Sustainable tourism unpacked

tourism in every destination. But despite this optimistic objective, sustainable tourism is still not widely understood.
For a start, “sustainable tourism” is not necessarily “ecotourism”. Ecotourism is a form of tourism that focuses exclusively on nature, wildlife or exotic cultures. Sustainable tourism, therefore, is an attempt to improve impacts of all types of tourism by seeking ways to build partnerships between tourism companies, local authorities and managers of resorts.
What are tourism’s main impact areas?
The quality of the environment, both natural and man-made, is essential to tourism. However, tourism’s relationship with the environment is complex. It involves many activities that can have adverse environmental effects.
Tourism’s three main impact areas
l Depletion of natural resources
Water resources: Water, and especially fresh water, is one of the most critical natural resources. The tourism industry generally overuses water resources for hotels, swimming pools, golf courses and personal use of water by tourists. This can result in water shortages and degradation of water supplies, as well as generating a greater volume of wastewater.
Local resources: Tourism can create great pressure on local resources like energy, food, and other raw materials that may already be in short supply. Greater extraction and transport of these resources exacerbates the physical impacts associated with their exploitation.
Because of the seasonal character of the industry, many destinations have more inhabitants in the high season than in the low season. A high demand is placed upon these resources to meet the high expectations tourists often have (proper heating, hot water, etc.).
Land degradation: Important land resources include minerals, fossil fuels, fertile soil, forests, wetland and wildlife. Increased construction of tourism and recreational facilities has increased the pressure on these resources and on scenic landscapes.
Direct impact on natural resources, both renewable and non-renewable, in the provision of tourist facilities can be caused by the use of land for accommodation and other infrastructure provision, and the use of building materials. Forests often suffer negative impacts of tourism in the form of deforestation caused by fuel wood collection and land clearing.
Pollution: Tourism can cause the same forms of pollution as any other industry: air emissions, noise, solid waste and littering, releases of sewage, oil and chemicals, even architectural/visual pollution.
Physical impact: Physical impact is caused not only by tourism-related land clearing and construction, but by continuing tourist activities and long-term changes in local economies and ecologies.
On the other hand, tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. It is a way to raise awareness of environmental values and it can serve as a tool to finance protection of natural areas and increase their economic importance.
Benefits of being sustainable
By making sustainability a focus, the tourism industry can increase tourists by promoting your sustainability credentials to “green-savvy” consumers who make purchase decisions based on minimising their own footprint.
Reduce operating costs by undertaking initiatives that reduce waste, water and energy consumption. Develop a competitive advantage by establishing and promoting sustainable business practices as a point of difference.
Attract and retain valuable staff by adopting policies that meet with employee values and concerns. Encourage investors interested in companies with long-term sustainability plans that minimise operating risks in the future.
Increase long-term profitability by putting plans in place now that will create savings in the future such as minimising transport costs that will continue to rise as fuel becomes more expensive.
Tourism has the potential to increase public appreciation of the environment and to spread awareness of environmental problems when it brings people into closer contact with nature and the environment. This confrontation may heighten awareness of the value of nature and lead to environmentally conscious behaviour and activities to preserve the environment.
Improved environmental management and planning which helps to make the right choices between conflicting uses, or to find ways in making the use compatible.
Regulatory measures
The Environmental Management Act (Cap 20:27) provides the general environmental principles that should be followed in environmental management. The Provision of the Environmental Management Act (Cap 20:27), which relates to EIAs in particular is set out in section 97 of the Act and in Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007.
Environmental Impact Assessments and ecosystems protection are regulatory measures used to assess, evaluate and monitor the activities of this industry.
Regulatory measures help offset negative impacts; for instance, controls on the number of tourist activities within protected areas can limit impacts on the ecosystem and help maintain the integrity and vitality of the site. Such limits can also reduce the negative impacts on resources.
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