Environmental Impacts of Tourism

THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF TOURISM

As one of the world's largest industries and one of its fastest growing economic sectors, tourism has a multitude of impacts, both positive and negative, on people's lives and on the environment. The quality of the environment, both natural and man-made, is essential to tourism. However, tourism's relationship with the environment is complex - many activities can have adverse environmental effects. Many of these impacts are linked with the construction of general infrastructure such as roads and airports, and of tourism facilities, including resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, golf courses and marinas. The negative impacts of tourism development can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which it depends. On the other hand, tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. It is a way to raise awareness of environmental values and it can serve as a tool to finance protection of natural areas and increase their economic importance. There is a complex interaction between tourism and environment. Major part of tourism depends on Nature, mountains, beaches, deserts, forests wild life, water bodies etc. and the distressing fact is that tourism itself is destroying this environment. So there is a need to keep balance between the two. Based on Amita Plaeumaran's table of Environmental impact of tourism (1989)
effect can be seen:

POLLUTION

An unfortunate by-product of tourism, can cause harmful chemicals or wastes to be introduced into animal habitats leading not only to habitat deterioration but also to poorer animal health or death. A review of the threats of marine debris to marine wildlife indicates that at least 267 species of marine wildlife are affected by rubbish. Animals are regularly injured or killed due to entanglement or ingestion of waste material such as plastic objects. Entanglement
can cause reduced foraging ability, reduced predator resistance, exhaustion, infection from injury, and unnatural behaviours leading to a competitive disadvantage. Ingestion of solid waste can bring about irritation and damage to the digestive tract as well as disruption of normal feeding patterns.

An obvious increase in the use of inshore waters by boats has resulted in the rise of the number of collisions reported. Dead dolphins washed up on the shore sometimes display evidence of injury from boat propellers. Tourism can cause the same forms of pollution as
any other industry: air emissions, noise, solid waste and littering, releases of sewage, oil and chemicals, and even architectural/visual pollution. Tourism is a major direct contributor to sewage and solid waste pollution (mainly stemming from marines and land based hotels) in practically every coastal and/or island nation. A tourist produces an average of about l-kg of wastes each day! Other types of pollution in coastal waters resulting from tourism include
sediment run-off, high nutrient loads, synthetic organic chemicals (fertilisers and pesticides), oil, and pathogens. These lead to eutrophication, and deterioration of water quality, which in turn have adverse effects on coastal ecosystems and their living resources, and so impair their value for tourism as well as other uses. This is in particular the case of coral reefs that are at high risk world-wide However, tourism has also led to the development of infrastructure to deal with waste and combat pollution (e.g. sewerage systems, solid waste management facilities, and potable water systems) with direct benefits to environmental conditions and public health.

Air pollution-Tourism is generally considered a 'smokeless industry' but large-scale tourist movement requires the use of mass transportation. Transport by air, road, and rail is continuously increasing in response to the rising number of tourists and their greater mobility. Tourism now accounts for more than 60% of air travel. and the fuel burnt by aircrafts adds to air pollution. one study estimated that a single transatlantic return flight emits almost half the C02 emissions produced by all other sources (lighting, heating, car use, etc.) consumed by an average person yearly. Introduction of quieter, more fuel efficient and cleaner jet engines emit nitrous oxide. Emissions from cars and boats used in tourismincrease air pollution.

Apart from pollution caused by tourism, industrial pollution can greatly reduce the attractiveness of a sight to visitors. This can be seen in case of The Taj Mahal, India's premier tourist attraction, which was attacked by both tourism and Industrial pollution. Its 10 million visitors a year are eroding the building, while white marble exterior surface of building is suffering the effects of marble cancer caused by 'industrial pollution'

Water Pollution-If proper sewage disposal system has not been installed for hotels, resorts and other tourism facilities. there may be pollution of ground water from sewage, or if a sewage
outfall has been constructed into a nearby river, lake or coastal sea and water and sewage has not been adequately treated, the effluents will pollute that water area. e.g. in beach resorts which in turn affect the wild life on the rivers and in the sea .. Sewage runoff causes serious damage to coral reefs because it stimulates the growth of algae which cover the filter-feeding corals, hindering their ability to survive. Beaches give particular cause of concern. Polluted water can lead to serious illness among bathers

Noise Pollution-All three forms of transports can also contribute to unacceptable levels of noise, whether in rural surroundings or residential areas, and noise, too must be considered a form of pollution. The peace of night is destroyed by late night Disco Bars catering to tourists resulting in noise pollution. Noise pollution from airplanes, cars, buses, (+ snowmobiles and jet skis) In addition to causing annoyance, stress, and even hearing loss for humans, it causes distress to wildlife and can cause animals to alter their natural activity patterns.

Visual Pollution/ Aesthetic Pollution-Often tourism fails to integrate its structures with the natural features and indigenous architecture I of the destination. It can be ascribed to the insensitivity in design of buildings for tourism. Leading high rise concrete hotels. poorly designed are incompatible with local architectural style or not well integrated into natural environment.. A lack of land-use lanning and building regulations in many destinations has facilitated sprawling developments along coastlines, valleys and scenic routes. In seaside resorts around world, concrete skyscraper hotel has become a norm The sprawl includes tourism facilities themselves and supporting infrastructure such as roads, employee housing, parking, service areas, and waste disposal. Other common forms of visual pollution by tourists include littering, particularly in areas around picnic sites, and graffiti on buildings.

CONGESTION AND EROSION

The most significant problem created by mass tourism is that of congestion. This exists at both (a)Physical and (b) Psychological level. Thus it is a very complex problem because physical level oan be easi ly measured in terms of capacity of an area to absorb tourists.
But quantifying the psychological capacity of a site is difficult which means the degree of congestion which tourist will tolerate before the site starts losing its appeal. Quantifying this is far more difficult, since perception of capacity will differ not only according to nature of sight but also according to market attracted. In so called wilderness areas of course, the psychological capacity of region may be very low & areas sensitive to environmental damage may suffer physically from comparatively few visitors Too many tourists in a rural or otherwise fragile environment can destroy the balance of nature. Many sand dunes have been destroyed or seriously eroded. Fragile coral reefs can be easily damaged by divers or shark killers. Nuildings which face very high levels of demand from
tourism create an equally serious problem. Many popular rural sites such as National parks are at risk from number of visitors they receive.

Artificial snow making machines have smothered Alpine plants, reducing the vegetation, while wildlife has also declined as animal territories are reduced because of winter sports tourism.

·         It is not only sports activities which can threaten a snowscape, glaciers, whose ecosystem invariably attract large numbers of sightseers when located in accessible
region.

·         Although constructed sites are less fragile but they too can be affected by erosion in long term.

·         Tourism danger to flora and fauna. The removal either as souvenirs or for commercial sale by tourist enterprises, of coral & rare shells is also a cause of concern.

·         Threat is also to endangered animal species from tourism. Animals are hunted down by tourist safari vehicles.

·         Goa in India also suffered the environmental consequences of mass tourism. Water shortage in area has aggravated by tourist consumption. Apart from environmental impact, there is also a social cost, the private beaches denying access to locals and westernization oflocal carnival dilute traditional identity & culture of region.

COASTAL AREAS

Uncontrolled coastal tourism development poses potential threats to many natural areas around the world as it can put enormous pressure on a very narrow area. Many of these impacts
are linked with the construction of general infrastructure such as roads and airports, and of tourism facilities, including resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, golf courses and marinas. Such developments often lead to impacts such as soil erosion, increased pollution, waste discharges into the sea, natural habitat loss and associated loss in biodiversity and increased pressure on endangered species. This is particularly true for some of the world's most ecologically fragile
areas such as wetlands, mangroves, coral reefs and sea grass beds. Furthermore, it often puts a strain on water resources, and it can force local populations to compete for the use of critical resources such as fish. By involving many activities that can have adverse environmental effects tourism has the potential to gradually destroy the environmental resources on which it depends. Usually these effects are dynamic and often interactive On the other hand, tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. It is a way to raise awareness of environmental values and it can serve as a tool to finance protection of natural areas and increase their economic importance.

BIODIVERSITY

In recent years, wildlife tourism has experienced a rapid growth worldwide. An increased interest in wildlife viewing has given rise to a wide range of wildlife tourism products to cater for this growing demand. As is evident from the numerous commercial dolphin and whale watching ventures appearing worldwide. The marine environment lends itself well to this type of tourism. The dramatic increase in popularity of wildlife tourism has also created a market for interactive experiences such as dolphin feeding and dolphin swimming initiatives. The potential economic benefits of the development of such programmes are considerable, but the associated impacts on wildlife might be terrible, causing marked changes in behavioral and social ecology leading to reduced fitness and higher levels of mortality.

Threats to sea turtle populations have been increasing in recent years as a result of human activities. Turtle based tourism viewing can generate income and provide employment whilst at the same time support the conservation efforts of sea turtles. Though turtles (and their eggs) are still harvested in many countries for their meat, shell and many by-products these direct threats mainly stem from local populations. Turtle meat and eggs still form an important part of the diet of many native communities around Australia- rather than tourists. The destruction of coastal beaches due to erosion, resort development and recreation has deprived turtles of quality nesting grounds. Though sea turtle based tourism may constitute one of the best tools towards the reptile's protection it has the potential to adversely affect the animals as a result of human disturbances, infrastructural development and pollution arising from such tourism.

PHYSICAL ALTERATIONS AND HABITATS

Construction related to tourism development (hotels, airports, roads, and vacation homes) causes the greatest negative impact to the fragile coastal and marine ecosystems around the world. Loss of biodiversity and landscape attractiveness already affect a number of tourist destinations throughout the Mediterranean. The projected growth of tourism in the years to come will continue to degrade these regions, as well as destroy what are now almost untouched areas.

In Italy over 43% of the coastline is completely urbanised mainly linked to tourism As a major cause of the loss of natural habitat, tourism has a very direct negative impact on biodiversity, directly affecting rare and endangered species. Habitat destruction and
alteration is one of the leading causes for the loss of biodiversity : In a recent survey, 57% of reefs in the Florida Keys showed propeller and grounding damage from boats

Littoral habitats such as beaches, seagrasses meadows, coral reefs and mangroves are all particularly sensitive to habitat alterations associated with growth in the tourism industry. Seagrasses for example although relatively hardy, are plants susceptible to damage from excess siltation and turbidity, shading and water pollution typically associated with shoreline development. Mangrove forests are often considered oflittle value unless they are developed. This usually means clear cutting of the forest to replace it by some other form of use assumed to be of greater value. However, when developing mangrove forests, their natural value in combating natural hazards for example can buffer against storm and/or tide

Physical impacts from tourist activities

·         Trampling: Tourists using the same trail over and over again trample the vegetation and soil, eventually causing damage that can lead to loss of biodiversity and other impacts. Such damage can be even more extensive when visitors frequently stray off established trails.

·         Anchoring and other marine activities In marine areas mar.y tourist activities occur in or around fragile ecosystems. Anchoring, scuba diving, yachting and cruising are some of the activities that can cause direct degradation of marine ecosystems
such as coral reefs.

·         Alteration of ecosystems by tourist activities Habitat can be degraded by tourism leisure activities. For example, wildlife viewing can bring about stress for the animals and alter their natural behaviour when tourists come too close.

RESOURCE CONSUMPTION

Tourism can create great pressure on local resources like energy, food, freshwater and other raw materials that may already be in short supply. Generally, per capita consumption of resources by tourists has risen to four times that of local residents. 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. As a consequence, a high demand is placed upon these resources to meet the high expectations tourists often have (proper heating, hot water, etc.). Tourism- generated threats are now felt in many developing countries, which lack the technological or financial capacity to handle tourists' resource consumption and waste generation - often far greater than those of the home population.

WATER 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. In drier regions like the Mediterranean, the issue of water
scarcity is of particular concern. Because of the hot climate and the tendency of tourists to consume more water when on holiday than they do at home, the amount used can run up to 440 litres a day. This is almost double what the inhabitants of an average Spanish city use. Golf course maintenance can also deplete fresh water resources.

In recent years golf tourism has increased in popularity and the number of golf courses has grown rapidly. Golf courses require an enormous amount of water every day and this can result in water scarcity. If the water comes from wells, over-pumping can cause saline intrusion into groundwater. Golf resorts are more and more often situated in or near protected areas or areas where resources are limited, exacerbating their impacts. An average golf course in a tropical country such as Thailand needs 1500kg of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides per year and uses as much water as 60,000 rural villagers.

LOCAL RESOURCES

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 fertile soil, forests, wetlands and wildlife.

Increased construction of tourism facilities has increased the pressure on these resources and on scenic landscapes. Direct impact on natural resources 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. 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 can use four to five kilograms of wood a day.