Tourism In Relation to the Natural Environment
This is commonly visible with depletion of natural resources, and consequently environmental degradation linked to aspects of tourism, which often cause serious problems in tourism destination countries or regions. Moreover, environmental protection or conservation has become a major issue, especially with concepts such as sustainable development being introduced. The link between tourism and the environment is crucial resulting to symbiotic relationship, where both aspects depend on each other for development. But, most the times conservation of the environment may loose out at the end, when sustainable guidelines are not put in place to monitor impacts of tourism. Moreover, concepts such as sustainable tourism have been developed to promote the awareness, of tourism being an economic activity, and more so the inevitable effects upon the environment in tourism destinations.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the link or relation of tourism to the natural environment, and consequently methods or ways in which environmental conservation can be enhanced through aspects of sustainable tourism. The promotion of sustainable tourism growth is crucial towards maximizing the socio-economic benefits, and simultaneously minimizing environmental impacts through sound conservation frameworks.
The Environment in the Aspect of Tourism
Tourism development has become an outstanding socio-economic phenomenon in the twentieth century. It was a mass phenomenon especially after the Second World War, and developed to reach larger numbers of people across the world, with its significant benefits of being a source of income and employment. The growth of tourism industry has sky rocketed since then, more so with increase of international tourists compared to domestic tourism. Thereby, the environment is at many times attributed to be the major pull factor, towards tourist movements and therefore, contributing to the attractiveness and desirability factors of a tourist destination. Environment is an indispensable aspect in regard to the tourism industry, and conservation of the environmental resources, which entail cultural, natural and historic resources, is a prime factor for the tourism industry considerations.
Environmental inputs are extremely significant to the production of tourist outputs. Moreover, even as the contribution of tourism in positive aspects has been contested by various organizations and bodies, it still remains to be among the most important economic sectors accepted across the globe. Its demand has increased significantly being attributed rapid technological innovation, globalization, demographic shifts, discretionary income, and paid vacations. Tourist arrivals have increased exponentially more so in the international scene. In addition, more attention is being driven towards implementation and development of sustainable tourism, even as countries seek to harness advantage in tourisms economic potential, being propagated through corporate commitments and stakeholders who include employees, consumers, activists groups, non-governmental organizations (NGO), and residents (Sheehan, 2005 p. 715). Sustainability of tourism towards the environment is not only through managing and controlling, the negative impacts associated with the industry (UNWTO, 2005).
Sustainable tourism principles will refer to a broader aspect of encompassing the environment, socio-cultural, and economic attributes of tourism development, and also achieving a balance that is sustainable between these three proportions. Internationalization of environmental awareness has consequently led to gradual restructuring in the tourism industry, through organizations like the Green Globe. This has enabled the growing industry to adopt policies and strategies, which enhance the support of environmental quality, and promote sustainable utilization of environmental resources. Sustainable tourism development management practices can be appropriate to various forms of tourism, encompassing mass tourism and different movements which are associated to environmental conservation and ethical responsibility, which includes ecotourism, responsible tourism or green tourism.
In essence, ecotourism has become an important aspect in being an alternative form of tourism, which allows for both leisure and comprehension of the culture and nature of a particular destination, moreover producing economic benefits simultaneously promoting environmental conservation (Ayala, 1995 p.356). Hence, this has led to rapid growth and demand for tourist attractions, which offer amenities that are serene, environmentally friendly and unique to a world population that is increasingly becoming urbanized. Tourism development that does not consider goals in sustainable development, can be an upsetting force which can lead to natural environment degradation, commercialization of culture, contributing towards negative host-guest stereotypes, an economy that is over reliant on services that are susceptible to seasonal variation, upon other various negative impacts. For many regions and nations, the tourism industry is a key factor that represents few opportunities for employment, local development, and revenue generation. However, intensive tourism particularly towards fresh water resources, fragile coastal and mountain ecosystems, can have major negative repercussions in respect to nature and the environment.
Experts have consequently drawn up a checklist which gives indicators of sustainable tourism, with the aim of identifying positive factors in the tourism industry, as well as perceiving real negative contributions, using social, environmental and economic indicators which entail aspects of waste disposal, physical impact and intensity of land use, fragility of biodiversity and ecosystems, water consumption, and protection against noise levels, the atmosphere and visual impact.
Benefits of Sustainable Tourism
However, on the other hand sustainable tourism approach has the potential to provide high and quality experience, for tourists and consequently improving the quality of life for the local residents, enhancement of cultural pride, and justification for environmental conservation. More so, the private sector in tourism has the potential to provide employment opportunities, stimulate local commerce, generate foreign exchange, and improve the overall standards of living for residents (Weaver and Lawton, 2001). This sector has led to development of strategies towards the balance of unsustainable and sustainable approaches in tourism, generating into adoption of programs such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) by companies, in regard to conservation of environmental resources. Contemporary CSR emerged back in 1950s, but gained popularity through the 1970s with the aims of conforming to ethics and laws in the society, and simultaneously maximizing profits in tourism ventures.
In the recent time, consumer pressures have emphasized company performance and responsiveness, through CSR movements which seek to integrate business practices that support economic, societal and environmental responsibility. Corporate social responsibility initiatives developed out of concern for conservation of the environment in the hospitality and tourism industry, but the trend has caught up and has been consequently integrated, into foundational elements based on contemporary tourism development by adopting sustainable tourism practices (Dodds, 2008). Additionally, the tourism sector comprises of an extensive array of economic activities, consequently being considered as the largest industry currently in the world.
International tourism is growing at a rapid pace, coupled by indicators such as globalization with advanced technological changes, leading to ramifications in the global economic sectors encompassing various sectors, enterprises and stakeholders. Globalization of tourism has grown to unprecedented heights, overtaking many other large industries in the world, in the average annual growth because of higher international tourism receipts. Currently, tourism is the only industry where developing countries have constantly recorded trade surpluses. It has become a major source of income and has boosted the economies of both developing and developed countries. Apart from export earnings, tourism in the international scene has enabled governments to get a significant share in tax revenues, both local and national across the world. This has triple effects through considerable investments implemented in infrastructure and other key areas of development in an economy.
Employment opportunities, have been available through the tourism industry because it is generally labour-intensive. However, the lack of diversified economies and increasing reliance on tourism tends to increase the vulnerability of this industry to natural disasters, international shocks, regional wars and various unexpected events. Currently, there is fear of international terrorism, which has consequently contributed to devastating immediate effects upon countries, which depend on tourism economies.
Environmental Impacts of Tourism
Even as tourism provides immense economic benefits across many regions, countries, and communities, its rapid growth and expansion has also contributed to adverse environmental impacts inclusive of socio-cultural impacts. Tourism development in this respect has also been responsible for environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources, sometimes causing serious problems in tourism rich countries. Therefore, management and conservation of natural resources with the goal of reversing trends, in tourism development has been a difficult challenge for various governments, at different scales of environmental conservation initiatives.
High patterns of consumption by most tourists and waste generation upon reaching their destinations can cause significant problems especially for developing countries, where proper means of protecting or conserving environmental resources and local ecosystems have not been put in place, to monitor and regulate pressures of mass tourism. In addition, environmental impacts initiated by tourism can be illustrated through damage to ecosystems, waste and pollution generation, and pressure on natural resources. Natural resources depict basic raw materials such as food and energy, land, marine and fresh water resources. Without careful planning, intensive tourism can lead to serious depletion of these resources.
Moreover, improper disposal mechanisms of both solid and liquid wastes generated through tourism development, can be problematic for countries without the capacity of treating refuse materials properly, leading to pollution of other interconnected environmental resources such as untreated sewage running into lakes or rivers. Pressure on fresh water consumption, rapid expansion of ocean and coastal tourism activities like sport fishing, consumption of relatively high energy levels in hotels, local noise and air pollution, urban congestion associated with exhaustive tourism development, is more cause for concern for the negative impacts of tourism upon lack of proper mechanisms in place, to check development of tourism and mitigate adverse conditions of mass tourism. Additionally, damage to ecosystems is attributed to unchecked intensive tourism activity towards environmental resources, which can interfere with delicate wildlife and vegetation, causing permanent damage to ecosystems.
Tourism Contributing to Environmental Conservation
Environmental conservation can be enhanced through different aspects in the tourism industry. Sustainability concerns towards tourism development have been consequently addressed, by governments in local and regional, national and also at international levels. This has led to awareness campaigns of sustainable development and management of environmental resources initiatives, through processes in tourist activities in order to maintain and conserve social, economic and aesthetic needs via essential ecological processes, life support systems, maintaining cultural integrity, and promoting biological diversity (Font, 2004). Hence, tourism can contribute towards environmental conservation through
Financial contributions
This can be achieved through direct financial support through funds gained from tourism activities, to conserve sensitive habitat and areas. Revenue obtained from sources such as park-entrance fees and other avenues can be allocated by environmental conservation initiatives, to manage and protect environmentally susceptible areas. These special fees for park conservation activities and operations can be harnessed, through tour operators and tourists who visit such fragile areas.
Contributions through government revenues
The government can collect monetary funds for conservation through various and indefinite means, which are not primarily connected to particular conservation or park areas. Some of these revenue sources can include income taxes, recreation equipment that is rented, user fees, and license fees in regard to activities like fishing or hunting, and many other sources can provide the government with funds that are essential in managing natural resources. Contribution of funds from government revenues can be used for park maintenance and pay park ranger salaries, towards the efforts of overall conservation activities and programs.
Enhanced environmental planning and management
Comprehensive environmental management and planning of tourism facilities, more so in respect to hotels can foster benefits towards natural areas. This factor however, requires sound and careful planning strategies and approaches in order to achieve controlled development, based on the analysis of environmental resources found in that area. Planning is a crucial factor in monitoring tourism development and developing a framework, that will help alleviate conflicting uses of natural resources, or finding means and procedures of making them compatible in a symbiotic relationship (Mowforth, 1998). Early planning for tourism development and laying down comprehensive frameworks for management, expensive and damaging errors can be avoided, thereby preventing and protecting the environment against gradual deterioration while maintaining key environmental assets, which are significant to tourism.
Cleaner production techniques will prove to be essential in management and planning tools, thereby enabling operation of tourism facilities to be carried out in a sustainable manner, consequently minimizing adverse environmental impacts. A classic example can be related to green building, where non-pollutant building materials, energy efficient use, appropriate treatment and disposal in sewage systems, and sustainable energy sources, have become increasingly important factors towards environmental conservation. Moreover, consideration and implementation of these attributes is vital for the tourism industry, so as to promote reduced impacts on the environment.
Waste treatment and disposal is among the major issues in negative environmental impacts upon the environment, thus requiring long term and sustainable techniques to mitigate this problem affecting the tourism industry. Sound initiatives towards waste minimization and prevention of pollution are crucial to the success of tourism, while simultaneously conserving the environment.
Raising Environmental Awareness
The tourism industry has the potential to spread awareness concerning environmental problems, while increasing public appreciation towards environmental importance, thereby bringing people closer to environment and nature so as to understand, the essence of conserving the environment and what it means for them. This approach in confronting the public may heighten awareness in regard to the value nature presents for all stakeholders, consequently influencing positive environmental conscious activities and behaviour, that will eventually lead to conservation of the environment and appreciating the intricate relationship in the whole ecological system. For the environment to be sustainable in the long term, tourism has to incorporate practices and principles towards sustainable consumption.
In this respect, sustainable consumption will entail creating a demand for consumer products, which have been manufactured through utilising cleaner production techniques, while providing tourism services in a manner that reduces environmental impacts. Important environmental information can be provided by the tourism industry that will be essential, in raising awareness among tourists concerning their actions towards environmental consequences. Tourism facilities can place conducts of acceptable behaviour towards flora and fauna, thus providing significant information about the impacts they can cause in doing one thing or another. Tourism related businesses and tourists usually consume a lot of services and goods, therefore moving provision and consumption of these resources in an environmentally sustainable manner, can have a tremendous positive impact towards conserving the environment, and ensure regeneration of those products.
Preservation and Protection
Tourism initiatives can contribute significantly to environmental conservation, protection and restitution of biological diversity, while simultaneously promoting sustainable consumption of natural resources. Natural areas and pristine sites are generally identified in their value, because of the attractiveness they hold, and the drive for organisations or tourism initiatives to preserve the attraction, can consequently lead to formation of wildlife or national parks. Various countries have adopted laws and regulations with example of Hawaii in preserving its rainforests and native species. Coral reefs in the island coupled with marine life, has been at the centre of conservation initiatives. More so, preservation initiatives have been recognised in the Dominican Republic where high end resorts, have promoted tourism development and conservation of the environment, with the classic example of Grupo Punta Cana Resort. Positive effects in wildlife protection and preservation efforts have been noted especially in Africa, but also in other areas like South America, South Pacific, and Australia.
Alternative Employment
Tourism can foster the development of alternative scenarios in economic sources minimising environmental impacts. Community based projects can benefit families and businesses, thereby reducing aspects or traditional practices such as hunting or agricultural plots obtained through burning and slashing the vegetation. Moreover, families tend to benefit directly from these community managed private reserves, hence reducing pressure on the environment.
Regulatory Measures
These measures once initiated in the tourism perspective, helps offset negative environmental impacts, and consequently controlling tourist movements and activities, thereby being able to maintain the vitality and integrity of a site within protected limits in the ecosystem. Placing such limits will foster reduction of adverse impacts on environmental resources.
Summary
Tourism is one of the fastest growing service industries across the world, with globalisation as a major contributor to this key sector. Many emerging economies have tapped into this great resource that has fostered national development. Tourism presents various positive opportunities to be harnessed, but also is compounded by various challenges such as climate change, global security and issues pertaining to environmental conservation. Tourism depends on the environment vice versa and the relationship is symbiotic. The challenge emerges on how to achieve a sustainable balance between the two, without one progressing at the expense of the other party. Mass tourism has been particularly pointed out, to contribute significantly towards degradation of the environment without proper standards or principles in place, to monitor tourism activities. Moreover, the concepts of alternative tourism or other forms of tourism that are pro-environment have increased, in the recent past with the goal of giving back to the environment, in a sustainable manner. Impacts can be assessed in the environment where acceptable limits are only allowed, to compromise with tourism activities. Sustainable tourism has the potential to initiate projects or procedures, which are geared towards environmental conservation coupled with effective policies and regulations.
Conclusion
Tourism industry presents numerous opportunities to countries around the world, as illustrated by the fast growth of technological change and rapid globalisation. Many countries have achieved economic development through the tourism industry, being among the largest foreign exchange earner. This industry has presented countless opportunities producing ripple effects to other industries. Moreover, tourism relies on environmental resources, which has consequently led to the issues of preservation and conservation, because of rapid deterioration of these inputs attributed to mass tourism and the negative impacts it leaves behind. Alternative forms of tourism have consequently been adopted such as ecotourism, to define sustainable limits and consumption of natural resources. Sustainable tourism seeks to balance environmental inputs to tourism outputs, by creating products which are sustainable and also foster environmental protection. Environmental protection is possible through tourism, but it will rely on sound frameworks of planning and management of environmental resources and tourism, to achieve a sustainable balance and symbiosis.
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