ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS AND TOURISM.pptx mtm

mtm ignou syllabus

1. ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS AND TOURISM

2. Learning outcome Environment is facing problems because of increasing tourism which is an instrument of economic and social development. After reading this Unit you will be able to analyse the: environmental degradation caused by tourism related activities, impact of ecotourism on environment, and ways of handling the situation in an effective way.

3. Introduction More than any other field of activity, tourism depends on environment. Consequently, the environmental issues, among which destruction of biodiversity, pollution, global warming, waste increase, natural resources depletion, affect tourism as much as other global issues, like the economic crisis or the terrorism. We believe that the responsibility of lowering the impact of tourism over the environment belongs equally to all the participants in tourist activities. It is ironic really, that tourism often destroys the very things that it relies on! Many of the negative environmental impacts that result from tourism 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.

4. Ecotourism According to The  International Ecotourism Society (TIES) , ecotourism can be defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education”. Such traveling can be created thanks to an international network of individuals, institutions, and the tourism industry where tourists and tourism professionals are educated on ecological issues .

5. IMPACT OF TOURISM ON ENVIRONMENT Tourists have many purposes for travelling which are served by a great variety of destinations. Each type of tourism destination is characterized by patterns of environmental sensitivity, such as: . coastal areas including beaches, marine areas and wetlands, mountain and wilderness areas, Inland rural areas, urban areas, and a small islands.

6. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS To ensure responsible growth of tourism without causing irreversible damage to the natural environment, activities relating to tourism should take care of the following: promotion of tourism based on careful assessment of the carrying capacity and support facilities such as transport, fuel, water and sanitation, development of tourism in harmony with the environmental conditions and without affecting the lifestyles of local people, and restriction on indiscriminate growth -of tourism and strict regulation of the tourist activities in sensitive areas such as hill slopes, islands, coastal stretches, National Parks and Sanctuaries. Tourists, because of their travel experiences as well as their affluence and influence, are an appropriate group of target in an effort to: increase awareness, enlist support for environmental measures, alter personal behaviors, and advocate for responsible development

7. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS Although not everything depends on tourism, tourism depends on almost everything. A balance must be found between limits and usage so that continuous changing, monitoring and planning ensure that tourism can be managed. This requires thinking long-term (10, 20+ years) and realizing that change is often cumulative, gradual and irreversible. Economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable development must include the interests of all stakeholders including indigenous people, local communities, visitors, industry and government.

8. To sum up Environmental parameters are often threatened due to increase in the nature-based tourism, as this kind of tourism is very close to environment. Development of tourism is promoted by government to gain economic profits, which will result in the enhancement of tourism industry. Hence, we find an inter-relationship between environment and tourism affecting the parameters of each other. But one cannot deny the serious implications of tourism on environment, if developed in an unplanned and uncontrollable way. The development of tourism has innumerable impact on environment. Often tourists and tourism promoters are potentially destructive to the local environment, due to a lack of awareness of local conditions, both social and natural. Also inappropriate amounts of resources such as time and money, also encourage environmental degradation. Thus, there is an urgent need to take necessary steps for preserving the environment, which includes steps like generating public awareness and environmental education to the tourists through media or other means of informative publications.