TS311 – SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

SEMESTER 2 - 2020

Week 3 – Unit 3

Environmental Sustainability
Overview
Presented by Stuart Gow
 Learning Outcomes

• Describe & differentiate

between components of
the natural environment.
• Discuss some of the main
impacts tourism has on
environmental
sustainability.
• Highlight some of the
reasons why it is difficult
to manage the
environmental impacts of
tourism.

• Environment
• Human ecology
• Ecosystem
• Spatial & temporal lag
• Natural environment
• Domino effect
• Natural resources
• Environmental impact
assessment
• Farmed environment
• Mitigation alternatives
• Wildlife Ecotourism
• Integrated approach
Key Terms
• Built environment
• Low impact
• Conflict
• Active ecotourism
• Co-existence
• Passive ecotourism
• Symbiosis
• Hardcore ecotourists
• Impact
• Mainstream ecotourists
• Scapegoat
• Nature tourism
• Reductionist
• International Year of Ecotourism
• World Ecotourism Summit
• Ecology
 Reading

• Reading T3.1
Chapter 5 of your textbook, pp.
49-58.pdf
• Reading T3.2
Chapter 30 of your textbook, pp.
318-329.pdf
• Study Guide Reading R3.1.1 -
Environmental Impact of Tourism
in the Pacific.pdf
 Additional Readings

• Check the websites of these

organisations. Then try conducting your
own internet searches using any of the
keywords at the beginning of this unit.
– www.ecotourism.org
– www.ecotourism.cc
– www.world-
tourism.org/sustainable/IYE/launch/Laun
ch.html
– www.uneptie.org/pc/tourism/ecotourism
/home.html
– www.ecotour.org
– www.eduweb.com/ecotourism/eco1.html
– ecoclub.com
– www.ecotoursamoa.com
– www.tcsp.com/private/market_reports/E
SCAP_Seminar.shtml
 Videos

• Sustainable Tourism in
New Zealand
• https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=Icl9akLqku
k
 TS311 – SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
SEMESTER 2 - 2020

Recap

LAST WEEK:
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
 Last week:
Sustainable Tourism
• The development of the
concept
• The nature & scope of it
• Principles of sustainable
tourism
• Stumbling blocks to
achieving it
• Issues for different
stakeholders in tourism
• Critiques current thinking
on sustainable tourism
 A New Approach to STD
According to Swarbrooke

• Recognise that sustainable tourism may be an

impossible dream
• More objective, less judgmental (polarising)
debate
• Sustainable tourism is political –who has the
power?
• Community participation is difficult
• Need to focus on implementation
 A New Approach to STD According to
Swarbrooke

• Success will be determined by the market i.e.

tourist demand for the product
• STD is not just about the environment
• Ecotourism & sustainable tourism are not the
same thing
• Best results are where communities trade
directly with tourists –difficult to achieve
given power of the tourism industry.
 A New Approach to STD
According to Swarbrooke
• Developing countries will need to work together
to increase their power & gain a fair share of
benefits from tourism
• The industry will only act in a sustainable way if it
is commercially sensible
• There is a need to develop good performance
indicators so progress can be monitored &
recognise failings
• There is a need for sustainable tourism labeling to
aid consumers in their choice of products
 So…

• We’ve had a look at the concept & underlying

principles
• We’ve critiqued much of the current thinking
on sustainable tourism
• We should be getting the whole picture –the
positive & the negative - & be able to critically
analyse the information that follows in the
remaining lectures & readings.
 TS311 – SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
SEMESTER 2 - 2020

Learning Outcome 1

DESCRIBE & DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN

COMPONENTS OF THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT
 Some major potential impacts of
tourism on the natural environment
Impact aspect Potential consequence
Floral & faunal species Disruption of breeding habits
composition
Killing of animals through hunting
Killing of animals in order to supply goods to the souvenir trade
Inward or outward migration of animals
Trampling & damage of vegetation by feet & vehicles
Destruction of vegetation through the gathering of wood or plants
Change in extent and/or nature of vegetation cover through clearance or planning
to accommodate tourist facilities
Creation of wildlife reserve / sanctuary or habitat restoration
Pollution Water pollution through discharges of sewerage, spillages of oil / petrol
Air pollution from vehicle emissions, combustion of fuels for heating & lighting
Noise pollution from tourist transportation & activities
Erosion Compaction of solid causing increased surface run-off & erosion
Change in risk of occurrence of land slips / slides
Change in risk of avalanche occurrence
Damage to geological features (e.g. caves)
Damage to river banks
 Some major potential impacts of
tourism on the natural environment
Impact aspect Potential consequence
Natural resources Depletion of ground & surface water supplies
Depletion of fossil fuels to generate energy for tourist
activity
Change in risk of occurrence of fire
Depletion of mineral resources for building materials
Over-exploitation of biological resources (e.g. over
fishing)
Change in hydrological patterns
Change in land used for primary production
Visual impact Facilities (e.g. buildings, chairlift, car park)
Litter
Sewerage, algal blooms
 Travel Professor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yYZfMcny-Y&t=140s
 5 Components of the
Environment
1.Natural Resources
– Clean air, land, clean
warm water suitable
for swimming,
climate
– Can be polluted or
damaged by careless
tourism
development
 5 Components of the
Environment
2. The Natural Environment
• Mountains, seas, rivers &
lakes, caves, beaches, forests
etc
• Swarbrooke says there are
virtually no ‘natural’
landscapes left. By this he
means landscapes unaltered
by humans.
• Tourism generally brings
negative impacts to the
natural environment BUT it
can also provide a financial
incentive for environmental
conservation
 5 Components of the
Environment
3.Farmed Environment
– Diverse range.
– Intensive cash crop
monoculture farming, rice
paddies of Asia, vineyards,
orchards, raising livestock,
fish & oyster farming,
plantation timber – all
interesting to visit.
– Tourism can damage the
environment, consume
valuable water, divert
employment away from
farming
• However tourism can also
provide an additional
revenue stream for farmers
 5 Components of the
Environment
4. Wildlife
– Wildlife can be the central
attraction of some
destinations. e.g. big game,
birds, rainforests, giant
turtles, koalas, Komodo
Dragons, whales etc.
– Tourism can destroy
habitat & disturb feeding &
breeding patterns
• However tourism can also
provide an economic
incentive to conserve
wildlife
 The dangers of a South African safari...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN8q-Bh9468
 5 Components of the
Environment
5. Built Environment
– Buildings &
structures, small
settlements & entire
towns & cities.
– Can be historic,
heritage, important
architecture, purpose
built tourist resorts &
attractions, tourism
infrastructure
 Difficulties in assessing & managing
environmental impacts
• Human inhabit most
ecosystems & have done
so for thousands of years.
Difficult to establish a base
level against which to
measure change
• Difficult to know which
changes tourism is
responsible for which are a
result of other things
(Great Barrier Reef)
 TS311 – SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
SEMESTER 2 - 2020

Learning Outcome 2

DISCUSS SOME OF THE MAIN IMPACTS

TOURISM HAS ON ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
 Great Barrier Reef

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbNeIn3vVKM
 Great Barrier Reef

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbNeIn3vVKM
 TS311 – SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
SEMESTER 2 - 2020

Learning Outcome 2

HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE REASONS WHY IT IS

DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS OF TOURISM
 Difficulties in assessing & managing
environmental impacts

• Tourism may result in

‘indirect’ impacts to the
environment that are
difficult to trace back to
tourism
• eg wildlife slowly
decreasing in numbers
& losing condition
through disturbance to
habitat.
Difficulties in assessing & managing
environmental impacts

• May be a long lag time

between the stress of
tourism & the actual
impact.
• e.g. pollution leaching
through the ground &
eventually polluting a
water source
 Towards a More Sustainable
Tourism Industry
• Planning on the level of
ecosystems
• Government regulation of
negative impacts
• Encouraging good practice
• Raising awareness among
tourists & the industry
• Paying a price that covers cost
of environmental damage
• Find the balance between
conservation & the need for
economic development
 Think about it / Discuss

 Critically evaluate the

idea that tourism & the
environment are enemies
rather than allies.
 Discuss the extent to
which legislation &
regulation can safeguard
the environment from the
negative impacts of
tourism.
 Environmental impact of tourism
in the Pacific - Hall
• Natural environment is
focal point in selling the
South Pacific
– Sun, Sand, Sea &
Palm Trees

(Hall - 2000)
 Environmental impact of tourism
in the Pacific - Hall
• Tourism is one part of
larger environmental
problems
– Climate change
– Logging
– Over-fishing

(Hall - 2000)
Environmental impact of tourism in
the Pacific - Hall
• Some problem particular to the
South Pacific include:
– Near-shore vegetation clearing exposes
the island to sea storm erosion &
decreases plant material decomposition
on the beach
– Maneuvering of bulldozer results in
scarring & soil distance
– Excessive tapping of the fresh
groundwater induces salt water
intrusion which impairs vegetation
growth & human water use
– Sewage outfall in shallow water & reef
flats may lead to an excessive build up
of nutrients – killing coral
– Seawalls built to trap sand in the short-
term impair the natural seasonal
distribution of sand resulting in net
beach loss.
– Boat channels blasted in the reef act as
a sand trap.
(Hall - 2000)
 Environmental impact of tourism
in the Pacific - Hall
Dredging & clearing of mangroves &
estuaries for marinas & resorts
• provide ecological & environmental
services
• protection of the coast from wave
action & erosion
• habitats & nursery grounds for
coastal fisheries
• trap sediment & pollutants to
maintain the clarity of near shore
waters,
• play a major role in the cultural &
economic life of coastal communities
• They act as a buffer between
terrestrial & marine environments &
as such they serve as an indicator of
health for each of the adjoining
environments
(Hall - 2000)
 Think about it / Discuss

• Can you think of

any specific
environmental
problems caused
by tourism
where you live?
 TS311 – SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
SEMESTER 2 - 2020

Learning Outcome 4

OUTLINE THE PRINCIPLES OF

ECOTOURISM
 Ecotourism

• Swarbrooke’s treatment
of ecotourism is
simplistic 
• Doesn’t investigate the
origins of the terms or
present definitions of it
• Seems to assume that
ecotourism is
unmanaged tourism –
not the case…
 Ecotourism

• Swarbrooke makes a range of

unsubstantiated assumptions
about ecotourists
– They are only interested in
new ‘untouched’
destinations in developing
countries
– They aren’t interested in
local culture, only wildlife
?????
– Being an ecotourist some
of the time & a
conventional tourist some
of the time amounts to
hypocrisy
 Ecotourism

• Swarbrooke claims that

ecotourism is not
sustainable tourism (??)
• Most recent publications
on ecotourism place it as
a subset of sustainable
tourism with more of a
focus on education of
tourists & contribution to
the conservation of the
tourism resource.
 Ecotourism

“Ecotourism fosters learning

experiences & appreciation
of the natural environment
within its associated cultural
context. It is
environmentally & socio-
culturally sustainable,
enhances the natural &
cultural resource base, &
promotes the viability of
the operation.”
(Adapted from Weaver, 2001:
15)
Ecotourism?
 Ecotourism
“Ecotourism is travel to fragile,
pristine, & usually protected
areas that strives to be low
impact & (usually) small scale.
It helps educate the traveller;
provides funds for
conservation; directly benefits
the economic development &
political empowerment of local
communities, & fosters respect
for different cultures & for
human rights. “
(Honey, 1999)
 TS311 – SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
SEMESTER 2 - 2020

Learning Outcome 5

EXPLAIN & EVALUATE THE ARGUMENTS

FOR & AGAINST ECOTOURISM
 Swarbrooke’s Arguments
Against Ecotourism
• Ecotourism leads to mass
tourism ??
• Ecotourists move on to new,
‘undiscovered’ destinations
when they become spoilt by
mass tourists.
• Ecotourists are more
interested in wildlife than
culture ??
• Ecotourists are only interested
in particular types of wildlife
• Ecotourists patronise
indigenous people
 What is Ecotourism?

“Ecotourism is nature-based
tourism that involves education &
interpretation of the natural
environment & is managed to be
ecologically sustainable. This
definition recognizes that the
natural environment includes
cultural components & that
ecological sustainability involves
an appropriate return to the local
community & long-term
conservation of the resource”

(Commonwealth of Australia, 1994)

 What is Ecotourism?

Nature-based travel;

Sustainable Management;
No single accepted
definition, however there Positive force for conservation;
are reoccurring themes:
Benefits the host community; &

Education & interpretation of the

natural & cultural environment
 How can we be sure that
ecotourism is really ecotourism?

Certification/ accreditation is being used in many

countries to ensure ‘ecotourism’ products are
legitimate
 Ecotourism Accreditation /
Certification
• Certification in tourism is:
– “A voluntary procedure
that assesses, audits &
gives assurance that a
business, facility, product,
process, service or
management system
meets specific standards. It
awards a marketable logo –
the ecolabel –to those that
meet or exceed baseline
standards”
• (Honey, 2002)
 Ecotourism Accreditation
Purpose
To ensure that organisations practice with fewer negative
impacts on the environment, on society & the economy

To highlight the best practice for products & services

To provide a competitive edge for tourism operators

To influence environmentally conscious purchasing

behaviour
Accreditation / Certification
Programs
Green Labels
 Ecotourism Accreditation: Issues

• Credibility of eco-labelling
schemes
• Low management &
marketing budget
• Lack in evidence of
successful marketing
schemes for tourism
operators
• Low consumer recognition
& maturity of tourism
ecolabels
• http://www.ecolabelindex.c
om/ecolabels/
 Ecotourism Accreditation in Fiji

• Ministry of Tourism
decided to develop its
own accreditation
program called Green Fiji
(1999)
• This was an attempt to
create industry standards
specific to Fiji
• Pilot study in 3
backpacker / ’ecotourism’
resorts on the Coral Coast
programmed for the end
of 2006
 Think about it / Discuss

• Discuss the ways in

which ecotourism
can be in conflict
with the concept of
sustainable
tourism.
 TS311 – SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
SEMESTER 2 - 2020

Week : 24-28 August 2020

TUTORIALS WEEK 4
 Tutorials

• Prepare by reading all on Perusall

1. Imagine that your country has decided to
• Groups will be given 1 question to pass a law regarding environment impact
discuss/critique for 1 hour assessments & you are the tourism
advisor on the project. What kind of
• All groups must present to class tourism developments would you insist
for 10 mins each on subject have an EIA? How would you ensure that
some the problems experienced in
• Q&A big part of your marks Indonesia could be avoided?
2. Your textbook clearly states that there is
nothing inherently sustainable about
ecotourism. Argue the case for & against
ecotourism with a group of friends. Try to
use examples to back up your reasoning.
3. “The word ecotourism is now used
indiscriminately to describe anything
related to nature or unrelated to
conventional tourism.” Set out a list of
possible ways to make ecotourism really
mean sustainable nature tourism.
 TS311 – SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
SEMESTER 2 - 2020

Stuart Gow
Stuart.Gow@usp.ac.fj
 TS311 – SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
SEMESTER 2 - 2020

Week 3 – Unit 3

Environmental Sustainability
Overview
Presented by Stuart Gow