Environmental impacts of tourism

Question 1

Advantage

Answer 1

Conservation of natural environments

Question 2

Disadvantages

Answer 2

• vandalism
• littering and pollution
• destruction of habitats
• carbon footprint
• increased congestion

Question 3

Conservation of natural environments

Answer 3

• tourism provides funds, helps to conserve environments e.g. coral reefs, mountainous areas, rain forests
• revenue from entrance fees e.g. national parks, diving sites used to help protect and conserve these environments

Question 4

Conservation of natural environments: Kenya example

Answer 4

• survival of animals in nature reserves and national parks rely on funding received from international tourists
• according to Kenyan Tourist Authorities, 1 lion profit US$7000 a year and a herd of elephants US$600000
• money raised from wildlife tourism become a way to continue to preserve animals and their habitats

Question 5

Conservation of natural environments: Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre Sabah, Malaysia

Answer 5

• partly relies on entrance fees to pay staff

- staff help rehabilitate injured or orphaned orang-utans

Question 6

Vandalism

Answer 6

• crime of deliberately damaging property belonging to other ppl
• cultural, historical or natural sites may be vandalised by developers or individuals

Question 7

Vandalism: Great Wall of China example

Answer 7

-the thousands of stones and bricks of the Great Wall of China (visited by abt 10 million tourists a year) covered by graffiti

Question 8

Littering and pollution

Answer 8

• excessive litter from tourists, major problem in tourist areas
• authorities sometimes fail to implement measures to properly manage waste left behind
• degradation of sites

Question 9

Littering and pollution: cruise ship example

Answer 9

• irresponsible tourists dump plastic bottles, food packaging, old batteries overboard
• harbours, marinas, ocean polluted

Question 10

Littering and pollution: Islands in Caribbean example

Answer 10

• limited space on land to treat waste from ships

- solid and liquid waste sometimes dumped into Caribbean Sea

Question 11

Destruction of habitats

Answer 11

• popular tourist sites overwhelmed during busy times of year
• too many tourists; damage wildlife and habitats
• careless; trampling on plants, collecting eggs, feathers of birds as souvenirs
• too much noise; disturb/frighten off animals

Question 12

Destruction of habitats: Red Sea, Egypt Example

Answer 12

• developed into a major diving and snorkeling destination (1.2 mil visitors)
• coral reef and exotic fish habitats damaged
• swimmers collect shells and corals as souvenirs
• hotels and restaurants dump waste and sewage in sea

Question 13

Carbon Footprint

Answer 13

• measure of tourism impact on environment
• refers to amt of greenhouse gas emissions produced by activities that involve the use of fossil fuels
• e.g. travelling by planes, tour buses, electricity consumption by hotels
• measured in equivalent amts in CO2

Question 14

Carbon footprint: SG to KL example

Answer 14

• one-way economy flight
• carbon footprint= 30 kg of CO2 per passenger
• more tourist travelling, more carbon footprint, more greenhouse gas emissions

Question 15

Increased congestion

Answer 15

• large no. of tourists, overcrowding near popular attractions
• tourists shops and accommodation cluster near these areas, even more congestion
• apart from local traffic, huge inflow of car and buses contribute to air pollution

Question 16

Increased congestion: Rome, Italy example

Answer 16

-older walkways and streets filled with tourists