Is Your Travel Bug Making the Environment Sick?

The chance to explore new holiday destinations can be exciting. Newspapers are full of articles and programs extolling the benefits of travel, while our TV sets tell us we should all travel the world to broaden our horizons. But what are the impacts of travel to our environment?  

Tourism’s Impact

The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) recognises the positives and negatives associated with tourism and its impact on the environment and conservation. The UNEP suggest that tourism negatively impacts the environment ‘when the level of visitor use is greater than the environment’s ability to cope’. Tourism in natural environments has to be controlled to protect them. But what are the major concerns of the UNEP?

Tourism and the Environment

Some of the major concerns expressed about tourism’s impact include:

• Depletion of Natural Resources. In areas where natural resources are scarce, tourism can put more pressure on resources such as water, energy and food.
• Land Degradation. Minerals, fuels, soils and forests can all be impacted by increased construction of accommodation and infrastructure for tourists. There is also the impact of tourists visiting remote areas such as the Himalayas — Nepal’s forests are suffering deforestation because of the increase in trekker numbers and there is a pile of rubbish on Everest.
• Air Pollution. Air travel causes air pollution, and since tourism accounts for over 60% of air travel, tourism is a significant contributor to increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. There is also the impact from other forms of travel, including tour buses that must run their engines all day to ensure that tourists in hot or cold climates return to a comfortable bus.
• Sewage. Construction and use of facilities can lead to an increase in sewage and wastewater. In many parts of the world the local ecosystems are easily damaged by sudden large changes in the environment.

The impacts listed will reduce the appeal of many places for visitors. So it is a paradox that the places we want to visit can be ruined by the act of visiting them. Of even more concern is the fact that the negative impacts can ruin the ecosystem for the indigenous population. Tourism has many positive benefits too.

Pleased to see you

The tourism industry can be a force for good through its contribution to the preservation of certain areas. Financial contributions from entrance fees can be used to pay for conservation and management of resources. Visitors also contribute to the local economy through spending money. This can help the local people directly and indirectly — as more tax is paid, enlightened governments can use the money to fund conservation projects. By preserving an area, tourists will keep coming to visit, thus enabling tourism to be sustainable. The importance of this is discussed in this article: A Network of High-Frequency Sensors Helps Protect the Future of Fresh Water Lakes.

What environmental impact will you have on your next trip?