Tourism kq3 ppt

Topic 4: Global Tourism – is tourism
the way to go?
KQ3: Developing tourism at what
cost?

Developing tourism at what cost?
Figure 1.66 Kayan Lahwi women in Myanmar. Adapted from: JD Jiang

Introduction
• Traditional culture can be greatly affected by tourist
activities
• Kayan Lahwi women as tourist attractions:
–Tourists photograph the ‘long-necked women’
–Tourists buy clothing and souvenirs made by the
women
–Local businesses charge fees to enter the villages
–Some of the women were relocated to Inle Lake
–The tradition of wearing brass neck coils continues
because it gives the Kayan Lahwi a source of revenue

Economic
• Tourism can bring about positive and negative economic
impacts.
Positive
• Employment
opportunities
• Growth in income
• Increase in foreign
exchange
• Infrastructure
development
Negative
• Seasonal
unemployment
• Underuse of facilities
• Shortage of services

Positive Economic Impact
 Employment: Work performed for a wage or salary, in cash
or in kind
 Employment Opportunity – Chefs in a restaurant
http://www.examiner.com/article/iron-chef-michael-symon-opening-2-new-restaurants-cleveland

 Employment Opportunity - hill tribe woman in a colorful
traditional costume selling handicraft
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-thai-tribe-woman-image5718049

 Employment Opportunity – Flight attendants
http://floralia.centerblog.net/1072-les-plus-beaux-uniformes-hotesses-de-air

Employment opportunities
• The growth of tourism has led to an increase in number of tourism-
related jobs
• The tourism industry offers many employment opportunities, e.g.
hotels, souvenir shops, tour agencies
• Some jobs are:
– Directly linked to the tourism industry, e.g. travel agents, tour
guides, hotel staff, waiters and waitresses
– Indirectly linked to the tourism industry, e.g. taxi drivers, shop
owners
• In 2011, the tourism industry employed over 235 million people
worldwide (6–8 % of all the jobs in the world)

Growth in income
• Tourism growth can lead to growth in income for
individuals and a country
• Example: Fishermen on Pamilacan Island, Philippines
– Local tour companies hire fishermen to help them view and swim
with whale sharks
– Fishermen are paid between US$80–US$100 per boat for their
service
– Fishermen can expect additional income on top of their fishing
livelihood
– Tour companies will experience an increase in revenue
– Overall increase in revenue for the country through taxes
collected from the fishermen and tour companies

Growth in income
Figure 1.68 A Filipino fisherman and a group of tourists watch as a whale shark passes
underneath their boat. Adapted from: Steve De Neef Photography

Region Percentage of all tourism
receipts in 2011 (%)
Europe 45
Asia Pacific 28
The Americas 19
Others 8
Figure 1.69 Distribution of global tourism receipts. Adapted from: World Tourism Organization
(2012)
Growth in income
• Tourism receipts: Money received from tourist spending
• Tourism receipts generate large revenue for many countries
• In 2011, worldwide tourism receipts exceeded US$1 trillion

Growth in income
• A large portion of revenue from tourism is sometimes lost
as leakage, especially in LDCs
• Leakage occurs when revenue earned from tourism is
paid to other countries for the import of goods and
services needed to meet the needs of tourists
• Example: Phuket, Thailand
–Travellers may use the services of foreign-owned
businesses and buy imported items
–Some of the profits made by local businesses are
sent to another country to pay for imports
–Money that does not stay in the local economy may
bring few benefits to local businesses and workers

Figure 1.70 Distribution of international tourist spending in Phuket, Thailand. Adapted from:
Handmer, J., Choong, W. (2006) ‘Disaster resilience through local economic activity in Phuket’. The
Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 21(4), 8-15.
Growth in income

Figure 1.71 South Sea Island Beach,
Fiji. Tourism is Fiji’s largest foreign
exchange earner.
Increase in foreign exchange
• Foreign exchange: Money earned from other countries
in exchange for goods and services
• Important to an economy because it allows the receiving
country to purchase goods and services from elsewhere
in the world
• Example: Tourism is Fiji’s
largest foreign exchange
earner, making up
20%-25% of its economy

 Increase in foreign exchange
•Countries that host large numbers of tourists receive considerable
tourism business investments from other countries
•Example: Singapore
– Has many international hotel chains, e.g. InterContinental,
Marriott and Shangri-La
– These chains invest in building and furnishing hotels and
resorts, and training staff at tourist destinations
– Hotels exchange their own currency to purchase
Singapore dollars in order to make their investments
– Increases demand for Singapore dollars and contributes to
Singapore’s capital inflow

•The tourism industry contributes directly and indirectly
to government revenues
•Examples of how tourism contributes directly to
government revenues include taxes on tourists (e.g.
airport tax) and income taxes on employees of tourism-
related businesses
•Examples of how tourism contributes indirectly to
government revenues include taxes on goods and
services that are supplied to tourists (e.g. petrol for
rented cars)
•Since taxes are collected in local currency, this
increases the foreign exchange of the host country

Region 1990 1995 2000 2005
Africa 6 402 85 00 10 503 21 525
Americas 69 274 98 439 130 797 144 556
East Asia 44 445 77 296 85 410 130 949
Europe 142 885 212 159 232 486 348 263
Middle East 5 124 10 905 17 567 27 557
South Asia 2 029 3 404 4 797 9 816
Total 270 159 410 703 481 560 682 667
Total tourism receipts (US$, million) in different regions of the world

 Development of infrastructure – train infrastructure in Singapore
http://www.set-edu.com/web/index.php/du-hoc/129-tin-tuc-du-hoc/682-singapore-s-la-chn-hang-u-danh-cho-hc-sinh-vit-nam

 Development of infrastructure – Beijing National Stadium,
Beijing, China
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:Beijing_National_Stadium,_Beijing_2008_Olympics.jpg

 Development of infrastructure – sewage treatment plant
http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/Utility%20Services/Water%20and%20Wastewater%20Treatment/
Wastewater%20Treatment%20Plant/Pages/default.aspx

 Development of infrastructure – electricity pylons to transmit power
http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-106845/High-voltage-transmission-lines-span-the-
countryside-carrying-electricity-from

Infrastructure development
• Infrastructure development: Construction of transport
and communication networks, electrical frameworks and
systems for water and waste disposal
• Tourism cannot develop and would not be able to operate
on a large scale without sufficient infrastructure and
appropriate facilities such as:
–Airports
–Roads
–Electricity
–Hotels
• Infrastructure built to enhance tourism brings benefits to
the locals

Infrastructure development
• Example: Roads
– Link airports, cities and tourist sites which allow tourists access
to local attractions
– Allow local people better access to markets, health care,
education and jobs
• Example: Sports venues and other infrastructure
– Built for major sporting events, e.g. Olympic Games, World Cup
– Improve sporting infrastructure of host countries
– Useful even after the key event, e.g. Summer Olympic Games in
Athens and Beijing

Infrastructure development
• Creates employment for local workers as many workers
are needed during the construction process
• Local industries are boosted because local materials may
be used to construct the infrastructure
• Encourages economic growth due to increased spending
in the local economy

Seasonal unemployment
Negative Economic Impact
http://oneshetwoshe.com/2013/07/ski-resort-in-the-summer.htmlhttp://www.livetravelmountains.com/skiing/korea-winter-guide/
Ski resorts in the Alps during winter Ski resorts in the Alps during summer

• Certain tourist activities depend on climatic conditions
• Countries may experience regular fluctuations in tourist
numbers
• People in tourism-related jobs have to find other sources
of income when employment is temporarily unavailable

Seasonal unemployment
• Example: European countries surrounding the
Mediterranean
– Majority of all hotel stays take place in the summer season of
July to September, e.g. Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy,
Spain
– Increase in summer visits is mainly due to the warm weather as
tourists can do a range of activities
e.g. relaxing by the beach, hiking
– Employment in hotels and restaurants across the European
Union reaches its peak for the year during this season

Figure 1.76a) Changes in employment in the hotel and restaurant sector in the European Union
compared to annual averages (represented by 100), 2009. b) Changes in employment among tourist
accommodations in the European Union compared to annual averages (represented by 100), 2009.
Adapted from: European Union Eurostat (2010).
 Seasonal unemployment

 Seasonal unemployment
•Example: Sapporo, Japan
– Receives a large number of visitors from December
to February, many of whom engage in winter sports,
e.g. skiing, snowboarding
– Mountain ski resort operators employ more people
during winter to cater to the high tourist demand
– In other seasons, workers return to other jobs,
(e.g. farming) or move away temporarily until the
next tourist season

Leakage of tourism receipts to other
countries

Underuse of facilities
• Underused facilities can be costly to maintain
• Money from tourists normally pays for the cost of
maintaining such facilities
• Facilities may become neglected when there are few
tourists

http://www.topbeijingtravel.com/beijing-attractions/
• Example: Venue for Summer Olympic Games in Beijing
– Venues allegedly deteriorating years after the Olympics
– Some were renovated to become more profitable,
e.g. Beijing National Aquatics Center was renovated into a water
park
– Only one-third of major sports venues in China have managed to
break even
Underuse of facilities

Figure 1.78 Potential effects of tourism development on resource allocation.
Shortage of services
• Tourist infrastructure may require the use of large amounts of land,
water and power
• This could lead to a shortage of services, e.g. water supplies or
power in non-tourist areas

Positive Socio-cultural impacts
Preservation of culture and local customs.
Figure 1.79 The difference between heritage and custom.
Preservation of culture and local customs
• Preservation of culture: Protection of the way people live, including
their economic activities, traditional beliefs and religious practices
• Could apply to heritage and customs

Positive Socio-cultural impacts
Preservation of culture and local customs.
Figure 1.80a) The historical
Christ Church in Malacca,
Malaysia, has been carefully
restored and now stands as
a relic of Malacca’s colonial
history, while serving as a
tourist attraction. b) Sites
such as the Angkor Wat
complex in Siem Reap,
Cambodia, have entry fees
that help fund conservation
efforts.
Preservation of culture and local customs
• Preserved and restored sites are more attractive to tourists
• Restored sites benefit the local population by:
– Enhancing people’s sense of history
– Build a sense of belonging to the community
• Tourism revenue can fund the preservation and restoration of cultural
heritage, e.g. entry fee to Angkor Wat

Dilution of local customs and heritage
Negative Socio-cultural impacts
Figure 1.81 Local street vendors selling
souvenirs at the Swayambhunath Temple in
Kathmandu, Nepal
Dilution of culture and local customs
• Identity, culture and values of a place can be lost when tourism
becomes the major activity of an area
• Tourism-oriented commercial activities (e.g. food outlets, travel
agencies, souvenir shops) can overwhelm an area
• Buildings may be modified or
built to accommodate tourism
• Locals may relocate
elsewhere, which changes
the original atmosphere,
appearance and functions of
the area they left

Dilution of culture and local customs
• Local cultural festivals and religious rituals are sometimes modified to
meet the demands and expectations of tourists
–Dancers deliberately pose for tourist photographs
–Rituals are shortened to fit into itinerary of tourists
–Rituals are repeated several times a day
• Authenticity and significance of cultural events are reduced because
of commercialisation
• Example: Kayan Lahwi women
– Tourists pay entrance fees at Kayan Lahwi village
– Some tourists treat the women as exhibits
Padung longnecks doing a
traditional dance for tourists

Increased crime
Figure 1.82b) Tourist
traps deter tourists from
visiting mainly due to
scams and overpriced
goods.
• Tourists carry valuable items, e.g. watches,
cameras
• Tourists are prone to being mugged, cheated or
scammed in tourist areas or tourist traps
• Tourist traps: Places where information, goods or
services are sold at greatly inflated prices
–Can also refer to places where tourist scams
are common
–Can deter tourists from visiting
• Many countries have police to help serve tourists
and sort out conflicts with locals over purchases

Increased crime
Increased crime
• Example: Scam on Japanese tourists in the UK
– In 2010, Japanese tourists were scammed by a woman
pretending to be a tourist
– The woman would ask for directions or ask to have her
photo taken
– Her accomplices would appear and pose as police officers
requesting for the group’s identification and credit cards
– The woman would hand over her identity and credit card
and convince the tourists to do the same
– Once the credit cards are handed over, they would be
used to withdraw money from the ATM or buy expensive
items

Positive Environmental impacts
http://www.kota-kinabalu.net/2010/09/sepilok-orang-utan-sanctuary.html
Conservation of natural environments
• Funding from tourism helps protect and conserve
environments such as coral reefs, rainforests and
mountainous areas, e.g. revenue from entrance fees to
national parks and diving sites, levies on accommodations
•Example: Sepilok Orang-utan
Rehabilitation Centre
– Partly relies on visitor entry fees
to pay staff
– The staff help rehabilitate
orang-utans that have been
orphaned or injured

Positive Environmental impacts
Conservation of natural environments
• Example: Kenya
– Survival of animals relies on funding from international tourists
who want to see these animals in the wild
– Estimated tourist revenues for:
o A lion: US$7,000 a year
o A herd of elephants: US$600,000 a year
– Money raised from wildlife tourism becomes a way to continue to
preserve the animals and their habitats

Negative Environmental impacts
Increased congestion
• May be due to:
–Large numbers of tourists near popular attractions
–Tourist shops and accommodations that cluster near
tourist areas
–Vehicular and pedestrian traffic
• Apart from adding to local traffic, huge inflow of cars and
buses can contribute to air pollution.

Figure 1.83 A large
crowd of tourists at
Trevi Fountain in
Rome, Italy.
Increased congestion
• Example: In Rome, many older walkways and
narrow streets are filled with tourists

http://melissaeweiss.com/2009/06/
Figure 1.84 Graffiti on the Great Wall of China,
Beijing, China.
Vandalism
• Vandalism: Crime of
deliberately damaging property
belonging to other people
• Cultural, historical or natural
sites may be vandalised by
individuals or developers
• Example: Thousands of stones
and bricks of the Great Wall of
China are covered with graffiti

Pollution and littering
• A major problem that degrades some tourist areas
• Authorities sometimes fail to implement measures that
would properly manage waste left behind by tourists
• Example: Cruise ships
– Tourists dump plastic bottles, food packaging and old batteries
overboard from cruise ships
– Solid and liquid waste are sometimes dumped into the sea by
ships
– Harbours, marinas and the ocean become polluted

Scenic Nepal?
Pollution and
littering
Destruction of
habitat
Negative
Environmental
impacts

Destruction of habitats
• Popular tourist sites can be overwhelmed with visitors
during busy times of the year, e.g. beaches and villages
• When too many tourists visit a destination, they may
destroy habitats and wildlife
– Careless tourists trample on plants, while others
collect eggs and feathers of birds as souvenirs
– These tourists make too much noise which can
disturb and frighten off animals

Destruction of habitats
• Example: Red Sea
– Major diving and snorkelling destination for around 1.2 million
visitors annually
– Habitats of coral reefs and exotic fish have been damaged
o Swimmers collect shells or corals as souvenirs
o Hotels and restaurants in the area sometimes dump waste
and sewage into the sea

Increased carbon footprint
• Carbon footprint: Amount of
greenhouse gas emissions that
would be produced by activities
that involve the use of fossil
fuels
• Activities may include
travelling by planes and tour
buses, and electricity
consumption by hotels

http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g294265-d1086295-
i62043622-Crowne_Plaza_Changi_Airport_Hotel-Singapore.html
Increased carbon footprint
•Carbon footprint is measured in equivalent amounts
in carbon dioxide
•Example: One-way economy class flight from
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur generates 30
kilogrammes of carbon dioxide per passenger

•Management refers to making decisions that benefit
both the natural environments and the lives of the local
population
–Ensures that a particular site and its features
remain in prime condition
–Ensures that the economy, culture and
environment of a region are sustained for future
generations
•Tourist activities should occur without excessive use of
resources and without damage to the environment
How are the impacts of tourism managed?

• Sustainable tourism: Form of tourism organised in a
way that allows it to continue without causing damage
to the environment or without leaving negative impacts
on the surrounding society and culture
• Sustainable tourism addresses the needs of:
–Visitors
–Industries
–Host communities

Conservation of fragile environments and sustainable
tourism
• Conservation: Careful management and use of
resources such that these resources would not be
depleted
• Fragile environments: Environments that are easily
affected by change, e.g. mangroves and coral reefs
• Environments can be easily disturbed through:
– Dumping of wastes from tourist facilities
– Removal of vegetation to build roads and buildings
– Disposal of waste into rivers, lakes or coastal environments

tourism
• Can occur with help of laws and regulations, and support
from the local people
• A well-protected environment attracts more tourists to visit
and previous tourists to return
• The arrival of tourists will benefit the locals economically
and motivate them to care for the sites properly

tourism
• Example: Tourism near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
– World’s longest complex of coral reefs and small islands
– Stretching 2,300 km along the northeast coast of Australia
– Diverse ecosystem and beauty gave the reef its place on
UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1981

Figure 1.87
[Clockwise
from top left]
a)
Whitsunday
Islands in the
Great Barrier
Reef,
Australia. b)
Map of the
Great Barrier
Reef,
Australia. c)
Upolu Cay,
Great Barrier
Reef,
Australia
 Conservation of fragile environments and sustainable tourism

 Conservation and sustainable tourism
 The Great Barrier Reef receives 14 million tourists every
year. It is threatened by tourism activities such as fuel
leaks from pleasure boats, particularity in marinas and
harbours. It is also threatened by the removal of corals
for souvenirs.
http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/un-says-shelve-ports-to-save-great-barrier-reef/

tourism
• Sustainable tourism also involves minimising leakages
from tourist revenues
• Different strategies are adopted to reduce leakages:
– Training locals to perform skilled tourism jobs, e.g.
management, marketing
– Developing homestay accommodations where visitors
can pay local people directly for their accommodation
– Promoting local food and drink in restaurants to
provide a market for local food producers and
distributors

tourism
• Role of United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
–Involved in conservation
–Responsible for declaring sites as ‘World Heritage’
–Provides funding to conserve threatened sites
–World Heritage sites in 1978: 12
–World Heritage sites in 2012: Almost 1,000

Figure 1.88 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in selected countries in Southeast Asia. Adapted
from: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2012).

How are the impacts of tourism
managed?
 Conservation and sustainable tourism
 UNESCO provides funding to threatened sites to conserve
them – e.g. Angkor Wat, Borobudur Temple

Tensions in managing the impacts of tourism
• Tourism can produce tensions due to the difference
between the needs or expectations of different groups:
– Tourists and locals
– Tourists and the environment
• Tensions need to be balanced when managing the impact
of tourism

Tensions between tourists and locals
• The needs of tourists may conflict with needs of locals,
e.g. Tourists wearing skimpy clothing may go against
conservative values of locals

•Example: Bali, Indonesia
– Visited by many tourists for natural landscape and food
– World Heritage site
– Cultural landscape renowned for its Hindu temples, art, dance
and other heritage and customs
– In 2012, 2.9 million international tourists visited Bali
Figure 1.89 The cultural landscape of Bali, Indonesia. a) The Mother Temple of Besakih. b) Rice
terraces near the village of Belimbing.

Figure 1.90 Traffic
congestion in Kuta, Bali,
Indonesia.
• Example: Bali, Indonesia
– Tourist sites (e.g. Kuta) are congested due to tourists
o Tourist congestion makes it difficult for locals to conduct their
daily business

• Example: Bali, Indonesia
– Tourist facilities potentially deprive some locals of their water
supply
o The tourism industry consumes much water and may result in
water shortages
o Some dug wells have now gone dry, making vulnerable the island’s
poorest
– Locals expect tourists to respect local customs and values,
which tourists sometimes fail to do
o Example: Many locals still object to public displays of
affection, which some tourists may perceive as all right to do
in public

Tensions between tourists and the environment
• Arise when the needs of tourists conflict with the need to
conserve the environment
• Example: Natural attractions depend on tourist income for
their conservation but tourist inflow may damage the
attraction itself, e.g. Machu Picchu, Peru

• Example: Machu Picchu, Peru
– City built by Inca Civilisation on Andes Mountains
– Located 2,430 metres above sea level
– Has stone walls, ramps, pillars and stairways that are now
remnants of a once-thriving city
– Provides insight into ancient Inca life
– Rich history and breath-taking landscape draw 3,300 visitors
every day

– The site’s popularity has caused some tensions
between the needs of tourists and that of the
environment
– Physically able tourists opt to use the ‘Inca Trail’
o Stunning mountain scenery, cloud forests, rivers,
Inca ruins
o Populated with rare indigenous plant and wildlife
o Eroded by more than 75,000 tourists that hike on it
each year
o Hikers leave behind rubbish, e.g. water bottles,
plastic wrappers

Figure 1.93 A large group of tourists at Machu Picchu, Peru.
Tensions between tourists and the environment
– Tourists may prefer to reach the site using helicopters for
convenience
o Helicopters were banned for fear that its noise disturbs the area’s
indigenous animal and plant species
– Sheer weight and combined footsteps of tourists damage land
and artefacts on the site

Measures for managing the tensions
• Government authorities play an important role
in balancing and resolving tensions
• Organisations set up by governments may
impose measures to balance needs of tourists,
locals and the environment

• Examples:
– Limit number of visitors to minimise congestion and
degradation
– Withhold permission to proceed with tourism-related
projects that could harm the environment
– Employ staff to maintain and repair sites and prevent
tourists from tampering with it
– Hold discussions with locals on their needs and
concerns
– Restrict tourists from areas where only locals could
enter

• Balancing the needs of various groups can be
very difficult
• Example:
• Needs of residents vs needs of business
owners
• Need for jobs vs need for conservation
• Various groups and stakeholders have a
responsibility to ensure balance between
conflicting interests

Responsibilities of various groups in
conserving and protecting tourist
areas
Local communities
Visitors
Tour operators
Non-governmental organizations
Planning authorities

Responsibilities of various groups
Local communities
• Example: Candirejo Village
– Villagers set up a cooperative in 2003, with support
from the government, to manage and implement
community tourism-related programmes
– Villagers participate in decision-making through
discussions and consultations with cooperative about
programmes such as:
o Developing homestay accommodations
o Developing organic farms
o Organising local transport
– Villagers trained to produce handicrafts, provide
catering and work as tour guides

Figure 1.94 The andong, a type
of local transport used at
Candirejo Village (village not
shown), Central Java, Indonesia.
Local communities
• Example: Candirejo Village
–In 2002: 10 homestays, 5 andongs, no restaurants
–In 2004: 22 homestays, 22 andongs, 6 restaurants
–Also reported in 2004: 63 new jobs, 5 new businesses, 12.5%
increase in average income per villager

Local communities
Strengths– Involve locals in decision making
with regards to tourism management strategies
to be carried out and increase in tourism
related employment and business for the local
Limitations – difficulty in obtaining external
funding in setting up business or investing in
vehicles to facilitate tourism in their area. There
may not have enough skilled labour such as
managers or consultants.

Figure 1.95 Visitors should be dressed
appropriately to visit temples, such as this one
at Wat Benchamabophit, a temple in Bangkok,
Thailand.
Visitors
• Have responsibility to respect both the environment and
the local population of a place
• Should visit without causing damage or offence
• Encouraged to select destinations based on conservation
efforts and carbon footprint. Some factors to consider:
– Amount of water used
– Amount of waste recycled
• Can have rewarding visits
with responsible tourism

Visitors
Strengths – visitors’ spending can provide funds to
help conserve environments, preserve culture or
maintain a tourist attractions. Their spending can
also provide locals with income from employment
and business. They can also raise awareness about
the destination at home by sharing their experience.
Limitations – visitors may damage a tourist
attraction e.g. by vandalism and littering. Thy might
also cause local culture and customs to be diluted.

Tour operators
• Tour operators may belong to associations concerned
with conserving and protecting environments visited by
tourists
• Fewer tourists are likely to visit a place if the unspoilt
landscapes, rich biodiversity and unique cultures
deteriorate
• Example: Phuket Alternative Tours (PAT)
– Tour operators have to adhere to the guidelines under the
Environmental and Cultural Code of Practice:
o Operate in an environmentally sustainable way
o Seek to enhance the natural environment and the way that the
industry uses it
o Create awareness about environmental conservation for visitors to
Phuket

Tour Operators
Strength – valuable feedback from tour guides used
by local communities and planning authorities to plan
tourism management strategies as well as help to
regulate tourist behavior.
Limitation – the need to generate profits can
sometimes led to tour operators into conflict with
other stakeholders and may also override concerns
to preserve the environment when the concerns
would reduce their profits.

Non-governmental organisations
• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs): Non-profit
organisations operating independently of governments
• Concerned with tourism’s impact on natural and human
environments
• Instrumental in achieving sustainable tourism and for
protecting the environments frequented by tourists

Non-governmental organisations
• Example: The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)
– Developed guidelines on tourism
– Conducted training courses
– Provided technical assistance
– Published research papers related to tourism and the
environment
– Works with numerous organisations, including travel
associations and conservation groups in 124 countries

Non-governmental
organizations
Strengths – facilitate communication between various
stakeholders such as between local communities and tour
operators or between tour operators and planning
authorities. NGOs also encourage local communities to
actively participate in the managing the impact of tourism.
They also support the various stakeholders in the form of
additional manpower, expertise or marketing campaigns.
Limitation – as NGO are non-profit organisations which rely
on donation, they may have difficulty in obtaining external
funding.

Planning authorities
• The most important group in ensuring that the tourist
areas are protected
• Can greatly influence the future quality of environments
by:
– Determining how many visitors a site can cope with
– Allocating space for infrastructure, e.g. roads and hotels
• Consider local sensitivities in the area while maintaining
its physical and socio-cultural condition
• Enforce rules, regulations, values and principles for
sustainable tourism in consultation with the industry and
community

• Example: Singapore Tourism Board (STB)
– Attracts large numbers of tourists to Singapore even as
development plans take into account the need to conserve
national heritage
– Implemented programmes to conserve the ethnic districts of
Singapore, e.g. Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India
– Helps visitors and locals have a greater appreciation of
Singapore’s rich heritage

Strengths – able to successfully develop, approve,
fund and maintain infrastructure that help manage
the impact of tourism in an area. Able to draft laws
and policies that improve the quality of a tourist site
Limitations – difficult to plan for unseen factors such
as extreme weather, natural disasters or lack of
interest from the public.

Figure 1.96 [Clockwise from top left] The ethnic districts of Singapore. a) Arab Street. b) Chinatown. c)
Little India

• Important for the different groups to work
together to develop strategies to protect
tourist areas
• Example: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
• Planning authority built an education
centre
• NGOs organise displays
• Tour operators bring visitors to the centre
• Each group has its own strengths and
limitations in protecting tourist areas

Case study of
Singapore
http://www.riverview.com.sg/singapore-guide/where-to-shop
Chinatown, Singapore
Resort World Sentosa, Singapore
Marina Bay, Singapore
Integrated resort

Case study of Singapore
• Case study will discuss four questions:
–What is the nature of the tourist activity?
–What is the impact of the development of tourism on
the area where they are located as well as the whole
country?
–How is the impact managed?
–Is tourism a way for the area or country to develop?
• Case study will focus on two areas in Singapore:
–Chinatown (place with rich culture)
–Integrated Resorts (place with good facilities)

• Chinatown
– Rich in Chinese cultural
and historical elements
– Shows a blend of
Chinese culture, local
ethnicities and western
influences
– Convenient location and
within walking distance
from the Central
Business District
Figure 1.98 The shophouses and markets of
Chinatown showcase the area’s cultural heritage.
What is the nature of the tourist activity?

• Chinatown
– Chinatown Heritage Centre: Museum that showcases the lives
of the people and activities in early Chinatown
– Chinatown Street Market: Open for shopping from morning to
night
– Tourists can observe religious rites at Chinese and Hindu
temples
– Tourists have option of feasting at the food street on Smith
Street or other food centres and restaurants in the vicinity
– Commercial activities include boutique hotels, backpacker
accommodations, souvenir shops, restaurants, traditional trades

• Integrated Resorts (IRs)
– Large-scale developments with a mix of MICE facilities, themed
attractions, entertainment and performance venues, hotel, retail,
and gaming
– Consist of Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World Sentosa
(RWS) which operate hotels, convention centres, spas, dining
outlets, shops and casinos
– RWS also operates a maritime museum, a water park and
Universal Studios Singapore
–Help position Singapore as major centre for entertainment and
conventions by catering to both business and leisure tourists

– Leisure tourists can
engage in a wide range
of activities, e.g. visiting
theme parks, attending
entertainment shows
– Business tourists can
stay, work and play at
the IRs as the MICE
facilities are found
alongside other
services, e.g. spas,
numerous
accommodations
Figure 1.99 An aerial photograph of Sentosa
Island.
• Integrated Resorts (IRs)

• Impact of Chinatown development
– Its development as a tourist attraction has had
numerous social and civic impacts:
– The place was a residential area for the Chinese during
the colonial era
o 1980s: Population size grew to a point where
overcrowding and hygiene issues became a concern
o 1983: Street hawkers were removed and residents
were relocated to newly built high-rise flats in the
area
o Chinatown suffered a decline in pedestrian traffic due
to removal of street hawkers

– 1998: Chinatown Experience
Guide Plan was implemented to
bring pedestrians back by
attracting businesses to set up
shops in the neighbourhood
– 2001: Chinatown Food Street
opened with support from
various government agencies
and private stakeholders

Impact of Chinatown development
– Several brands of food items with a history of more
than 30 years continue to operate in Chinatown
– The commercial activities have also played a role in
eroding the original heritage of Chinatown, e.g. focus
on the selling of tourist souvenirs and accommodations

What is the impact of the development of tourism?
New Businesses that moved in has
helped revitalize Chinatown
http://phoebettmh.blogspot.sg/2011/04/singapore-shopping.html
Conservation buildings preserved as historical icons -
Signature shophouses with five-foot wide covered
passageways
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Typical-Five-Foot-Way-in-Chinatown-
Singapore-South-East-Asia-Posters_i2944377_.htm

• Impact of Chinatown development
– Many original residents have since moved out
– Today: Most of its residential population are the
elderly who can be seen playing chess or chatting in
the district’s public parks
– Chinatown has undergone extensive urban renewal
where many national conservation buildings have
been preserved as historical icons

•Impact of Integrated Resorts development
–Created many employment opportunities in hotels,
restaurants, theme parks and casino
–Contributed to increase in Singapore’s income
through taxation revenues from the casinos
–Income of the IRs contributed to Singapore’s record-
high tourism receipts of US$18.5 billion in 2012
–Contributed between 1.5% – 2% to Singapore’s
economy

•Impact of Integrated Resorts development
–Created many employment opportunities in
hotels, restaurants, theme parks and casino
–Contributed to increase in Singapore’s income
through taxation revenues from the casinos
–Income of the IRs contributed to Singapore’s
record-high tourism receipts of US$18.5 billion in
2012
–Contributed between 1.5% – 2% to Singapore’s
economy

• Impact of Integrated Resorts development
– Tourism arrivals increased to 14.4 million in
2012 (9% increase)
– More positive image for the country
– Singapore placed in a more prominent position
on the world map as a vibrant city for tourists

– Concerns about negative social and
environmental impacts.
– Complaints of rising gambling habits
o 200,000 local visitors to casinos in 2011
o Despite number of visitors, probable
pathological and problem gambling rates
among residents remained largely unchanged
o Increase in the number of people receiving
counselling from NGOs

– Complaints about environmental issues
o Potential disturbance to Sentosa’s land and
maritime ecosystems and habitats
o Soil erosion, habitat destruction and waste
disposal
– Complaints related to animal welfare
o Holding dolphins captive at the Marine Life
Park for viewing and study
o One of the 25 bottlenose dolphins died in
transit

What is the impact of the development of tourism?
IRs contributed to country’s
tourism receipt of US$18.5 billion in
2012 which is 1.5 to 2% of
country’s overall economy
http://smarthomeintegratedsystems.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/the-dream-
residence-in-singapore/integrated-resort-singapore-marina-bay/
During the construction of the RWS,
the coral reefs at the northern part of
the islands were in danger of being
destroyed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsingapore/469652240/

Figure 1.10 Temple
Street, Chinatown
How is the impact managed?
• Chinatown
– Authorities infused authentic and
historical elements into the area to
retain Chinatown’s cultural heritage
– 33 heritage markers were installed
throughout Chinatown as part of the
Chinatown Experience Guide Plan
– Chinatown Heritage Centre was
created
– Designated as a conservation site

How is the impact managed? Retaining Chinatown cultural Heritage
http://reginsrealm.blogspot.sg/2012/08/singap
ore-redux-chinatown.html
33 Heritage Markers were
installed by the STB throughout
Chinatown with the help of the
National Heritage Board.
http://www.singapore-vacation-
attractions.com/chinatown-tour.html

How is the impact managed?
• Integrated Resorts
– Strictly managed through various social safeguards
o Casino entry levies
o Casino exclusion orders
o Casino visit limits
o Restrictions on access to credit for Singaporeans and
permanent residents
o Advertising and promotions related to the casinos are strictly
regulated and restricted

– Government pledged to keep a close watch on the
industry and introduce stricter rules, if necessary
– Both IRs have been fined by the government for
disregarding social safeguards such as:
o Partially reimbursing the entrance fee to some local
patrons
o Allowing some Singaporeans and PRs to enter for
free
o Allowing some individuals below 21 years of age to
enter

– The National Council on Problem Gambling was set
up to address problem gambling
o Implements casino exclusion and visit limits
o Provides advice and feedback to the government
on social concerns related to problem gambling
o Implements effective programmes for public
education
o Holds stakeholder consultations
o Research, prevention and treatment services for
problem gamblers and their families

Managing negative social impacts of casino on locals –
Locals have to pay an entrance fee of S$100

Is tourism a way for the area or country to develop?
• Tourism has numerous benefits to a country:
–It provides employment and business opportunities
–It provides a good incentive to improve infrastructure
–It increases foreign exchange in a country
–It generates tax revenue for the government
–It promotes local culture and customs
• Most countries rely on tourism to boost their economy
• Countries also have to be aware of the negative impacts
of increased tourism, e.g. unemployment, pollution

Is tourism a way for the area or country to develop?
 In Singapore:
– International tourism receipts increased 3% to US$18 billion from
2011 to 2012
– Tourism contributed to more than 4% of Singapore’s economy in
2011
– Tourism receipts came from shopping, accommodation,
sightseeing, food, health care
– Increase in tourism receipts corresponded to increase of tourist
arrivals
– Growth in tourism arrivals helped increase Singapore’s hotel
revenue

Figure 1.102 International tourism receipts in Singapore by tourism sector in
2012. Adapted from: Singapore Tourism Board (2013).

• Tourism is a key industry for the Singapore’s economy
• Limited land and resources mean that capacity for tourism growth is
restricted, hence the emphasis on ‘quality tourism’
• Quality tourism: Tourism growth that focuses on greater tourism
receipts rather than greater tourism arrivals
–Raise productivity for tourism growth by enhancing innovation
among different sectors and industries
–Investing in software that will help existing infrastructure provide
more value
–Reinvention and rejuvenation of tourist attractions

• In summary:
– Tourism has provided many jobs in the past, and is expected to
continue to support many jobs in the future
– Tourism is vital to Singapore both economically and socially in
the medium term
– Singapore cannot pursue tourism at all costs to continue to
support its development
– We need to be cautiously optimistic about tourism’s growth
– We need to be aware that increased tourism can bring about
negative impacts
– Relying on tourism entails managing the impact and the tensions
that tourism can bring

Recap
1. Assess the impact of tourism on a country.
2. Explain how tourism can be made sustainable.
3. Compare the roles of various groups in taking care of the
tourist areas.

Tourism kq3 ppt

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