Tourism is an activity where a person or a group travels to different places, out of their usual environment for leisurely or business purpose. The development of tourism industry involves diverse actors comprising governments- which influences development through intervention of policies, and infrastructure – the key players like private organizations who participate in developing tourist spots (Pavlic, et al., 2013). These include various large and small, local and international enterprises that provides services and supplies such as restaurants, hotels, transport, local guides and other leisurely and entertainment services. Unlike other sectors that are inherently enclaved such as manufacturing and construction sector, tourism creates links across economic sectors and therefore is expected to contribute more in economic diversification. Kilipiris & Zardava (2012) argues that growth in tourism creates negative impact at destinations assuming that mass forms of tourists are largely responsible for increase in environmental issues especially in developing nations. However, Briedenhann & Wickens (2004) argues that, “the clustering of activities and attractions, and the development of rural tourism routes, stimulates co-operation and partnerships between local areas”. Although diverse activities and environmental concerns increase challenges for creating sustainable tourism in developing world, the fact that tourism contributes to much needed revenues for creating infrastructure to protect the environment must not be overlooked.
The basic objective behind preparing this report is to identify key opportunities that can be addressed in regards to contributions of tourism for sustainable development. This report will access direct and indirect challenges and opportunities in tourism sector while arguing against the aforesaid topic. This report has been prepared after making considerable research on potential impacts of tourism industry on local economies along with stating its potentiality in role for inclusive growth and poverty reduction, especially in developing countries. Tourism sector not only creates awareness about environmental issues but also act as environmental watchdogs (Kent, 2003). This report will make recommendations to the tourism companies management after examining environmental concerns in tourism sector about how they can develop this industry in more effective manner so that its sustainability is not hindered.
The phenomenon of hospitality and tourism is particularly complex due to diversified activities and implications in political, social and economic structures in operating countries (Asadzadeh1 & Mousavi, 2017). The complexity and volume in offerings to tourist services have made the travel and tourism sector more developed. The tourism phenomenon can be regarded as an individual branch where range of activities are combined in tourism industry contributing in economy and development of nations. According to Bunghez (2016), “This branch stimulates the development of other branches of the economy by the object of its activity”. The author argues that tourism in this 21st century has become an essential activity that act as an active participant for modernization and development of society and country’s revenues. Although, the importance of economic contribution made by tourism sector may fluctuate from country to country, the developing countries who actually relies largely on tourism are mostly benefitted where tourism has become sustainable portion in country economies.
Having an eye-catching development, tourism is one of the largest industries in the world. In past few decades, tourism has been changed into a multifaceted phenomenon comprising cultural, social, economic and natural environment dimensions. Under environmental dimensions, major attractions among tourist can be seen developing in recent years ( Farajirad & Aghajani, 2010). Tourism industry can prove beneficial to environment through many ways. Few of them are: contribution to environmental reserves, restoration and conservation of natural diversity and maintainable use of natural properties. Due to attractiveness in them, natural areas and pristine sites are regarded as valuable assets. Owing to their need in retaining attraction and attention among tourists, they are given utmost care by nature preservers and are transformed into national parks or wildlife sanctuaries. This shows that tourism has great potential in increasing public appreciation towards environment and when it brings people closer to the environment and nature, awareness regarding environmental issues is spread automatically. The hostility may heighten awareness about giving value to nature leading to conscious behavioral pattern among tourist’s activities and preservation of environment (GhulamRabbany, et al., 2013).
Financial contribution can be considered one way through which conservation of habitat and sensitive areas can be processed through tourism. For example, revenue from park-entrance and similar sources can be applied to pay for preservation and protection of environmentally sensitive regions. Park operations fees or other activities related to conservation can be collected from visitors and tourists by tour operators that can be used further for parks preservation. Even government can accumulate cash in many indirect ways such as taxes or rent of equipment, user taxes, sales taxes and license fees for performing activities on sites like fishing and hunting (Williams, 2007). Such funds collected can be utilized in conversation programs to manage environmental resources. Regulatory measures although seems offsetting sometimes for the tourists, it helps in diminishing negative impacts of tourism on environment. For example, restricting number of visitors at certain time in protected areas can decrease harmful effects on ecosystem while maintaining the vitality and integrity of the natural spot. Environment is considered as key factor in tourism where it is involved in all aspects of industry. Natural environment is a sensitive area that needs to be taken care of, nevertheless, tourism helps to develop natural features also. Gijon Biosphere Reserve located on the shores of Cantabrian Sea has shown utmost responsibility in maintaining and preserving natural resources that also becomes one of the best examples of sustainable tourism. It offers sustainability to both citizens as well as visitors through preservation of environmental aspects along with publicizing responsible tourism to increase country revenues (Biosphere, n.d.).
Practical decisions taken in tourism involves environment and the quality of natural resources like sea water, air, plants life, landscape, animal and people along with quality of cultural and built in resources having intrinsic values required to be protected. In present era, developed and complex societies, especially in metropolitan cities, natural environment and nature attracts large amount of people towards it that also bring many benefits to tourism industry ( Farajirad & Aghajani, 2010). Since it contributes to tourism development through long-term and short-term programs, the financial profits have made many organizations consider investing in tourism company, restaurants and hotels. This shows that if environment and tourism go hand in hand, it can prove a sustainable process in long run. Abernethy Forest and Loch Garten in Scotland is another fine example where ancient heritage and wildlife is been preserved while encouraging tourism in these spots. Situated beside river Nethy, and Britain’s top mountain, reserve in Abernethy and Loch Garten has become worlds popular natural tourism site for travellers (Scotland Info Guide, n.d.).
The relationship between environment and tourism is a complex one, however, numerous activities carried in tourism industry represents world’s largest industry. While tourism depends upon natural environment for its sustainability in developing world, the ongoing development of natural sites also depends largely upon revenues collected through tourism. Popular tourist spots frequently emerge due to its peculiarity in nature and natural environment. It can also be said that tourists select holiday destination and natural sightseeing’s on conditions that it acts as predominant influence (Artigas, et al., 2015). In other words, natural locations like cultural heritage, wildlife park, natural scenery coupled with satisfactory climatic conditions draws tourist towards them. Therefore, continuation and development in both environment and tourism are interdependent on each other to remain sustainable in future. However, whether environmental awareness or tourism development awareness expands or develops in scope, a new association is forced creating symbiosis and conflicts. Conflicts arises mainly when tourism expands significantly resulting consumption of natural resources and infringements on local communities (Nkemngu, 2012). The alternate option for avoiding such conflicts is to state mutual benefits of both tourism and environmental development while utilizing natural resources and generating revenues for the restoration of the natural environment. In determining potential impacts on environment through tourism activities, it has been said that evolutionary stages of tourism development can correlate the level of damage sustained by local environment also (Pavlic, et al., 2013).
Since its inception in early 1900, the tourism sector has thrived and diversified in regards to technological developments according to priorities of industries, environmental climates, tourists’ interest and varying trends. The emergence of sustainable tourism terminology signifies important development in relationship between tourism industry and natural environment (Artigas, et al., 2015). Bio-Hotel in Colombia is one of the finest examples where integration of technology in tourism and hospitality sector has been applied wisely. This Bio-Hotel in America is based on a philosophy that involves sustainable infrastructure combined with eco-efficient supplies in international market. Entire project has been constructed utilising natural supplies like solar thermal systems so that tourism is encouraged along with encouraging utilisation of natural resources in effective way (Hasek, 2014).
According to Williams (2007), “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,”. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) integrated the concept of tourism and sustainable development by formally adopting “sustainable development of tourism” concept that reunites environmental, socio-cultural and economic aspects of tourism through creation of balance between the three dimensions. According to UNWTO, the need for sustainable tourism and making optimum use of natural resources is like maintaining necessary ecological process by helping in preserving natural biodiversity and heritage sites. To make this process more effective, not only physical impacts like pollution and consumption of natural resources must be considered but factors related to habitat destruction as well as natural calamities that can occur additionally should also be looked into. Here, sustainable tourism can ensure sustainability of natural environment and biological diversity. Nonetheless, methods for accessing economic sustainability in tourism operations may vary according to the required standards and other assessment criteria’s that shall be made keeping in mind about environmental concerns ( Kilipiris & Zardava, 2012). Along with it, putting too much emphasis on monetization through revenue collection shall also be controlled so that tourism is encouraged in developing countries. Economic development through tourism activities can be made sustainable only if they are made affordable to masses that can be based upon economic assessment of the country.
Development of tourism is inevitable, however, to avoid environmental consequences, few recommendations can be made to the management so that tourism is manged in effective manner without hampering environment and natural attractions (Farid, et al., 2016). To make sustainable tourism development, practical solutions like sustainable use of social, natural and cultural resources is significant. Tourism can be managed and prearranged within environmental limits along with taking care of natural and anthropological resources. In fact, planning, operation and development in tourism can be integrated into local sustainable development and national tourism expansion strategies. Along with it, stakeholders of tourism companies shall also be educated about needs for development to form sustainable tourism. Tourism can support wide range of local activities economically like environmental costs and benefits, but shall not be permitted to dominate the economic base of country. Local communities must be encouraged to participate in development and planning concept of tourism along with governmental support to the tourism industry. Most importantly, every organisation must respect mother nature, culture and political structure of destination regions along with taking necessary steps to make tourism sustainable and environmentally friendly ( Briedenhann & Wickens, 2004).
Conclusions
Tourism has potentiality to contribute in economic growth and reduction in poverty particularly in developing and low-income countries. This sector has capability to generate employment as well as economic diversification through income opportunities. Therefore, it can be said that tourism contributes to much needed revenues in developing countries that can be utilized in evolving and protecting infrastructure and environment. By creating awareness regarding environmental concerns, tourism companies act as watchdogs while securing and conserving sensitive areas and habitats. Tourism can also be alleged as a globalization promoter and one of the most significant elements of sustainable development through contribution to GDP and development within countries. Tourism encircling diversified activities has multiplicative character that links tourism sector with other economic activities such as infrastructure development, hotel industry, restaurants and other amenities. Although tourism has many issues regarding environmental concerns, still the fact that without tourism, environmental preservation also becomes unfeasible that makes tourism development more sustainable. While discussing about all the above-mentioned aspects, it can be confidently said that tourism industry is sustainable part of modern civilization that involves entire society in its activities thus making the world one united place.
References
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