic; New current and wave regimes created by other changes,; anchoring and diving insults; The direct introduction of toxics and other pollutants from anti-fouling paints, ship operations and waste discharges; The visual impact of anchorages, piers and ports; The displacement of fishers and other traditional water users, and The irritation caused by loud and boisterous parties on harbor and coastal day-trip boats and barges.
Human Impact Humans impact the most on any environment. A sport diver that impacting the Caribbean is the "Happy Fish Syndrome", in which dive operators create the illusion of lots of fish by actively feeding or chumming. Photographers often perpetuate this ruse by distributing photos of chummed-up fish populations as a natural event, and dive magazines print them. New divers are truly the ones being baited as they are simply remain quietly in one place for a few minutes. In the case of feeding otherwise shy sharks, the practice also creates a relationship between human and food the predator may remember the next time he spots a diver out zipping about. Besides feeding, other concerns are: x x x Harassing manatees, sea turtles, and whale sharks by touching or otherwise disturbing them. Unhooking sea horses from where they are tethered so they can be photographed free-floating. Scaring puffer fish so they puff up, for fun or photos.
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Tourism Paining & Development Climate Change
Increasing Tourism in coastal areas has led to change in temperatures. The increasing recreational activities has led to the increased stress on coral reefs referred as the coral reef crisis .The coral reef crisis is almost certainly the result of complex and synergistic interactions among local-scale human-imposed stresses and global-scale climatic stresses. The major climate change factor that is becoming increasingly important for coral reefs is rising ocean temperatures, which have been implicated in constant stress and spreading of diseases, as well as in the occurrence of mass coral bleaching incidents. Following are few issues which occur due to climate change in coastal areas with increasing tourism: x Coral Bleaching: Corals are extremely sensitive to temperature changes. Increased water temperatures, which may be linked to global warming, can cause mass coral bleaching. Bleaching occurs when coral polyps, stressed by heat or ultraviolet radiation, expel the symbiotic algae that live within coral tissues. When the algae are expelled, the coral appears white or bleached. These algae provide corals with most of their food and oxygen. Corals can recover after short periods of bleaching, but as the length and severity of the stress increase so does coral mortality. Coral bleaching events and subsequent reef mortality are expected to become more frequent as sea temperature increases. x Slower coral growth: Sea level is expected to increase at an alarming rate over the next few years. The vertical growth rate of coral is likely to be slower than the increase. As a result, corals will be deeper, receive less sunlight and grow more slowly. The combined effect of deeper reefs and slower growth will cause two problems for coastal areas; firstly, corals will not be able to protect the shore as effectively and wave energy could increase in strength; secondly, smaller reefs will produce smaller amounts of reef sediment which builds and supports island land-bases. This may lead to loss in valuable habitats and ecosystems which supports a lot of natural life. x Physical Damage to Coral Reefs: Increased coral mortality is expected as storm events and cyclones become more frequent and intense. Coral reef growth may not be able to keep pace with these destructive events.
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Tourism Paining & Development x
Coral Mortality: Rising sea temperatures and sea levels and increasing frequency of storms will increase coral mortality and seriously endanger coral reefs, especially those already under stress. These climatic changes could become the proverbial straw that breaks the camels back for reefs facing stresses such as poor water quality, destructive fishing and tourism impacts.
The future survival of the Caribbean region seems to be largely dependent on the development of a sustainable tourism industry. This will achieve a balance between development and sustainability which is a strategic goal that requires moderation, control and co-ordination. The preservation of the environment, tough a necessary condition, is not sufficient for the sustainability of tourism (Jayawerdana, 2002 as cited by Jayawerdana, 2002) in order to achieve sustainability the needs and hopes of the local communities need to be considered.
4.1 Responsible Tourism
Everyone has a role to play creating responsible travel and tourism. Governments, business and communities must do all they can, but as a guest you can support this in many ways to make a difference: 1. Open your mind to other cultures and traditions it will transform your experience, you will earn respect and be more readily welcomed by local people. Be tolerant and respect diversity observe social and cultural traditions and practices. 2. Respect human rights. Exploitation in any form conflicts with the fundamental aims at tourism. The sexual exploitation of children is a crime punishable in the destination or at the offenders home country. 3. Help preserve natural environments. Protect wildlife and habitats and do not purchase products made from endangered plants or animals. 4. Respect cultural resources. Activities should be conducted with respect for the artistic, hierological and cultural heritage.
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5. Your trip can contribute to economic and social development. Purchase local handicrafts and products to support the local economy using the principles of fair trade. 6. Inform yourself about the destinations current health situation and access to emergency and consular services prior to departure and be assured that your health and personal security will not be compromised. Make sure that your specific requirements (diet, accessibility, medical care) can be fulfilled before you decide to travel this destination. 7. Learn as much as possible about your destination and take time to understand the customs, norms and traditions. Avoid behaviour that could offend the local population. 8. Familiarize yourself with the laws so that you do not commit any act considered criminal by the law of the country visited. Refrain from all trafficking in illicit drugs, arms, antiques, protected species and products or substances that are dangerous or prohibited by national regulations. (WTO, Undated)
4.2 Sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, and biological diversity and life support systems. (World Tourism Organization) Sustainable development implies meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987)
The sustainability of the tourism industry depends largely on the regions ability to maintain product quality, ensure profitability, promote effectively, provide air access, ensure safety, ensure acceptance of the local population, to create a competitive force. (Holder, 1996 as cited by Jayawerdana, 2002)
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In order to achieve sustainable tourism, there must be synergy among economic systems, social systems, and eco-systems. Sustainable tourism involves the use of the natural, social, cultural, and financial resources for national development on an equitable and selfsustaining basis. While tourism provides visitors with unique experiences, it should at the same time provide locals with an improved quality of life. This can be accomplished through partnerships involving the government, the private sector, and local communities. Sustainable tourism is also seen as essential to the development of SIDS and other areas that are environmentally sensitive. Sustainable tourism involves a more holistic and comprehensive approach to development than the traditional economic development models.
Travel and tourism should be planned and practiced as a means of individual and collective fulfillment. When practiced with an open mind, it is an irreplaceable factor of self education, mutual tolerance and for learning about the legitimate differences between peoples and cultures and their diversity.
4.2.1 Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST)
The Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), a non-profit organization chartered in 1997, undertakes collaborative environmental activities within the hotel and tourism sector, promotes the effective management of natural resources and provides access to expertise in sustainable tourism practices; assisting hotel and tourism operators in the Caribbean region achieve the goals of Agenda 21 for sustainable development.
4.2.2 CAST's Strategic Focus:
The main aim of CAST is to promote and develop Sustainable Tourism Standards & Certification. This can be achieved by raising performance standards through a systematic approach to managing operations e.g. EMS & certification e.g. Green Globe 21, Blue Flag and QTC. The CAST Performance and Leadership Program (PLP) provides a roadmap to improved performance.
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Moreover by promoting Industry Successes and Lessons Learned: Via publications, guides, manuals & videos, awards, CAST website, newsletters, meetings & conferences etc. Advocacy: pleading the cause of responsible tourism development within the Caribbean with a focus on: x x x x Maintaining quality tourism destinations & attractions. Preserving the integrity & vibrancy of communities. Educating for a sustainable future. Fund raising: targeted fund raising for research and education, e.g. Friends of CAST
Since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, there is increasing awareness of the importance of sustainable forms of tourism. Although tourism is one of the world largest industries, was not the subject of a chapter in Agenda 21, the Program for the further implementation of Agenda 21, adopted by the General Assembly at its nineteenth special session in 1997, included sustainable tourism as one of its sectoral themes. Furthermore in 1996, The World Tourism Organization jointly with the tourism private sector issued an Agenda 21 for the Travel and Tourism Industry, with 19 specific areas of action recommended to governments and private operators towards sustainability in tourism.
5.1 Current tourism industry practices
Its fortunate that a concern for the environment has become a major trend that is still gathering momentum. Environmentalism is now a major international and national force with the development of the green movement and other concerned groups. Protection of the environment has been embraced by the tourism industry. Recognition is a start and progress is under way.
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Tourism Paining & Development 5.2 Regulatory measures
Regulatory measures help offset negative impacts; for instance, controls on the number of tourist activities and movement of visitors within protected areas can limit impacts on the ecosystem and help maintain the integrity and vitality of the site. Such limits can also reduce the negative impacts on resources. Limits should be established after an in-depth analysis of the maximum sustainable visitor capacity.
This strategy is being used in the Galapagos Islands, where the number of ships allowed to cruise this remote archipelago is limited, and only designated islands can be visited, ensuring visitors have little impact on the sensitive environment and animal habitats.
In Hawaii, new laws and regulations have been enacted to preserve the Hawaiian rainforest and to protect native species. The coral reefs around the islands and the marine life that depend on them for survival are also protected. Hawaii now has become an international centre for research on ecological systems - and the promotion and preservation of the islands' tourism industry was the main motivation for these actions.
5.2.1 Agenda 21
On 14 June, 1992, the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, added further impetus to a debate that was growing stale and a new maxim emerged where Only whatever can be sustained by nature and society in the long term is permissible. This new impetus was given the title Agenda 21 to reflect the fact that it was a policy statement aimed at taking the world into the 21st Century. Agenda 21 gained its significance as it represented the first occasion when a comprehensive program of environmental actions was agreed to be adopted by 182 governments. The Agenda 21 were not solely environmental because they include aspects such as human development as readdressing of the imbalance between rich and poor nations. It is one of the first concrete sectoral programs of action arising from the increasing cooperation between the tourism industry and inter-governmental agencies
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Tourism Paining & Development 5.2.2 Green Globe
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the main international industry association, has developed an environmental management programme - Green Globe, for both travel and tourism companies and tourism destinations, aimed to raise the level of environmental awareness and to provide a low-cost practical means for improving the environmental performance of the industry.
5.2.3 IHEI - International Hotel Environment Initiative
Another innovative global programme is the International Hotel Environment Initiative (IHEI), led by a council of leading international hotel chains, aimed to promote environmental management in the hotel industry, which is one of the main consumers of resources and sources of waste. Such initiatives are particularly important not only because they can lead to significant reductions of water and energy consumption, as well as liquid and solid waste, but also because they promote positive behavioural changes in both tourists and employees. In addition, they can lead to improved economic efficiency and increased profitability.
5.2.4 Green Seal
Green Seal is a non profit, third party certifier and standard development body in United States. A Green Seal Certification Mark on a product means that it has gone through a stringent process to show that it has less impact on the environment and human health. The seal means that the product has passed the tests; that it works as well as in any other class, and it has been evaluated without bias or conflict of interests.
5.3 Individual tourist responsibilities:
If ecologically sustainable tourism is to become a reality, it will require efforts by all the players in the tourism arena, starting with the tourists themselves.
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Tourists have responsibilities and must be educated as to their obligations and responsibilities to contribute to socially and environmentally responsible tourism. Tourism must first be brought into the process as clients (guests) for the tourist destination and second as persons coresponsible for maintaining the destination. Several codes of ethics, guidelines and ten commandments; for tourist behavior have been developed. Again, they are a start in the process of educating the tourists.
5.3.1 Code of Ethics for Tourists
A high-quality tourism experience depends on the conservation of our natural resources, the protection of our environment and the preservation of our cultural heritage. The Canadian tourism industry has developed and adopted a Code of Ethics and Practices to achieve these objectives. Tourists are encouraged to consider the following guidelines:
1. The understanding and promotion of the ethical values common to humanity, with an attitude of tolerance and respect for the diversity of religious, philosophical and moral beliefs, are both the foundation and the consequence of responsible tourism; stakeholders in tourism development and tourists themselves should observe the social and cultural traditions and practices of all peoples, including those of minorities and indigenous peoples and to recognize their worth; 2. Tourism activities should be conducted in harmony with the attributes and traditions of the host regions and countries and in respect for their laws, practices and customs. 3. The host communities, on the one hand, and local professionals, on the other, should acquaint themselves with and respect the tourists who visit them and find out about their lifestyles, tastes and expectations; the education and training imparted to professionals contribute to a hospitable welcome; 4. It is the task of the public authorities to provide protection for tourists and visitors and their belongings; they must pay particular attention to the safety of foreign tourists owing to the particular vulnerability they may have.
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They should facilitate the introduction of specific means of information, prevention, security, insurance and assistance consistent with their needs; any attacks, assaults, kidnappings or threats against tourists or workers in the tourism industry, as well as the willful destruction of tourism facilities or of elements of cultural or natural heritage should be severely condemned and punished in accordance with their respective national laws; 5. When travelling, tourists and visitors should not commit any criminal act or any act considered criminal by the laws of the country visited and abstain from any conduct felt to be offensive or injurious by the local populations, or likely to damage the local environment; they should refrain from all trafficking in illicit drugs, arms, antiques, protected species and products and substances that are dangerous or prohibited by national regulations; 6. Tourists and visitors have the responsibility to acquaint themselves, even before their departure, with the characteristics of the countries they are preparing to visit; they must be aware of the health and security risks inherent in any travel outside their usual environment and behave in such a way as to minimize those risks. (http://www.world-tourism.org/code_ethics/eng/1.htm)
Formulation of Codes and Ethics is not the only solution; the next step should be to spread awareness of the codes and to educate them to follow the important guidelines so they will become responsible travelers. (Goeldner and Ritchie, 2006)
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Tourism Paining & Development Conclusion
Tourism will grow, sometimes rapidly, as at present only about one tenth of the world population travels internationally. Our main task is not to limit growth but to manage growth in away that is appropriate to the tourists, the destination environment and the host population. Greater effort should also be made to promote codes, standards and best practices in sustainable tourism across the globe, through accreditation bodies such as the WTO and the Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council. There is an urgent need to develop policies and measures that are not only theoretically sound but also practically feasible. Without the development of effective means of translating ideals into action, sustainable tourism runs the risk of remaining irrelevant and inert as a feasible policy option for the real world of tourism development.
Tourism is expected to resume its rapid growth in the future because of improved living standards, rising incomes and amounts of free time, the falling real cost of travel, and improved transportation around the world. This growth can be harnessed not only for the enjoyment of tourists themselves but, more importantly, for maximizing economic benefits and thus increasing the living standards of host communities and countries. At the same time, it is bound to have negative environmental and socio-cultural impact on those communities, whose involvement in tourism planning, development and management can be crucial to minimizing the impact. The major challenge for the international community is, therefore, not only to minimize the negative impact of tourism but also to ensure that the economic benefits of tourism can contribute to environmental protection and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Sustainable tourism is the answer to all the above mentioned issues as it helps in preserving the natural heritage of a region by having low impacts on natural and local environmental resources as well as continues to be the major source of income and employment for the host communities. Responsible Tourism has emerged as the latest trend and one of the most successful tools towards sustainable development.
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Destinations and tourism operations are endorsing and following responsible tourism as a pathway towards preserving their natural beauty and inheritance. Responsible tourism and sustainable tourism have an identical goal, that of sustainable development. The pillars of responsible tourism are therefore the same as those of sustainable tourism environmental integrity, social justice and economic development.
The various councils controlling tourism development has been actively recognizing sustainable development as the need of the hour. Starting from Rio Summit in 1992 to Johannesburg, conferences have taken place to develop tourism further but in a sustainable manner. But one cannot be relying on one end. The initiative has to be two way. The government regulation needs to be supported by the host communities and also the tourist visiting places so that the purpose is rightfully solved. The tourists needs to be educated about the new practices such as Green Globe, Green Tourism, Green Seal, EcoLabeling and many more which has one common aim of preserving environment while promoting tourism. If the tourism is sustainably developed, the objective of creating world a better place for people to live in and to visit.
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Tourism Paining & Development Bibliography
Books x x x x x x x Bell, J. H. (1993) Caribbean tourism in the year 2000, London: Routledge. Cook, R. A.; Yale, L. J. and Marqua, J. J. (2007) Tourism: The Business of Travel, India: Pearson Education Cooper, C.; Flethcher, J.; Fyall, A.; Gilbert, D. and Wanhill, S. (2005) Tourism: Principles and Practices, Third Edition, England: Pearson Education Fazil, A. I. and Ashraf, S. H. (2006) Tourism in India: Planning and Development, New Delhi: Sarup & Sons Gayle, D. J. and Goodrich, J. N. (1993) Tourism Marketing and Management in the Caribbean, London: Routledge Goeldner, C. R. and Ritchie, J. R. B. (2006) Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies, Tenth Edition, John Wiley & Sons, United Stated of America Theobald, W. F. (1998) Global Tourism: The Next Decade, Second Edition, England: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Journals x x x x x Albuquerque, K. and McElroy, J. L. (1999a) Tourism and crime in the Caribbean, Annals of Tourism Research, 26 968-981. Jayawerdana, C. (2002) Mastering Caribbean Tourism, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 14, 2 88-93. Keller, P. (2005) Global Tourism Growth: A Challenge for SMEs, OECD & Korea Conference. McElroy, J. L. and Albuquerque, K. (1998) Tourism penetration index in small Caribbean islands, Annals of Tourism Research, 25 145-68. Wilkinson, P. F. (2008) Predictions, past and present: World and Caribbean tourism, Futures.
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Tourism Paining & Development Electronic Information x Anon, (2007) State of the
Environment
Report
2007, Date
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Tourism Paining & Development 1.