Feasibility Study of Proposed Tourism Dev in Shewula, NE ...

Chapter 5 - Environmental Evaluation of the proposed Shewula Tourism Development
5.2.3. Identification and assessment of the impacts of the
proposed tourism development
The impacts identified during the scoping process and the literature review cannot
be formally assessed due to the lack of a finalised concept plan for the proposed
development. As a result this study could only identify and assess the potential
impacts from a generic point-of-view. 104 Some comments will be made about the
potential impacts of tourism development in the Shewula area.
5.2.3.1. Potential impacts of tourism
Overcrowding, misuse of natural resources, the construction of buildings and
infrastructure, and other activities associated with tourism, produce impacts on the
environment. These impacts may not only be physical, but may be cultural, biological,
ecological, social, political or historical in nature. 105
In general, the impacts of tourism vary according to the number and nature of tourists,
and the characteristics of the site. The individual tourist has a relatively small impact,
with problems arising if the number of tourists is large or the resource overused. 106 An
integrated planning approach, such as an EA in the form of an IEE, can help in the
management of tourism impacts on the receiving environment.
Tourism impacts can be broadly classified in two categories: direct and indirect. Direct
impacts are caused by the presence of tourists, and indirect impacts by the
infrastructure created in connection with tourism activities. Generally, tourism impacts
on the environment can be classified as follows:
Biophysical impacts
• geological exposures, minerals and fossils;
• soils;
• water resources;
• vegetation;
• animal life; and
• sanitation.
Socio-cultural impacts
• aesthetic impacts on the landscape;
• cultural and social environment; and
• socio-economic environment.
These are discussed in more detail in Appendix 2. Boxes 5.2 and 5.3 provide
examples of potential impacts of the proposed development on the environment and,
vice versa, of the environment on the proposed development. Box 5.4 discusses the
concepts of Carrying Capacity and Limits of Acceptable Change, and how they inform
the planning process and tourism policy development.
104
Appendix 2 shows a generic Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) which can be used as a template for the final
IEE to be submitted to the SEA.
105
Ceballos-Lascurain, H. 1996, op cit.
106
Ibid.