tourism gateway 3 - managing impacts of tourism

Question 1

what are the tensions in managing the impacts of tourism between?

Answer 1

1. between tourists and locals

2. between tourists and the environment

Question 2

tensions between tourists and locals elaboration

Answer 2

occurs when needs of tourists differ from needs of locals

e.g the tourism industry in Bali consumes 65% of its water supply through the large numbers of hotels, resorts and other facilities, thus resulting in water shortages in other parts of Bali.

Question 3

tensions between tourists and the environment

Answer 3

occurs when needs of tourists differ from needs to conserve the environment

e.g Machu Picchu, Peru draws an average of 3300 visitors every day, and the sheer weight and footsteps of these tourists damage the land and artefacts on site.

Question 4

what are the 5 measures governments can take to manage such tensions?

Answer 4

1. limiting the number of visitors to a place
2. withholding permission to proceed with activities that harm the environment
3. employing staff to maintain and repair sites
4. holding discussions with locals to determine their needs and concerns
5. restricting areas to tourists where only locals can enter

Question 5

what are the 5 groups responsible for protecting tourist areas?

Answer 5

1. local communities
2. visitors
3. tour operators
4. planning authorities
5. NGOs

Question 6

local communities elaboration

Answer 6

community-based tourism mainly benefits the locals, and they can play a key role in conserving their tourist areas. However, they may face funding problems, or a shortage of skilled workers.

e.g Candirejo Village in Indonesia, villagers managed and implemented community-based tourism programmes. By 2004, the village had 63 new jobs, and a 12.5% increase in average income per villager.

Question 7

visitors elaboration

Answer 7

visitors have a responsibility to visit without causing damage or offence.

e.g the Tourism Sustainability Group encouraged visitors to select their holiday destinations based on the conservation efforts of the place.

Question 8

tour operators elaboration

Answer 8

tour operators provide feedback on tourist attractions and regulate tourist behaviours, preventing them from littering or vandalising areas. However, their need to generate profits may bring tour operators into conflict with other stakeholders, or override their need to conserve the environment.

e.g the Phuket Alternative Tours (PAT) require its tour operators to sign an Environmental and Cultural Code of Practice

Question 9

Planning authorities elab

Answer 9

they develop and maintain infrastructure, draft laws and policies and work with other government agencies. However, it is difficult to plan for unforeseen factors such as extreme weather conditions.

e.g STB implements programmes to conserve the ethnic districts of Singapore such as Kampong Glam and Chinatown.

Question 10

NGOs elab

Answer 10

they facilitate communication between various stakeholders and support them in managing the impacts of tourism . Hoever, funding may be a problem.

e.g The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) has developed guidelines, conducted training courses, provided technical assistance and published research papers related to tourism and the environment.