Chapter 5

TOURISM IMPACTS
 Learning Objectives
• Have a basic understanding on various
impacts of tourism;
• Be aware that tourism impacts can be
categorized as positive or negative;
• Know the range of perspectives of
tourism impacts;
• And outline methods (open discussion)
on mitigating the negative impacts of
tourism.
Key Perspectives on Tourism Impacts
• Impacts are multi-faceted.
• Tourism impacts can be categorized into three:
economic, socio-cultural and environmental.
• 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 2. Opportunity costs
revenues 3. Dependency
3. Generation of employment 4. Seasonality
4. Balance of payment / trade 5. Leakage
account balance 6. Enclave tourism
5. Stimulation of infrastructure 7. Seasonal character of jobs
investment
8. Prostitution and the
6. Contribution to local underground economy
economies
Tourism and its Socio-
Cultural Impacts
 SOCIO-CULTURAL
Introduction to Socio-Cultural
IMPACTS
Impacts ofOF TOURISM
Tourism
• sociology and culture
• the tourist culture
• elements of culture
 ELEMENTS OF CULTURE

  GASTRONOMY
HANDICRAFTS  ART AND
 LANGUAGE MUSIC
 TRADITION  HISTORY

 LOCAL WORK
 ARCHITECTUR  EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS
E  DRESS
 RELIGION  LEISURE ACTIVITIES
 Relevant Cultural Concepts
NORMS AND RULES
EMOTIONOLOGY
ORIENTALISM
PRIMITIVISM

ETHNOCENTRISM
XENOPHOBIA
 Socio-cultural Impacts of Tourism
POSITIVE/BENEFITS
• Preservation and restoration
of cultural heritage
• Revival of traditional arts and
crafts
• Cultivation of cultural pride
and sense of identity
• Cross-cultural exchange
NEGATIVE/COSTS
• Loss of cultural character
• Loss of authenticity and
meaning of traditional arts
and crafts
• Commercialization of human
relationships
• Potential misunderstandings
and conflicts between
residents and tourists
 TOURISM & ITS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
 Three Perspectives: (Relationship of
Tourism and Environment)

1. Tourist-environment interactions
2. Tourist-host interactions
3. Host-environment interactions
 TOURISM &
ENVIRONMENT

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP
 ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

1. Environmental awareness.
2. Enhancements of local environment.
3. Protection and conservation of wildlife.
“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 environments
• Retain and increase visitor numbers by
improving the general amenity value of the
local environment.
 Protection and conservation
of wildlife

• Tourism acts as a force of conservation as it

offers an alternative economic use.
• Tourism draws attention to issues relating to
biodiversity, endangered species and human
impact on the environment. (Doswell, 1997)
 Grupo Punta Cana,
Dominican Republic

- Luxury and conservation combined

- The high-end resort was established with the
goal of catering to luxury-class tourists while
respecting the natural habitat of Punta Cana.
ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS

1. Inappropriate development
2. Loss of natural habitat and effects on wildlife
3. Pollution
4. Loss of spirit
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.
• Long-term planning in environment terms should be
done.
• 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 structures.
• Resorts in Pattaya, Thailand – considered to be
overdeveloped.
Costa del Sol
Costa del Sol
Rabbit Resort – Pattaya, Thailand
Dusit Thani – Pattaya, Thailand
 "Sustainable development for mature tourist towns : the
Calvià model"
• Javier BUSTAMANTE - Strategic Development Manager,
Calvià (Mallorca)
• A few examples.
• Firstly the " cleaning up " Plan, with the demolition of
hotels and buildings on the coastline, which aims to
reduce the number of buildings. The results are clear for
all to see… Another hotel was also replaced by a green
area. In total, we have demolished 14 hotels and tourist
buildings and replaced them with green areas.
• Awareness campaigns promoting the use and
conservation of the natural resources, especially WATER.
CALVIA
 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.
• Trampling causes disturbance to vegetation
and soil.
• Not unlike the Galapagos Island, 600 miles of
the coast of Ecuador.
Wildlife can be disturbed. (cheetahs in
Amboseli National Park, Kenya)
 Golden Toad in Monteverde Cloud Rainforest, Costa Rica

Golden Toad, has declined in

numbers at the same time as
ecotourism has evolved in the
area.
Greek Island of Zakynthos
• 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
Deforestation in Nepal
Effects of trampling
Pollution
 Water

Air POLLUTION Noise

Land (Solid
Waste)
 Water Pollution

• Water pollution is the contamination

of water bodies such as lakes, rivers,
oceans, and groundwater.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is the
introduction of
chemicals, particulate
matter, or biological
materials that cause
harm or discomfort to
humans or other living
organisms, or damages
the natural
environment, into the
atmosphere.
 Noise Pollution

Noise pollution (or

environmental noise) is
displeasing human-,
animal- or machine-
created sound that
disrupts the activity or
balance of human or
animal life.
 Solid Waste

Solid Waste is also referred to as rubbish,

trash, garbage, or junk depending upon the
type of material and the regional
terminology. In living organisms, waste
relates to unwanted substances or toxins
that are expelled from them.
(Caribbean Area)
 Overcrowding and traffic congestion
• Happens when the volume of tourists exceeds
the capacity of an environment.
• Overcrowding poses an increased risk of
environmental damage through erosion and
restricts visitor appreciation of the destination.
• Inappropriate parking
• Congestion damages vegetation, causes erosion
and adds to localized pollution.
 Effects of activities
• Skiing/alpine tourism
- mountain ecosystems are generally fragile but many are
prone to intensive use.
- many view skiing as a damaging activity because it requires
associated development, such as lodges, resorts, roads and
cause severe erosion and deforestation.
 Effects of activities

• Ecotourism
- while the premise of ecotourism is to assist in conservation
and well-being of local communities, it is often the case that
ecotourism-based activities lead to deterioration in
environmental quality.
- proper planning and management is needed
 Tourism, Global
Warming and
Climate Change

• By 2050, tourism is expected to see its contribution to

greenhouse gas emissions rise from 3 to 7%.
• KYOTO Protocol, adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11
December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February
2005. (highlights the expected impacts of tourism in
the environment)
• Very significant because climate and temperature are
important determinants of destination selection.
 Tourism, Global Warming and
Climate Change
• Some expected effects may be;
1. Rising temperature in central European
culture cities in peak season will lead to a
decline in visitors.
2. Specific ecosystems s/as coral reefs will be
affected.
3. In Alpine areas, shorter skiing seasons may
arise.
• Experts begin to understand
how climate change may
reverse the shape of
seasonality with a growing
demand for coolness in
summer, leading to increased
energy consumption for air-
conditioning, along with a
greater number of extreme
weather events which could
disrupt tourism, such as
flooding, sand storms,
droughts and summer fires.
Specific Measures
to Minimize
Environmental
Damage
Tourism-related companies realized
that turning green makes good
business sense. The German tourism
industry experience.

Hotel Sector
• installing water saving
devices;
• Abolishing individually
wrapped food items at
the breakfast buffet;
• Using recycled paper
and reusable bottles.
• (Atrium Suites Manila)
Tourism-related companies realized
that turning green makes good
business sense.

• Resorts
- Decreasing automobile
traffic in resorts, clinic
and recreational zones
by constructing parking
areas outside of the
central areas and using
electric buses.
- (Club Noah Isabelle, El
Nido, Palawan)
 Tourism-related companies realized that
turning green makes good business sense.

• Travel Agencies
- 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 sense.
• Transportation
- Use high capacity
airplanes to reduce
noise and emissions of
pollutants and fuel
consumption.
- “Garbage return
initiative” LTU
International Airways’
ecobag.
 Tourism-related companies realized that
turning green makes good business sense.
• Cities and Towns
- Use of solar energy
- Replacing regular light
bulbs for energy-saving
bulbs.
- Promoting bicycles for
inner city transport
- Use of rain water