03 tourism (impacts) Flashcards
Examples
Employment Opportunities
In 2011, UNWTO estimated that 235 million people worldwide were employed worldwide which accounts for roughly 6 to 8% of the world’s job.
Examples
Growth In Income
Phuket, Thailand attracts around 3 to 5 million international tourists a year. However, as tourists choose to fly in on non-local airlines and stay in international hotel brands; the money spent contributes to paying for these imported items and profits end up in another country and locals do not benefit.
Examples
Development in Infrastructure and Facilities
In the cities of Athens, Greece and Beijing, China, underground rail systems were expanded to move large numbers of visitors during the games and continue to serve locals to date.
Examples
Seasonal Unemployment
In the months of December to February, Sapporo, Japan sees visitors numbers peak where many engage in winter sports such skiing and snowboarding. As a result, ski resort operators have to hire additional manpower to cater to the demand. During the off-peak season, many find alternative sources of income such as farming or even move away until the next peak season. This results in reduced income for those who are seasonally employed and affects the economy.
Example(s)
Under-use of Facilities at Certain Times of the Year
Venues built for the 2008 Summer Olympics deteriorated a few years later and some had to be renovated to become profitable. Part of the Bejing National Aquatic Centre was renovated into a water park in August 2010. Based off a 2011 Beijing Sports University Report, barely 1/3 of these major sports venues were able to break even.
Example(s)
Shortage of Services
Based off an article by The Asean Post, 80% of Bali’s economy is made up of tourism and 85% of that 80% is in the hands of foreign, non-Balinese investors. Supposedly, almost 65% of the island’s groundwater is poured into the tourism industry and has dried up 260 out of 400 Balinese rivers.
Example
Preservation of Local Customs and Heritage
Around 2.2 million people visited Angkor Wat. This generated around 99 million USD which is used to find conservation efforts.
Dilution of Local Customs and Heritage
As of 2017, tourists are required to pay around 15-17 USD to enter the village of the Kayan Lahwi people. Hence, many tourists treat the women who wear brass rings around their necks as exhibits and take photographs of them without permission.
Increased Crime
The Louvre closed for a day in 2013 as around 200 members of staff went on strike because they faced organised groups that targetted tourists and staff. Many did not want to come to work as they feared of being robbed and because of the groups which contained children who were becoming increasingly aggressive.
Conservation of Natural Environments
The Environmental Management Charge (EMC) fee of 7 AUD to the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia is used to fund research and education on the Reef and Marine Park Management.
Pollution
In 2019, Royal Caribbean was fined around 18-20 million USD when they were found illegally disposing of plastic into the sea in a few states of the USA. Similarly, Princess Cruise Lines was fined 40 million USD due to disposal of oil-contaminated waste into the ocean while Carnival Cruise Lines was fined 20 million USD for dumping food waste which was mixed with plastic into the Bahamian Sea.
Destruction of Habitats
Maya Beach, Ko Phi Phi Island, Thailand is closed indefinitely as the ecological system within the beach was severely destroyed due to footfall of almost 5 thousand tourists daily.
Increased Carbon Footprint
According to Bloomberg, an estimated 11% of carbon footprint is due to tourism and it is slated to double by 2050.
