Tourism: impacts (env, social, economic)

Question 1

Economic impacts: contributions + positive + eg.

Answer 1

Cont: Tourism is multi-billion $ industry,
- accommodation, sight-seeing, food service and souvenir trade

Positive:

• money spent by locals -> multiplier effect on economy
• growth in employment
• good opportunity to earn income (esp developing countries)
• developed nations less vulnerable to changes in tourism-> other places in economy can deal

Eg: China- with growth in tourism and more democratic approach/ increased spending of middle class = good opportunity to gain job in tourism (relatively high salary job)

Question 2

Economic impacts: negative + eg

Answer 2

• only available during peak holiday times -> taken quickly
• many seeking employment come –> with no available jobs = more unemployment

eg: major risk of overly reliant/dependant on tourism-> Maldives, fishing and tourism are biggest industries
= downturn in tourist market (eg. Boxing Day tsunami) heavily impacts economy

Question 3

environmental impacts and eg:

Answer 3

mass tourism puts pressure on environment = more vulnerable to damage
- issue: rapid/ poorly developed constructions for tourism

eg:

• Wakiki: massive urban complexes for influx of tourists (incl. high rises) built on the beach –> interfere with natural beach processes = sea walls (built to manage erosion) often is worse and needs regular sand replenishment
• Blue Mountains: tourists cause erosion on tracks BUT: concrete pathways built (stop straying off track), signs (encourage sensible behaviour in National Park), permits needed (abseiling/ canyoning), no abseiling off 3 sisters
• Maldives: laws–> limit tourist development to sustainable level: 1 resort/island. Tourism caused dredging channels for boats, building sea walls = damage coral reef
• trampling on reef-> snorklers/divers cause damage
• disposing waste still problem on small reef islands
• GBR: tight regulations in place to protect environment–> Heron Island (treat sewage onsite, disposal in eco-friendly manner) solid waste sent back to mainland
• Nevada USA: built environment (casinos/hotels) impact desert most–> lavish casinos have water features vs natural arid environment = water extractions so large caused ground water levels to drop/ areas of earth are slumping and compacting

Question 4

social impacts: negative + developing/developed country

Answer 4

Developed:
changing the quality of life for locals
- locals displaced from key areas in town-> demand for prime real estate push prices (property) beyond locals
- affect spirit/feel of place (eg. Byron Bay)
eg. Byron Bay: traffic issues, pressure local services, (sewage plants struggle in peak hol times)= local council putting restrictions limiting development

Developing:

• mixed social impact
• good: jobs, better services, improved quality of life
• bad: most tourist $ go to tourist operations–> widening gap, encourages begging
• certain cultures concerned about tourist dress (UAE, Maldives), graffiti may be issue

Question 5

cultural impacts:

Answer 5

inspires tourists to gain better understanding of cultural groups:

• provides opportunities to local cultural groups to gain income, HOWEVER depending on context- only add novelty value (hula dances in Hawaii)
• culturally significant items lose significance –> mass produced manufactured trinkets lose intricate handmade element
• traditional dances: modified shorter may give taste of traditional aspect/ only colour and movement to catch eye
• issues will keep growing/ affecting quality of holiday experience
• yet, in poorer countries tourism money is vital
• many cases local host communities must make a stand = prevent impacts of tourism (Byron Bay: no fast food chains/ high rise dev/ large scale resorts) to be approved by local council