RESEARCH PAPER NUMBER: X9
RESEARCH PAPER MNEMONIC: XTOUR1
RESEARCH PAPER NAME: Tourism and Trade
DRAFT AUTHOR: Tamara Krueger
I. AbstractTourism has become a growing phenomenon with the increasing ease and decreasing expense of traveling abroad. For both industrialized and less developed countries alike, tourism is fast becoming a billion dollar business and one of the leading forms of foreign exchange earnings. Tourism leads to improved infrastructure and services, as well as the creation of numerous employment opportunities in the host countries. There are, however, many drawbacks and negative side effects generated by the tourism industry. This analysis paper will compare and contrast the cultural and environmental effects of tourism in selected tourist destinations.
II. Issue
BackgroundTourism has become a leading form of foreign exchange earnings for countries around the globe. The unprecedented growth of this industry is related to the increase of cheap international flights, an increase in leisure time, the excitement of new and different locales, and the attraction of rest and relaxation time away from home. Hotel and luxury development, as well as aggressive advertising campaigns by members of the industry and host countries, has increased awareness of the numerous possibilities, which has in turn increased demand.
There are two main forms of tourism - adventure travel, which allows the tourist a chance to travel to exotic and far away countries to visit seemingly pristine and culturally different environments, and to partake in activities such as trekking, white water rafting, scuba diving and the like. The belief is that one is doing something that many others will not, thus the traveler is exhibiting a strength of will, character and physique far surpassing the mass tourist, and is being rewarded by scenery, experiences and local contacts that the mass tourist can never hope to experience.
Mass tourism, on the other hand, is a form of tourism that is directly related to today's world of mass production and mass consumption. The term itself brings to mind thousands of bathing suit clad beach goers crowded along the palm-fringed shore of a hotel-lined beach such as Cancun. This image is correct.
Both forms of tourism have a direct negative impact on the local environment and culture. Mass tourism is the more detrimental of the two, because it is highly centralized in small, specific locations. Usually the number of tourists far outweigh the ability of the local environment to support them. This creates extreme environmental pressures, that if allowed to continue and grow unchecked, lead to major problems and environmental degradation that spoil the region.
Although adventure travel is not as directly harmful in the short term, the problem becomes that as adventure sights become increasingly accessible to the mass tourist, and as adventure travel becomes increasingly appealing to more and more people, the numbers increase so that adventure travel is simply becoming a form of mass tourism.
The environmental effects of mass tourism are generally associated with problems of waste disposal; the increased use of water and electricity which can cause shortages; increasing numbers of motor vehicles leading to pollution; the pumping of untreated sewage into the ocean; the destruction of coral reefs through water sports such as boating, water and jet skiing and scuba diving; and the loss of habitat through the constant building of hotels restaurants, resorts and golf courses that can harm much of the local wildlife.
The cultural impact is related to the forced eviction of many local inhabitors to make room for tourists, as well as the effects of the constant merging of different cultures, that leads to intermingling and exchange of forms of dress, types of music, and levels of propriety. Locals from different cultures around the world are shocked and appalled by the scanty clothing of many North Americans and Europeans on vacation. Most travelers do not take into account whether their appearance and behavior will be insulting to locals. This leads to misunderstandings and dislike between locals and their foreign guests. This analysis of different case studies will focus mainly on the environmental impact of tourism.
III. Relevant
TED CasesThailand has much to offer from beautiful white sand beaches in the South to trekking among the hill tribes in the North. The increasing ease and inexpensive price of traveling to and within Thailand, has led to a major increase in the number of tourists flocking to this Southeast Asian nation annually. Tourism has become Thailand's leading source of foreign exchange, and thus plays an unquestionably important role in the Thai economy.
Unfortunately the negative environmental, cultural, and biological impact of tourism in Thailand is increasing, as the government has been fairly lax in dealing with the numerous problems. Thailand is suffering from many of the negative aspects of tourism: the destruction of coral and marine life due to water activities such as boating and scuba diving; waste dumping by hotels and restaurants; uncontrolled construction of tourist facilities on islands such as Koh Samui, Koh Phang nan and Phuket; the deterioration of local culture in the hill tribes of the North; and the slavery of young children and women in the prostitution industry that has led to the rampant spread of AIDS.
Cuban policy makers are promoting the tourism industry in an attempt to aid the island's struggling economy. Tourism expenditures have generated significant amounts of foreign exchange, with gross revenues of $400 million in 1992. However, the associated development and increased number of visitors in certain regions has threatened Cuba's environment. Coastal areas are of particular environmental concern, as new beach front hotels are being constructed in prime habitats for a variety of rare species, including unique birds, rodents and iguanas. Cuba's coral reefs are most at risk, due to sedimentation, oil spills, shipping and tourism.
Recent years have seen the rapid expansion of the tourism industry, with a growing demand for "specialized" tourism, in particular, tourism to protected natural areas. This new trend is most often termed "ecotourism" or "nature tourism." Unfortunately, the growing demand for tourism to protected areas has out paced the ability to sustain the protected area. The influx of tourist and immigrants to the Galapagos Islands has begun to spell disaster for the islands as we know them. The island's unique and fragile flora and fauna are at risk, as the local population has increased from 6,119 to 14,000 in the last eight years, and will continue to grow at least 12% per year, and have turned fishing villages into tourist havens and plants and animals into souvenirs.
Situated between China and India lies the small land- locked country of Nepal. Slightly larger than the state of Arkansas, Nepal contains eight of the world's ten highest mountain peaks making it a popular destination for adventurous tourists. Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world. The country's population reached more than 21 million in 1994 yet the per capita income is one of the world's lowest at $160 a year. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over ninety percent of the population. Nepal is a producer of cannabis for both the domestic and international markets as well as the transit point for heroin into the West. With the growing number of tourists, however, the Nepalese Government is trying to exploit this resource as well. One Nepalese ecologist says "There are now three religions in Nepal -- Hinduism, Buddhism, and tourism." The influx of tourists has had dramatic effects on the environment and on the local communities who come into contact with the tourists. It is no longer uncommon to find discarded rubbish along the trekking trails. Just as common is the soil erosion during the monsoons as a result of severe deforestation, also caused by tourism. "Tourism is not only the goose that lays golden eggs...it also fouls its own nest," says a Nepalese scientist.
As on the islands of Southern Thailand, tourism in Cuba is putting a strain upon the local environment, including coral reefs and coastal lands, and is destroying the habitat of many species. There seems to be little pressure as of yet to control tourism and the environmental degradation that is taking place. Unlike Thailand, there appear to be none of the severe cultural repercussions such as the sex trade and the destruction of indigenous tribal culture that is occurring in the hills of northern Thailand through the advent and growth of adventure tourism. Cuba can be considered more of a luxury, sand and surf vacation spot, whereas Thailand is still considered more of an adventure trip. The increase in luxury resorts and hotels, as well as the increasing number of flights from around the world however, is changing the face of Thai tourism as well.
The situation of the Galapagos islands differs somewhat in that instead of adventure tourism, one finds nature tourism. The Galapagos islands are unique in that they have fostered a very distinct and pure ecology, much untouched by humans until the 1960s. Unlike both Thailand and Cuba, there was an early recognition of the fragility and importance of protecting this pristine environment. In 1959 90% of the island's 3,000 square miles were a national park. In 1960 the Charles Darwin Institute was founded, with the dual goals of conservation and scientific research. Change was to come, unfortunately, in the late 1960s and early 70s, as the tourism industry was promoted by the Ecuadoran government. Tourism on the islands has led to greater immigration from the mainland, putting pressure upon the environment and its resources, including fresh water, sand, and seafood. As in Southern Thailand, which faces similar problems, remote fishing villages have been overrun with restaurants, hotels and discos. Plants, animals and corals have become souvenirs and jewelry. The detrimental effects of tourism in the Galapagos are felt most by the diverse species of birds and animals, whom the tourists have come to view.
There is little documentation in Thailand on the adverse effects of tourism on specific species. Criticism focuses more upon the overall environmental effects, and equally on the cultural and health issues. Much like Thailand, efforts to restrict and better monitor tourism have been fairly unsuccessful due to the importance of tourist dollars to the national economies. The Ecuadoran government has, however, gone much farther in the way of regulatory standards including licensing guidelines and the creation of visitor centers to educate tourists about environmentally sound behavior.
The problems related to trekking in Nepal are more closely related to the situation in Northern Thailand, where adventure tourists go on short treks to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the area as well as to access increasingly isolated areas in order to observe and come into contact with remote hill tribes that have had little contact with the outside world. The negative cultural effects of this form of tourism are shared by Thai northerners and Nepali Sherpas and villagers. Tourist dollars and Western trappings and accessories become an integral part of these worlds, changing traditional culture and creating a dependence on tourist dollars. Not only do these areas lack the resources to deal with the number of tourists that flock there yearly, but both the locals and the tourists absolve themselves of responsibility for such problems as the buildup of trash and waste and the destruction of pristine areas. The results are seen by the garbage lining the trekking trails in Nepal, the alarming depletion of wood for fuel, and the growing number of school drop outs and ex farmers that turn to being guides and porters to earn their living. In Thailand an alarming number of bamboo trees are being cut down for river rafts that are discarded and are piling up downstream of northern rivers where many tourists take part in three day adventure treks that include hiking, rafting and elephant riding in their itinerary - as well as the destruction of local culture. Members of the Karenni tribe have begun to reapply neckbands to their baby daughters for the benefit of the tourists, even though it is known that these bands eventually collapse the collarbones, then crush the lungs. All this so that tourists can get the 'real' experience of these exotic countries. Nepal has undertaken to create many national parks and wildlife reserves, and has forced trekkers to use kerosene instead of firewood. It seems that Nepal has been more successful in its attempts to protect its heritage than Thailand.
IV. Policy
ImplicationsIt is hoped that Thailand will learn from the mistakes and the successes of other tourist oriented countries. Otherwise, the tourist dollars may one day stop flowing as tourists look for new, less expensive, more pristine destinations, and the country will be left destroyed by its own avarice. This is the central problem faced by all countries with a vested interest in the tourist industry. The negative impact of tourism upon the environment necessitates the formulation of more stringent environmental legislation, and the adoption of ecotourism policies. Many governments refuse to take these steps for fear of interrupting the flow of tourist dollars. Others have created the legislation, but there is little incentive to effectively implement it. Thus in many cases, tourism will destroy tourism, as the increasing degradation will send tourists on to new locations.
V. Further
InformationCuba Case Bibliography
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Everest Case Bibliography
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