2. WHAT IS ENVIRONMENT ?
Environment is mostly considered as-
๏ง Physical or Abiotic
๏ง Biological
๏ง Socio โEconomical
In a simple way environment can be
classified as-
๏ง Natural
๏ง Build
๏ง Cultural
3. Classification of environmental problem
Fundamentally environmental problems can be classified into two type -
๏ฑ Resource depletion problem-
๏ง Renewable- Forest, Fisheries, Bio-diversity
๏ง Non- Renewable- Coal, Oil, Mineral.
๏ฑPollution problem
๏ง Source of the pollution- Automobile pollution, Industrial pollution.
๏ง Sink of pollution- Atmosphere, Water body, Waste disposal site.
4. Tourism and The Environment
The impact of tourism upon the environment and vice
versa is mutual. Negative influences from tourism can
arise when the level of visitor use exceeds the
environment's ability to cope, within the acceptable
restrictions of change. Unrestrained conventional
tourism creates potential threats to many natural
areas. This can put pressure on an area and result in
soil erosion, increased pollution, discharges into the
sea, natural habitat loss, increased pressure on
endangered species and heightened vulnerability to
forest fires. Moreover, it could incur a strain on water
resources and force local populations to compete for
the use of vital resources.
5. Depletion of Natural Resources
โข Tourism development could
pressurise natural resources
when consumption rises and
resources are either low or
scarce.
6. Water Resources
Hotels, golf courses, swimming pools, in
general, consume large volumes of
water. Therefore, the tourism industry is
responsible for creating water shortages,
degradation of water supplies and
generating high quantities of waste
water.
7. Local resources
Local resources such as energy,
food and other raw materials
will be consumed far more and
at a greater speed, when a
tourism establishment is located
in the vicinity. This will result in
the possibility of resources
being limited or destroyed.
8. Land degradation
Fertile soil, forests, wetlands and
wildlife are vital resources of Sri a
tourist destination. However, the
increased construction of tourism
facilities has increased the
pressure on these resources and
scenic landscapes. The direct
impact on natural resources in the
provision of tourist facilities could
be a consequence of land usage
for accommodation purposes and
other infrastructure provision.
9. Pollution
Air emissions, noise, solid waste and
littering, releases of sewage, oil and
chemicals, and architectural/visual
pollution are common effects in
tourism areas.
10. Air pollution and noise
Transport by air, road, and rail is continuously increasing in response to the
rising number of tourists and their greater mobility. Globally, tourism accounts for
more than 60% of air travel. Research revealed that a single transatlantic return
flight secretes approximately half the CO2 emissions produced by all other
sources such as lighting, heating and car use, by an average person per year.
Air pollution from tourist transportation is a global impact, particularly the CO2
emissions produced due to transportation of energy use. Severe local air
pollution is another factor and includes noise pollution from airplanes, cars and
buses. In addition to causing annoyance, stress, and even hearing loss for
humans, distress to wildlife is caused.
11. Solid waste and littering
Waste disposal is a serious
problem that tourist establishments
have to face. Improper disposal
could be a major despoiler of the
natural environment. Solid waste
and littering can harm the water
concentration and cause the death
of marine animals.
12. Sewage
The construction of hotels,
recreation and other facilities result in
increased sewage pollution. In the
past, waste water has polluted seas
and lakes surrounding tourist
attractions and resulted in damaged
flora and fauna. Sewage runoff causes
serious damage to coral reefs as it
stimulates the growth of algae, which
cover the filter-feeding corals,
hindering their ability to survive.
Sewage pollution threatens the health
of humans and animals.
13. Aesthetic Pollution
Frequently tourism fails to amalgamate its establishments with the natural
qualities and native architectural of the area. Large resorts of contrasting design
will look out of place in any natural environment and will conflict with the
indigenous structural design. Lack of land-use planning and building regulations
facilitates extensive developments along coastlines, valleys and scenic routes,
while the sprawl includes tourism facilities and supporting infrastructure such as
roads, employee housing, parking, service areas, and waste disposal.
14. Physical consequences of tourism development
โข The construction and development of tourism facilities could result in
sand mining, beach and sand dune erosion and loss of
wildlife habitats.
โข Deforestation and intensified or unsustainable use of land.
โข Marina development and changes in currents and coastlines.
โข Depletion of coral reefs arising due to increased sediments in the
water, trampling by tourists, ship groundings, pollution from sewage,
souvenir extraction.
15. Physical consequences from tourist activities
โข Trampling - Tourists using the same trail over and over again trample
the vegetation and soil, eventually causing damage that leads to loss
of biodiversity and other impacts.
โข Anchoring and other marine activities - Anchoring, scuba diving,
yachting and cruising are certain activities that cause direct
degradation of marine ecosystems such as coral reefs.
โข Alteration of ecosystems by tourist activities - Habitat is degraded by
tourism leisure activities. For example, wildlife viewing can bring
about stress for the animals and alter their natural behavior when
tourists come too close.
16. Effect on Flora and Fauna
โข Effect due to tourism
infrastructure
โข Effect due to tourist
โข Effect due to linkages
17. Effect due to tourism Infrastructure
Perhaps the most significant source of tourism- induced impact
on ecosystem is the spread of tourism and recreation
infrastructure. It not only strain on already scarce land but also
due to digging and increased extraction of local building materials,
causes irreversible damages of landscape. Creation of tourism
infrastructure requires a lot of space, which often provided at the
expense of ecosystem. Build infrastructure as well as tourist
facilities and activities are created replacing the natural
vegetation.
18. Effects Due to Tourist
The vegetation cover can also be damaged due to the trampling by
walkers or crushing by tourist vehicles. Hikers, tracers and
mountaineers approach the areas left by roads and off road traffic.
They can penetrate into the places inaccessible by mechanical means.
The damages caused due to trampling, deforestation caused due to
fuel requirements, threat to wild life and threat to cultures.
19. Effects Due to Linkages
Linkages of the tourism industry further compound the problem.
With the development and the projection of a tourist destination, the
overall projection of the area takes place leading to considerable
increase in construction activities. An activity like construction of
roads, houses crowds the system and disturbs the logical system.
