Environmental Impacts of Tourism

Environment Impacts of Tourism

‘The environment natural and artifiaial, is the most importants factors of the tourism product.’

Increased interest in the environment since United Nation’s (UN) Conference on the Environment and development (1992) known as Rioo-Earth Summit.

Positive Environment Impacts

1)            Conservation And Preservation

                - Tourism help to conserve natural environment by the designation or ‘zoning of natural areas.

                - National  Parks has been established with very strict regulations on develpment and rules for visitors.

                - Preservation of build or man made constructions. Eg: castles or pieces of worship (zoned of restricted access)

                Money raised from visitors can help in restoring and maintaining these important man made sites.

2)            Enhancement of Environment

-              Tourism can help the environment aesthetically (visually) by making a piece look better.

-              cleaning of areas through money generated from tourism.

-              planting trees to balance tourism development

-              projects designed to make a more pleasant environment such as public art or public enquires.

-              eg: olumpic games of  2012. London will lead to the creation of huge public park for residents and visitors to enjoy.

3)            Environmental Awareness

-              awareness of the environmental problem (Rio Earth Summit 1992)

-              more tourism and hospitality, organizations (public and private) adapting and informing consumers of environmental issues.

4)            Financial contrubution

-              Revenue from park entrance fees and similar sources can be allocated specially to pay for the protection  and management of environmentally sensitive areas.

-              park rangers salaries and park maintainance.

-              contribution to government revenues user fees, income taxes on sales or rental of recreation equipment, liscence fees for activities such as hunting and fishing can provide the funds needed to manage natural resources.

5)            Protection

-              Conservation and restoration of diversity and sustainable use of natural resources.

-              government environment management and planning which can help prevent deteroitation of the environment.

-              cleaner production techniques such as green building (energy efficient and non-polluting construction materials, sewage system and energy services.

-              waste minimization techniques, pollutuion prevention.