impacts of tourism: environmental impacts

Question 1

conservation of natural env (+)

Answer 1

• money is collected directly (entrance fees) and inderectly (rental of recreational equipment)
• used for conservation of natural env/activities (staff salaries, park maintenence)
• e.g. rehabilitation for orphaned/injured orangutans in sabah
• relies on visitor fees to pay staff`

Question 2

vandalism (-)

Answer 2

• deliberately damaging property belonging to others (cultural/historical/natural sites)
• e.g. great wall of china is visited by 10 mil per year
• covered in graffiti
• fines set in place to stop graffiti artists

Question 3

littering and pollution (-)

Answer 3

• improperly disposing waste which polluted the env
• authorities may fail to implement measures that manage waste left behind
• e.g. cruise ships pollute oceans when they dump raw sewage from passengers into oceans
• over 1 billion gallons per year

Question 4

destruction of habitats (-)

Answer 4

• when natural habitats are unable to sustain wildlife
• destryed by tourist infrastructure, activities, recreation boating and cruise industry
• toursists can damage ecosystems by trampling on vegetation while snorkeling and hiking
• e.g. over 500 plant species in the mediterranean endangered
• under intense pressure from tourist dev in some overbuild destinations

Question 5

carbon footprint (-)

Answer 5

• greenhouse gases produced by activities using fossil fuels (travelling by plane, tour buses, electricity consumption)
• e.g. carbon footprint of one-way economic flight from sg to kl is 30kg of co2 per passenger

Question 6

increased congestion (-)

Answer 6

• large no. of tourists visiting an area close to popular attractions –> overecrowding
• congestion of vehicular and pedestrian traffic
• e.g. spring festival at the great wall of china
• large no of tourists cause overcrowding and human traffic