Tourism is a major source of income to the Economy. On the other hand however, it has been a major source of adverse externalities, more so to the surrounding environment. Negative impacts of tourism on the environment t emerges when the number of tourists exceeds the capacity that the environment can support. The review of the literature on this topic focuses on the specific negative externalities that have been brought about by tourism. Studying the literature on the negative impacts of tourism on the environment is essential in bringing about awareness on the degradation being meted by the practice on the local community as well as natural resources. Various scholars have presented varying points of view on the degree to which tourism has negatively impacted the environment. Current literature on the topic has established a range of impacts that have proven how much the environment has been damaged by tourism activities.
Tourism leads to destruction of the ecosystem and the biodiversity. An ecosystem is made up of all living organisms that are found in a given locality. The combination of the different species create what is called a biodiversity. Tourism leads to construction of general infrastructure such as roads and big hotels (Kim, Uysal and Sirgy). Often, the construction of such structures come at the cost of ether clearing forests or digging soil to pave way for modern roads. Consequently, plants and animals in the area become disturbed, sometimes killed and hence the loss of biodiversity. When tourists flock an area, there occurs an elimination of natural uniqueness of the affected area.
The loss of biodiversity as a result of tourism activities has several potential consequences on the environment and the larger human life in general. It is a threat to sources of wood, energy and herbal medicines, more so in the Himalayan Mountains. Additionally, the loss of biodiversity beings about a disequilibrium in the environment (Canteiro, Marcelo, Córdova-Tapia, and Brazeiro). Disequilibrium occurs when the balance on soil formation, absorption of greenhouse gases and species is no longer existent due to either deforestation or massive construction of tourism hotels. Moreover, destruction of biodiversity reduces the productivity of the system and destabilizes the ecosystem making it vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes.
Also, tourism leads to an increase in toxic waste disposal in the affected areas. Tourists, especially while on a hiking trip carry foodstuffs and other disposable items. However, once the tourists are done with their hikes, they irresponsibly leave the items that they used to carry their foods and other necessities. For example, tourists often leave behind nylon papers, cans and empty water bottles. Additionally, hotels and other businesses that host tourists dispose tons of solid waste annually onto the environment. For example, in Hawaii, 62% of residents think that the government should spend more on environmental protection rather than promoting tourism. Such is an indication of how much tourism has led to the damage of the environment in Hawaii (Sun, Rui and Gao 574). Such products are not biodegradables and will remain in the area for many years. Continuous accumulation of the wastes will be a major spoilers for roadsides, rivers and scenic areas.
Moreover, construction of hotels leads to sewage pollution given the need for sewage disposal points for the hotels. In many instances, sewage effluents have been released into water bodies such as oceans and rivers by the hotel managements who seek cheaper means of sewage disposal. Such effluents have had adverse impacts of the species in the water bodies such as fish, killing them in large numbers. In regard to effluents, marine life has increasingly faced massive negative consequences. The disposal of toxic wastes into the seas and oceans on coastal tourists’ resorts and beaches has led to the death of fish and other oceanic species. Coral reefs have faced increased destruction and disappearance due to tourism activities. Trampling by scuba divers and boast anchors as well walking on reefs during low tides has been detrimental towards sustaining coral reefs on the coasts.
Additionally, tourisms has resulted to the spread of air pollution in tourist attraction areas and beyond. Air pollution is primarily a result of emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases by airplanes and vehicles (Ugur). Tourists are frequent travelers around the world. They therefore need to use either airplanes or vehicles to move from one destination to another. In congested areas such as urban regions, air pollution due to CO2 emission is on very high levels that has led to a relation with the increase in diseases such as lung cancer.
Besides, Tourism has led to a negative impact on Flora and Fauna. Tourism activities has often led to encroachment on forests and wildlife habitat. In as much as selective place to keep animals have been put in place, it is increasingly becoming difficult for mammals that have migratory behaviors to live a comfortable natural environment (Postma and Schmuecker 146). Such animals have had to contain with the restrictions of movement to allow tourists to always see them whenever they wish. Such tendencies have led to the destruction of the traditional life activities of the animals.
Tourism activities actively contribute towards the destruction of the ozone layer. The ozone layer which lies in the earth’s upper atmosphere is responsible for the protection of life on earth against harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. When high UV rays reach the earth service, they may cause cancer on humans and death to other animals. The tourism sector has directly contributed to emission of ODSs such as chlorofluorocarbons (Beeton 577). Such substances emerge from items such as refrigerators, propellants and air conditioners that when released to the air, go on destroying the Ozone Layer. Scientists have directly linked the increased death of amphibians to the destruction of the Ozone layer and subsequent reaching of UV rays onto the earth service.
Tourisms is also a key contributor to climate change and global warming. The burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil has led to emission of gases that radically increase the earth’s temperature and a resultant change in climate (Johnston 723). Tourists use automobiles that release CO2, a greenhouse gas into the environment. The CO2 that is produced by vehicles and planes used by tourists for transport has contributed to climate change.
Tourism is evidently a key player towards negative externalities on the environment. Not only has tourism led to destruction of biodiversity, but also an emission of greenhouse gases and ozone destroying gases that have impacted the life on earth negatively. Tourisms has also been blamed for the increased destruction of the environment in the coastal areas such as coastal reefs. The release of CO2 by transport mechanisms of the tourists is bringing about global warming and subsequent climate change on earth.
Works Cited
Kim, Kyungmi, Muzaffer Uysal, and M. Joseph Sirgy. "How does tourism in a community impact the quality of life of community residents?." Tourism Management 36 (2013): 527-540.
Sunlu, Ugur. Om.Ciheam.Org, 2018, http://om.ciheam.org/om/pdf/a57/04001977.pdf. Accessed 10 Nov 2018.
Canteiro, Marcelo, Fernando Córdova-Tapia, and Alejandro Brazeiro. "Tourism impact assessment: A tool to evaluate the environmental impacts of touristic activities in Natural Protected Areas." Tourism Management Perspectives
28 (2018): 220-227.
Sun, Rui Hong, and Jun Gao. "Theories Study Of Modelling Tourism Impacts On Coastal Environment". Advanced Materials Research, 573-574, 2012, pp. 358-361. Trans Tech Publications, doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.573-574.358
Postma, Albert, and Dirk Schmuecker. "Understanding And Overcoming Negative Impacts Of Tourism In City Destinations: Conceptual Model And Strategic Framework". Journal Of Tourism Futures, vol 3, no. 2, 2017, pp. 144-156. Emerald, doi:10.1108/jtf-04-2017-0022.
Beeton, Sue. "Ecotourism: Impacts, Potentials And Possibilities". Tourism Management, vol 22, no. 5, 2015, pp. 576-578. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/s0261-5177(01)00019-x.
Johnston, Margaret. "Polar Tourism: An Environmental Perspective". Tourism Management, vol 33, no. 3, 2012, pp. 723-724. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2011.06.007.
