110 likes | 127 Views
Tourism and the Environment. Environment– Concern for Tourist. “Quality” tourism includes… Beautiful landscape Relaxed atmosphere Sunshine Healthy climate Attractive places for excursions. Hardin’s Tragedy of the Commons. 1968 Paper Farmers share land (the commons) to graze cattle
E N D
Environment– Concern for Tourist • “Quality” tourism includes… • Beautiful landscape • Relaxed atmosphere • Sunshine • Healthy climate • Attractive places for excursions
Hardin’s Tragedy of the Commons • 1968 Paper • Farmers share land (the commons) to graze cattle • One farmer increases herd, others follow; profits maximized • Land becomes overgrazed • Lower quality milk • Next generation and the loss of the commons • Short vs. long term benefits
Impact of free market view of tourism Consumption: well-being, “utility” Ignores: pollution, depletion of environmental resources Difficult to specify cost in market system Tourism– low cost of development; cost vs. environment Unspoiled environments become commodities Free Market Impact
PPP– Polluter Pays Principle • Emitting wastes= bearing costs • Government tax? • Punitive fine?
Debt-for-Nature Swaps • Resource is “world’s” possession, so “world” can pay for it • NGOs buy government debt for small amount • Area is conserved; government gives up sovereignty on area of country • Example: Ghana
Trends in Eco-Tourism • “Local” prevents leakage • Risk of “greenwashing” • Sustainability • Long-term • Management • People & place • Examples: • Bali “losmen” • Senegal Casamance
Positive Environmental Impact? • Conservation • Rwanda’s Parc National de Volcans • Garbage Removal • Mt. Everest
Sources Holden, Andrew. Environment and Tourism. Second ed. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. Routledge Introductions to Environment Ser. McLaren, Deborah. Rethinking Tourism and Ecotravel. Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian, 2003. Print.