Relationship Between Tourism and Environment

Tourism is the fastest-developing industry in the world. Tourism brings positive as well as negative impacts on tourist destinations. Economic, environmental, and socio-cultural are major domains on which tourism makes an impact. In this article, we will discuss the relationship between tourism and the environment. The industry of tourism has both positive and negative impacts on the environment. Tourism makes a positive impact if every tourist understands the idea of sustainability and preservation of the environment and on the other hand, tourism leaves a negative impact if the intensity of use by the tourists becomes more than the environment’s ability.

Tourism and Environment are Interdependent

Tourism and Environment are Interdependent. Tourism has a great dependency on the environment. If we take an example of the simplest form of tourism like visiting a zoo or park consumes environmental resources i.e. plants, birds, or animals. Tourism always relies on naturally existing environments and heritages. For sustainable tourism, everyone should need to preserve the environment.

Tourism involves people who visit different sites for any purpose like vacation, or visiting friends and relatives. Tourists are interacting with the environment when they take up sports, ride, sunbathe, trekking, and touring.

Impacts of Tourism on Environment

Waste is produced by every activity which takes place in the environment, possibly all these activities have the potential to spoil the environment. Every activity that happens at a mass level in the tourism industry leaves its positive and negative impacts on the environment.

Positive Impacts:

Tourism is rapidly moving towards a sustainable side. This industry helps and preserving natural resources for the future generation. Various organizations and nations are taking strict steps to protect their natural resources and conserve their flora and fauna.

•  We should not only see the dark side of the moon, as the tourism industry is rapidly growing and has its costs, but it also pays back by encouraging several other industries to grow side by side.
• When a particular site or location is selected to develop as a tourist destination then the government and various planning sources put efforts into the revitalization of an area and it beautifies that place and environment.
• Educated tourism developers know the importance of a natural resource so when any vital site comes under tourism perspective then its natural resources get special attention from the managing bodies.
• Tourism contributes revenue to governments, individual tourism companies, and authorities and these finances can be used in the development, maintenance, and conservation of key habitats of the environment.
• To reduce the impacts of pollution on the environment and to make tourism sustainable special finance inform on fees that can be charged to tourists.

Negative Impacts

• Tourism requires a variety of natural resources for its growth. Water and land are the two most important natural resources which are important for the growth of tourism. When tourism is done without any control then these two natural resources can be easily threatened. Uncontrolled tourism also destroys naturally occurring tourist places.
• Clearing vegetation to build resorts, hotels, and other tourism facilities leads to the destruction of the environment.
• One of the major negative impacts of tourism on the environment is the depletion of natural resources like land, water, and raw materials.
• Tourism also produces noise and air pollution. The problem becomes worse in those countries which are unable to effectively treat these kinds of pollutants generated by tourism activities.
• Habitat devastation, cutting down forested areas, etc. all have a negative impact on ecological balance and are the prime reason for the extinction of species, which destroys the natural balance.
•  In the case of rock climbing, and trekking solid waste littering is most common.
•  Extreme use of fossil fuel to generate energy for tourist activities cause the reduction of a natural resource. Activities of unnecessary use of water and over
• fishing are some problems that are created by the tourism industry.

As tourism grows, some major problems also increased like pollution e.g. air, water, and noise. Littering, waste, and sewage also increased. The need for transportation gets high. Tourism develops a sense of competition in resource-limited areas. These harmful impacts are the reason for improper conservation mechanisms and poor management..

How to Maintain a Positive Relationship between Tourism and Environment

• Tourism not only made negative impacts but also plays a vital role in the preservation of the environment. The tourism industry gets benefits from tourism destinations, so this becomes its moral duty to conserve and invest in that destination from which it gets profit. A well-managed tourism approach can reduce the negative impact of tourism on the environment.
• Revenue earned from tourism activities can be used in the conservation of the environment and guiding or educating tourists is also an important aspect that plays a very big role to protect and conserve the natural environment.
• Tourism also helps to preserve wildlife. Nature-loving tourists visit wildlife reserves and contribute to preserving various species which is an important part of the natural environment.
• Adopting the idea of eco-tourism can play a significant role in the conservation of the environment. The main purpose of this kind of tourism is to reduce the ill effects of tourism on the environment without compromising the value of the experience.
• Planning any tourism destination should be sound means designing and building resorts, hotels, and tourism facilities in such a way that it makes the least impact on the environment.
• Tourists should be made aware of the importance of maintaining the environment by conservationists.

Conclusion

So, with a deep analysis, we come to the conclusion that tourism has both negative and positive impacts on the environment. Environment and tourism depend on each other for mutual existence. Although tourism makes very negative impacts on the environment, negative impacts can be reduced by taking small steps towards sustainable and eco-tourism.