Issue: The dangers of tourism development in naturally valuable areas.
Forum: Environment Commission
Student Officer: Weronika Mucha
Position: President
Introduction
Tourism's relationship with the environment is complex. It involves many activities that 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 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.
Definition of Key Terms
Tourism
Tourism is the practice or activity of traveling for recreation, leisure, religious, family or business purposes, usually for a limited duration.
Tourism Infrastructure
Tourism infrastructure includes roads, airports, shopping services, food services, recreation services etc. Infrastructure forms an integral part of the tourism package. For instance, road infrastructure enhances accessibility of tourists to different parts of the destination country while airport infrastructure ensures that tourists experience a comfortable transition from the plane into the borders of the destination country and vice versa.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low-impact and (often) small-scale. It helps educate the traveler; provides funds for conservation; directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and fosters respect for different cultures and for human rights.
Naturally valuable areas
A naturally valuable area is defined as an area of unique scenic, historic, geologic or ecological value and of sufficient size and character. It is maintained in a natural condition by the operation of physical and biological processes, usually without direct human intervention.
Major parties involved
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
The United Nations Environment Programme is an agency of the United Nations that coordinates its environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices.
It focuses on i.a. supporting the integration of sustainability in tourism development policies, promoting sustainable production patterns in the tourism value chain and cooperation with the tourism industry.
Its goal is 'to mainstream sustainability into tourism development by demonstrating the economic, environmental, and socio-cultural benefits of sustainable tourism.'
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
The World Tourism Organization is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.
UNWTO encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, to maximize tourism’s socio-economic contribution while minimizing its possible negative impacts, and is committed to promoting tourism as an instrument in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), geared towards reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development.
Important Documents
Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
Global Code of Ethics for Tourism isa comprehensive set of principles designed to guide key-players in tourism development. Addressed to governments, the travel industry, communities and tourists alike, it aims to help maximise the sector’s benefits while minimising its potentially negative impact on the environment, cultural heritage and societies across the globe.
It was Adopted in 1999 by the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization, and acknowledged by the United Nations two years later.
Environmental Impacts of Tourism Development
Water resources
Water, and especially fresh water, is one of the most critical natural 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.
While water supply is not normally a problem in temperate climates with large amounts of precipitation, it is a major problem in certain tropical and sub-tropical countries, especially on islands, in coastal areas and in semi-arid and arid areas with irregular rainfall.
Soil
Soil compaction as well as soil erosion can be provoked by the construction of paths and tracks and inadequate maintenance of them and by activities such as skiing, off-track use of mountain bikes, motor bikes or cars. Similar consequences occur when tourists deviate from prescribed routes and pathways in order to look at flora and fauna from as close a vantage point as possible.
Erosion phenomena also occur in mountainous areas and are caused mainly by deforestation and the destruction of ground cover vegetation which is trampled down and camped on. This whole process is reinforced by the construction of hostels, cabins and paths.
Flora and fauna
Animal and plant life is affected immediately and directly when natural vegetation is removed or altered because of the construction of hotels, bungalows, sporting facilities etc.
Marine ecosystems are being seriously affected by the major growth in popularity of seaside holidays. Thus in coastal areas reeds, beach vegetation which provides stability and sand dunes are often removed. Lagoons are frequently filled in, thereby drastically reducing mangrove forests, so that hotels can be built and sand can be used as a building material. Damage is also caused by wastewater and sewage outfalls and by oil residues from leisure craft.
Pollution
Air pollution from tourist transportation has impacts on global level, especially from carbon dioxide emissions related to transportation energy use. And it can contribute 2 to severe local air pollution. Some of these impacts are quite specific to tourist activities. For example, especially in very hot or cold countries, tour buses often leave their motors running for hours while the tourists go out for an excursion because they want to return to a comfortably air-conditioned bus.
Noise pollution from airplanes, cars, and buses, as well as recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles and jet skis, is a problem of modern life. In addition to causing annoyance, stress, and even hearing loss for humans, it causes distress to wildlife, especially in sensitive areas.
Waste disposal is a serious problem in areas with high concentrations of tourist activities and appealing natural attractions, and improper disposal can be a major despoiler of the natural environment, rivers, scenic areas, and roadsides. For example, cruise ships in the Caribbean are estimated to produce more than 70,000 tons of waste each year.
Climate change
Global tourism is closely linked to climate change. Tourism involves the movement of people from their homes to other destinations and accounts for about 50% of traffic movements; rapidly expanding air traffic contributes about 2.5% of the production of carbon dioxide. Tourism is thus a significant contributor to the increasing 2 concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Tourism and Environmental Conservation
Tourism can contribute directly to the conservation of sensitive areas and habitat. Revenue from park-entrance fees and similar sources can be allocated specifically to pay for the protection and management of environmentally sensitive areas. Special fees for park operations or conservation activities can be collected from tourists or tour operators.
Some governments collect money in more far-reaching and indirect ways that are not linked to specific parks or conservation areas. User fees, income taxes, taxes on sales or rental of recreation equipment, and license fees for activities such as hunting and fishing can provide governments with the funds needed to manage natural resources. Such funds can be used for overall conservation programs and activities, such as park ranger salaries and park maintenance.
UN Involvment
The United Nations Environmental Programme has been appointed by the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) as the Interagency Coordinator or lead agency responsible for implementation of Agenda 21 issues on tourism. Together with the World Tourism Organization, UNEP is the main focal point on sustainable tourism for CSD and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Possible Solutions
In order to solve this complex environmental problem we need to focus on each negative effect of tourism development.
Probably the most important step is raising environmental awareness among people. 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. Tourists and tourism-related businesses consume an enormous quantity of goods and services; moving them toward using those that are produced and provided in an environmentally sustainable way, from cradle to grave, could have an enormous positive impact on the planet's environment.
Governments and organisers should provide tourists with information on how to behave in an environmentally acceptable manner and should, where applicable, issue guidelines on behaviour.
In addition, government authorities should introduce environmental charges for the use of sensitive eco-systems (e.g. national parks, walking tours) to provide finance for maintenance and repair work.
Sight-seeing tours to areas of cultural interest and outstanding natural beauty often involve a large amount of traffic and even traffic jams, resulting in emissions of nitric oxide, carbon dioxide etc. We can try to eliminate this by restricting the use of private cars and improvements to the public transport system. The amount of traffic can also be reduced by limiting the numbers of visitors and the days for sight-seeing.
When choosing a location of buildings and facilities care should be taken not to remove or impair features which are typical of the landscape and cultural monuments. No building should take place in conservation areas or in other sensitive regions. Tourist facilities in national parks should only be erected at the extremities of the conservation area.
One of the main problems arising as tourist facilities are constructed and operated is the degree to which eco-systems are polluted by waste, sewage and waste water. To reduce the amount of waste we can promote recycling of organic waste in the composting system of each hotel and the use of environmentally friendly and biodegradable products, for example no canned drinks and disposable bottles.
Sources