THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM
A TERM PAPER SUBMITTED BY Isiaka K. Abdulrashid
TO INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BAMENDA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR A MASTERS DEGREE IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
15TH NOVEMBER, 2010
READERS/REMARK_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GRADE____________________________
THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM
1. INTRODUCTION
All indications are that international and domestic tourism will continue growing at a steady rate globally and in most countries and regions (Edwards 1985; WTO 1986). Many countries in the world are hoping to develop or expand tourism as an important economic sector. This expansion of tourism will result in increased pressure on the environment with negative impacts, unless appropriate measures are applied by governments and the private sector, and tourism is used as a positive force in conservation of the environment (WTO 1983a) cited in Stephen et al (2008).
Tourism especially, marine and coastal tourism is one the fastest growing areas within the world's largest industry. Yet despite increased awareness of the economic and environmental significance of tourism, it is only in recent years, scientific researches have emerged (Hall, 2001).
This paper provides a review of some tourism literature, which focuses, in particular on environmental impacts of tourism.
Negative impacts from tourism occur when the level of visitor use is greater than the environment's ability to cope with this use within acceptable limits of change (i.e. the carrying capacity of the destination). Uncontrolled conventional tourism poses potential threats to many natural areas around the world. It can put enormous pressure on an area and lead to impacts such as
TO INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BAMENDA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR A MASTERS DEGREE IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
15TH NOVEMBER, 2010
READERS/REMARK_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GRADE____________________________
THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM
1. INTRODUCTION
All indications are that international and domestic tourism will continue growing at a steady rate globally and in most countries and regions (Edwards 1985; WTO 1986). Many countries in the world are hoping to develop or expand tourism as an important economic sector. This expansion of tourism will result in increased pressure on the environment with negative impacts, unless appropriate measures are applied by governments and the private sector, and tourism is used as a positive force in conservation of the environment (WTO 1983a) cited in Stephen et al (2008).
Tourism especially, marine and coastal tourism is one the fastest growing areas within the world's largest industry. Yet despite increased awareness of the economic and environmental significance of tourism, it is only in recent years, scientific researches have emerged (Hall, 2001).
This paper provides a review of some tourism literature, which focuses, in particular on environmental impacts of tourism.
Negative impacts from tourism occur when the level of visitor use is greater than the environment's ability to cope with this use within acceptable limits of change (i.e. the carrying capacity of the destination). Uncontrolled conventional tourism poses potential threats to many natural areas around the world. It can put enormous pressure on an area and lead to impacts such as