A guide to sustainable tourism in developing countries
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1274933
POSSIBLE positive ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: • Opportunities for conservation and protection of buildings and facilities – because of tourism operators wanting to preserve these things and/or enhance them for the benefit of tourists. • Opportunities for conservation and protection of the natural environment – where the tourism operator is prepared to act to protect the landscape against threats to preserve it for tour groups to experience and enjoy. • Education of visitors relating to local environmental issues – meaning the message about local problems and challenges can be spread around the world and awareness of the problems might stimulate action to mitigate problems. • Potential to improve sites that have been degraded prior to the initiative – in that tourism operators are often prepared to pay for the repair and/or upkeep of buildings and the natural environment. POSSIBLE Negative ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: • Physical damage to building and facilities – caused by pedestrian traffic, vehicles, use/extra use, normal 'wear and tear' as well as accidental and deliberate damage. • Damage to the natural environment – including soil/land erosion, compacting of soil, use of land for buildings, car parks, camp sites. • Pollution – which may involve air/smoke pollution, water pollution, noise pollution. • Presence of waste – or additional litter/rubbish and human waste. • Use of local limited energy resources - water and wood. • Adverse visual impacts on the site/area – as the initiative negatively affects the beauty of the area or interrupts or interferes with the look and feel of the location. • Contamination of fresh water, sea water and drinking water – through litter and sewage. • Degradation of land/landscape – because of vehicles, presence of tourists and tourism activities in the destination. • Increased use of scarce local resources – such as fuel, supplies and drinking water. • Greater levels of noise – caused by the extra vehicles, activities and people. • Aesthetic pollution – simply caused by the presence of vehicles, people and constructed items in a natural environment. 73