Environmental Impacts Of Tourism

One of the most essential things for tourism to be successful in a particular

place is the quality of the environment, both natural and man-made. However tourism
involves many activities that have a negative effect on the environment. These occur
when the level of usage is bigger than the amount of caring for the environment.
Uncontrolled tourism is threatening many natural areas around the world. It can put
great pressure on an area, and lead to negative environmental impacts on air and water
quality, vegetation, soil, wildlife, and many other things.

One of the most important areas of tourism is transportation. Transport by air,

road and rail is rising steadily because of the increasing number of tourists. One
consequence of this is that tourism is responsible for a large amount of air transmissions.
These emissions, as well as those from the production of electricity, another important
tourist need, are linked to acid rain, chemical pollution and global warming. They
contribute to severe air pollution, not only in cities but in natural environments as well.
Some of these impacts are directly related to tourism. For example, in very hot or cold
conditions, tour buses often leave their motors running while the tourists go out on
excursions so that the bus is at a comfortable temperature when they return.

Another negative effect of tourism is water quality. Bushwalkers can damage

small streams by walking through them too many times, causing them to be muddy
which then in turn makes it difficult for small fish to feed. Also, less experienced
bushwalkers sometimes like to pursue activities such as washing their hair in small creeks
and streams, sending chemicals in shampoo and conditioner downstream and further
damaging the environment. However, not all effects of tourism are long term. The most
common impact of tourism is litter, and its effect is almost instant. Litter is a serious
problem in areas with high concentrations of tourist activities and natural attractions. It
can have a major negative impact on all areas of the natural environment - rivers,
mountains, beaches, and many more. Littering can degrade the physical appearance of
the environment, making it no longer appealing to tourists, as well as causing the deaths
of many native animals.
 Further, tourist destinations in the mountains often end up with a great deal of
unwanted waste. Tourists on expeditions leave behind garbage, oxygen cylinders and
camping equipment. In the less developed or remote areas this is even worse as there
are few disposal facilities. Some of the more frequently visited mountain trails in the
Andes and in Nepal have been nick-named by the locals things such as "Coca-Cola Trail"
and "Toilet Paper Trail", and the Inca Trail in Peru is often referred to as the "Stinker
Trail" as a result of all the rubbish that tourists leave behind. This has a bad effect on not
only the appeal of a tourist site but the plant and animal life in the area as well. Natural
tourist sites need distinct pathways and signposts so as to minimise the impact on
vegetation. Destroying plants is also destroying many homes and habitats of the fauna in
that particular area. This can eventually lead to the loss of biodiversity.

Moreover, constant trampling of natural habitats has also a negative impact on

vegetation, animals, and soil as well. Large amounts of trampling on soil causes loss of
organic matter, and also accelerates erosion in that area. In beaches all over the world,
especially the more popular ones such as those in Hawaii, the erosion is so bad that sand
has to brought in to keep the beach attractive and viable. Once again, clear signs and
distinct paths are needed to minimise this impact.

Tourism has many destructive environmental effects. However, it also has

some positive impacts. Tourism contributes to environmental protection and conservation
by raising people's awareness of environmental values. Tourists often travel to a
destination because of its quality and purity. Many of these tourists both directly and
indirectly cause pollution to these places, making them unappealing to other tourists.
However, the next stage in the cycle is employing local people to help clean it up,
making their lives slightly easier and more comfortable. It is only when the gap between
these stages gets too large that it becomes a real problem, but with good planning and
having everything in moderation, this may not happen any more.

=731 Words

John Rey C. Loyola

8-Amethyst
ENGLISH 8

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19.LOYOLA