Online version: PDF - DTIE

SECTION 3:
TOURISM AND THE ENVIRONMENT –
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT
045
S
E
C
T
I
O
N
3
The objective of this unit is not to blacken the tourism and hospitality industry
by labelling it a degrader and polluter, for tourism can boast of remarkable
environment-related achievements.
• Tourism has been responsible for the conservation of large areas
of natural habitat. Wildlife, forest reserves and scenic landscapes
have been preserved primarily for their ability to attract visitors. For
example, over 207,200 square kilometres have been set aside as
national parks in Eastern and Southern Africa.
• Tourism is a vital stimulus for the conservation of historic monuments,
archaeological sites, ancient buildings and structures of religious and
cultural significance. Europe, with its rich heritage and diversity of
monuments, churches, cities and villages, is perhaps the best example
in the world of tourism-oriented heritage conservation.
• Not only does tourism initiate conservation, it also provides revenues
and incentives for its continuation. A large proportion of revenues
earned by cultural sites and natural parks is re-injected into ongoing
environment improvement. Tourism revenues can also be used for the
rehabilitation of old buildings, which could be later used as tourism
and hospitality facilities. Large structures can be converted into hotels,
museums and conference centres while smaller houses, cellars and
warehouses can be used as guesthouses, bed-and-breakfast facilities
and bars and restaurants. Former industrial sites (mills and factories,
for example) and historic buildings such as well-known houses,
prisons or castles can serve as visitor attractions in their own right.
• In many parts of the world, tourism has been responsible for the
introduction of administrative and planning controls to ensure that
environment quality is maintained and visitors have a satisfactory
experience. Examples of such controls include building restrictions
and permits, mandatory environment-related criteria for infrastructure
development, traffic management plans, zoning of natural areas to
provide extra protection for fragile ecosystems, training and licensing
of tourism professionals, limiting visitor numbers, etc. Unfortunately,
in most cases, these controls are enforced only after environment
damage has occurred as a result of uncontrolled expansion, waste
dumping and excessive use of the site.
• Tourism can also play an important role in promoting local industries
and providing a market for local arts, crafts and culinary specialities.
Many traditional art forms and industries would certainly be under a
heavier threat of disappearance if it were not for tourism.
Tourism can
boast of
remarkable
environmentrelated
achievements.
Not only does
tourism initiate
conservation, it
also provides
revenues and
incentives for its
continuation.