Environmental effects and impacts on ecosystems

Tourism

The Environmental Impact of Tourism

Hear the word 'tourist' and what comes to mind -- a man or woman wearing shorts and a pair of Bermuda shorts. Hardly the image of the typical conservationist. And indeed, the environmental impact of conventional tourism can be profoundly deleterious to the environment. The excess of additional human beings in an area, often human beings with little concern for the local ecosystem can put enormous pressure on environmentally vulnerable areas in terms of the land's ability to sustain life. Tourism can increase soil erosion, air and water pollution, release additional discharges into the sea, increase the rate of natural habitat loss, put additional pressure on endangered species' ability to find food and shelter, and increase an area's vulnerability to forest fires. It often puts a strain on water resources, and it can force wildlife populations to compete for the use of scarce but critical resources. Oil spills, run offs, and a general loss of biological diversity from tourist fishing and hunting, and an increase of fossil fuels from planes all are result from tourism's taxation of the ecosystem ("Three Main Impact Areas," Environmental Impacts of Tourism, 2002).

However, tourism can also contribute to directly to the conservation of sensitive areas and habitats, as revenue from park and entrance fees the money gained from tourist's infusion of new currency into the area can be allocated specifically to pay for the protection and management of the environment ("How Tourism Can Contribute to Conservation," Environmental Impacts of Tourism, 2002). International tourism reinforces the idea that all persons are a part of a world community and act as a reminder of how precious the natural resources of the world can be for all persons, regardless of where they call home. Finally, tourism can provide local populations with employment in ways that do not tax the natural resources, such as rampant industrialism, or force them to abandon their local customs and culture ("Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism," Environmental Impacts of Tourism, 2002).