LESSON 1

THE IMPACTS OF TOURISM

 TOURISM INDUSTRY

The world tourism council estimates that travel and tourism provides
employment for more than 100 million world wide, and is responsible for over
7% of the world wide capital investment
 TOURISM INDUSTRY

• Tourism is often seen as a savior industry for many countries

• More often than not, tourism is recognized as the tool that can alleviate the
economy of a country
• The effects of tourism in the society are often seen only from the economic
point of view
• When the negative effects of tourism are discussed, the most common
response would be likely inclined to the environment or social effects
 TOURISM INDUSTRY

• It is important for tourism players and stakeholders to understand and learn

the effects of tourism in order to avoid unnecessary measures that are
detrimental tot he whole community
 Approaches to Tourism Development
MASS TOURISM
Tourist arrivals as an indicator of success
Toursim income is dependent on three
variables
1

1 The number of visitors

2 The amount of money they spend
3 The length of stay
 Host-Tourist Interactions

• The quality and frequency of interaction between tourist and resident

contributes to tourists’ experience, perception of the visited destination, local
socio-cultural and environmental status, and acceptance and tolerance of
tourists by residents.
Impacts of Tourism
 Key Perspective on Tourism Impacts

Impacts are multi-faceted

Tourism impacts can be categorized into three : economic, socio-cultural and

enviromental

It can be positive (beneficial) or negative (detrimental)

The impacts also depends on the value and judgment of the observer
 TYPES OF TOURISM IMPACTS

Economic Impacts
Socio-cultural Impacts
Environmental Impacts
Tourism and its Economic Impacts
 Economic Impacts of Tourism
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
1. Foreign exchange earnings 1. Inflation
2. Contribution to government revenues 2. Opportunity costs
3. Generation of employment 3. Dependency
4. Stimulation of infrastructure investment 4. Seasonability
5. Contribution to local economies 5. Leakage
6. Enclave tourism
7. Seasonal character of jobs
8. Prostitution and the underground economy
 Foreign exchange earning

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
 Contribution to government revenues

Government revenues from the tourist sector can be categorized as direct and
indirect contributions.

Direct contributions are generated by taxes on incomes from tourism employment,

tourism businesses and by direct charges on tourists such as ecotax or departure
taxes.

Indirect contributions deprive from taxes and duties on goods and services
supplied to tourists. Example - taxes on souvenirs, alcohol, restaurants, etc.
 Employment generation

The rapid expansion of international tourism has led to significant employment

creation

Tourism can generate jobs directly through hotels, restaurants, taxes, souvenir
sales and indirectly through the supply of goods and services needed by tourism-
related businesses.

According to the World Tourism Organization tourism supports some 7% of the

world’s employees
 Simulation of Infrastructure Investment

Tourism can induce the local government to improve the infrastructure by creating
better water and sewage systems, roads, electricity, telephone, and public transport
networks.

All of this can improve the quality of life for residents as well as facilitate tourism
 Contribution to local economies

Money form tourism is earned through 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
Tourism and its Socio-Cultural Impacts
 Socio-cultural Impacts of
Tourism
SOCIOLOGY OF TOURISM: Defining
Society, Culture and Impacts
 Sociology is the study of society and is concerned with
people in groups, their interaction, their attitudes and
their behavior.
 Society refers to the patterns of social organization of and
within communities.
 Culture is about how people interact as observed through
social interactions, social relations and material artefacts.
 Socio-cultural Impacts of
Tourism
SOCIOLOGY OF TOURISM: Defining
Society, Culture and Impacts
 Social impacts of tourism refers to changes in the lives of
people living in destination communities.
 Cultural impacts of tourism refers to changes in the arts,
artifacts, customs, rituals, and architecture of a people.
 The term socio-cultural impacts refers to changes to
resident’s everyday experiences, as well as to their
values, way of life, and intellectual and artistic products.
 SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS OF
TOURISM
INTRODUCTION
• The socio-cultural impacts of tourism described
here are the effects on host communities of direct
and indirect relations with tourists, and of
interaction with the tourism industry.
• The interaction of the two groups will be a major
issue in affecting the types of impacts.
• “..when there is large contrast between the culture
of the receiving society and the origin culture, then
it is likely that impacts will be greatest.” Burns and
Holden (1995)
 SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS OF
TOURISM
INTRODUCTION
• For a variety of reasons, host communities often
are the weaker party in interactions with their
guests and service providers, leveraging any
influence they might have.
• These influences are not always apparent, as they
are difficult to measure, depend on value
judgments and are often indirect or hard to
identify.
 SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS OF
TOURISM
INTRODUCTION
• Impacts arise when tourism brings changes in value
systems / behaviour, threatening indigenous identity.
• Changes often occur in community structure, family
relationships, collective traditional life styles, ceremonies
and morality.
• But tourism can also generate positive impacts as it can
serve as a supportive force for peace, foster pride in
cultural traditions and help avoid urban relocation by
creating local jobs.
• Socio-cultural impacts are ambiguous: the same
objectively described impacts are seen as beneficial by
some groups and as negative by others.
 Elements of Culture
Handicrafts Gastronomy

Language Art and Music

Tradition History

Local work Educational systems

Architecture Dress

Religion Leisure activities

 Socio-cultural Impacts of Tourism
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
1. Preservation and restoration of culture 1. Loss of cultural character
heritage
2. Loss of authenticity and meaning of
2. Revival of traditional arts and crafts traditional arts and crafts
3. Cultivation of cultural pride and sense of 3. Commercialization of human relationship
identity
4. Potential misunderstandings and conflicts
4. Cross-cultural exchange between residents and tourists
 Preservation and restoration cultural
heritage tourism
Cultural preservation include documenting and studying languages; preserving
and restoring historic relics significant to a culture or heritage; and encouraging
the preservation and use of indigenous or tribal languages and rituals.
 Revival of Traditional arts and Crafts

Art and craft is considered to be an integral part of the tourism business,

since it plays an important role as souvenirs and mementos, thereby spatially
and temporarily expanding the visitor experience. The findings confirm that
art and craft holds significant potential for bolstering the regional tourism
economy
 Cultivation of cultural pride and sense
of identity
Culture and heritage have been increasingly recognised as means of
sustainable social and economic development and an important element of
tourist motivation.
Due to factors such as globalisation and the importance of cultural diversity
and identity creation in postmodern society, it is essential to place the
recognizable and unique cultural heritage and identity of destination in the
centre of contemporary touristic strategies.
 Cross cultural exchange

Cross - cultural exchange was a fundamental part of the development of

societies. Through this form of exchange, societies were able to acquire
knowledge from one and other, ad upon doing so enrich their own cultures
through studying abroad
Tourism and its Environmental Impacts
 TOURISM &
ENVIRONMENT

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP
 Environmental Impacts of Tourism
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
1. Environmental awareness 1. Inappropriate development
2. Enhancement of local environment 2. Loss of natural habitat and effects on
wildlife
3. Protection and conservation of wildlife
4.
3. Trampling causes disturbance to vegetation
5.
and soil
6.

4. Pollution
5. Overcrowding and traffic congestion
6. Activities affecting the natural environment
 ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
RAISING
Tourism has the potential to increase
public appreciation of the
environment and to spread awareness
of environmental problems when it
brings people into closer contact with
nature and the environment
 Enhancement of local environemts
Retain and increase visitor numbers by
improving the general amenity value of the
local environment

Example: El Nido Palawan

 Enhancement of local environemts
Tourism acts as a force of conservation
as it offers an alternative economic use

Example: In the Galapagos Islands,

Ecuador, for example, tourists cannot
set foot on the islands without being
accompanied by a trained guide and
must stay on established paths.
 Environmental Impacts of Tourism
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
1. Environmental awareness 1. Inappropriate development
2. Enhancement of local environment 2. Loss of natural habitat and effects on
wildlife
3. Protection and conservation of wildlife
4.
3. Trampling causes disturbance to vegetation
5.
and soil
6.

4. Pollution
5. Overcrowding and traffic congestion
6. Activities affecting the natural environment
 Inappropriate development

Tourism development may be classed as inappropriate if it fails to be sensitive to

the natural environment

EXAMPLES:

1. COSTA DEL SOL - had undergone a powerful colonization of modern kind, it

had robbed the shore of its natural features, displaced headlands and harbors
with badly made infrastructure

2. RESORTS IN PATTAYA - considered overdeveloped

3. RESORTS IN MACTAN - uses dolomite as artificial white sands

Costa del Sol

Costa del Sol

Rabbit Resort – Pattaya, Thailand

Dusit Thani – Pattaya, Thailand

 Loss of natural habitat and effects on
wildlife
Development of facilities and subsequent tourist use may result in rapid or more
gradual effects on habitats

Example:

Mob of tourists blocks sea turtles from their nesting ground in Costa Rica. nstead of
allowing the turtles to complete their migration, the Green Prophet reports, the
tourists poured onto the beach, more interested in getting bikini selfies than watching
nature at its most magnificent.
• The Loggerhead Turtle in the Greek Island of Zakynthos
has become endangered. The development threatens the
turtles in six ways:
1. Loss of beach nesting areas.
2. Nesting females and young turtles disoriented by
artificial illumination.
3. Noise
4. Traffic
5. Pollution
6. Activities in water
EFFECT
TRAMP
Specific Measures
to Minimize
Environmental
Damage
Tourism-related companies realized that
turning green makes good business
HOTEL SECTOR sense.
Installing water saving devices

Abolishing individually wrapped food items at the breakfast buffet

Using recycled papers and reusable bottles

Tourism-related companies realized that
turning green makes good business
RESORTS sense.
Decreasing automobile traffic in resorts, clinic and recreational zones by
constructing parking areas outside of the central areas and using electric vehicles

Example: Club Noah Isabelle, El Nido, Palawan, Boracay)

Tourism-related companies realized that
turning green makes good business
TRAVEL AGENCIES sense.
Publication of brochure offering tips and information on species protection and
environmentally proper behavior to vacationers
Tourism-related companies realized that
turning green makes good business
TRANSPORTATION sense.
Use high capacity to reduce noise and emissions of pollutants and fuel
consumption
Tourism-related companies realized that
turning green makes good business
CITIES AND TOWN sense.
Use of solar energy

Replacing regular light bulb for energy-saving bulbs

Promoting bicycles for inner city transport

Use of water rain