1. Chapter 5
TOURISM IMPACTS

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Types of Tourism Impacts
ECONOMIC IMPACTS
SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

5. TOURISM AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACTS

6. Economic Impacts of Tourism
POSITIVE
1. Foreign exchange earnings
2. Contribution to government
revenues
3. Generation of employment
4. Balance of payment / trade
account balance
5. Stimulation of infrastructure
investment
6. Contribution to local
economies
NEGATIVE
1. Inflation
2. Opportunity costs
3. Dependency
4. Seasonality
5. Leakage
6. Enclave tourism
7. Seasonal character of jobs
8. Prostitution and the
underground economy

7. Tourism and its Socio-
Cultural Impacts

8. SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS
OF TOURISM
Introduction to Socio-Cultural
Impacts of Tourism
• sociology and culture
• the tourist culture
• elements of culture

9. ELEMENTS OF CULTURE
 HANDICRAFTS
LANGUAGE
TRADITION
 LOCAL WORK
ARCHITECTURE
RELIGION
 GASTRONOMY
ART AND MUSIC
HISTORY
 EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS
DRESS
LEISURE ACTIVITIES

10. Relevant Cultural Concepts

11. 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

12. TOURISM & ITS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

13. Three Perspectives: (Relationship of
Tourism and Environment)
1. Tourist-environment interactions
2. Tourist-host interactions
3. Host-environment interactions

14. TOURISM &
ENVIRONMENT
SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP

15. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
1. Environmental awareness.
2. Enhancements of local environment.
3. Protection and conservation of wildlife.

16. “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.

17. Enhancement of local environments
• Retain and increase visitor numbers by
improving the general amenity value of the
local environment.

18. 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)

19. 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.

20. 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)

21. 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.

22. Costa del Sol

23. Costa del Sol

24. Rabbit Resort – Pattaya, Thailand

25. Dusit Thani – Pattaya, Thailand

26. "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.

27. CALVIA

28. 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.

29. Wildlife can be disturbed. (cheetahs in
Amboseli National Park, Kenya)

30. 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.

31. Greek Island of Zakynthos

32. • 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

33. Deforestation in Nepal

34. Effects of trampling

35. Pollution

36. POLLUTION
Water
Noise
Land (Solid
Waste)
Air

37. Water Pollution
• Water pollution is the contamination
of water bodies such as lakes, rivers,
oceans, and groundwater.

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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)

41. 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.

42. 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.

43. 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

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. • 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.

47. Specific Measures
to Minimize
Environmental
Damage

48. 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)

49. 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)

50. 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.

51. 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.

52. 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