Why is tourism growing so rapidly?
- More choice of countries to travel to
- Increase in life expectancy (retired people travel)
- Larger disposable income
- More paid holidays/leave
- More efficient modes of transportation
- The internet is convenient for planning
- Travel advertisements encourage people
- More people own cars
How does tourism impact us?
Tourism has economic, environmental and social impacts, each with both positive and negative sides.
Economic impacts
| Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
| Supports 1 in 10 jobs worldwide | The jobs in the industry are low paying |
| Contributes roughly 10% of global GDP | |
| Stimulates country development |
Environmental impacts
| Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
| Can preserve the environment | Can ruin/pollute the environment |
| Can decrease biodiversity |
Social impacts
| Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
| Builds a reputation for the country | Can cause cultural conflicts |
| Can protect culture | |
| Local people can learn new languages and skills |
Statistics
- Tourist arrivals have doubled from 700 million in 2000 to 1.5 billion in 2019 globally.
- There were 25 million tourist arrivals in 1950.
- The total number of tourist arrivals is expected to hit 1.8 billion in 2030.
Tourism is a rapidly growing industry that must be managed properly in order to stay sustainable.
Eco tourism
Sustainability — Meeting the requirements of today whilst also protecting the environment and resources for the future.
Methods of eco tourism
There are three key methods of eco tourism: eco tourism, biosphere reserves and national parks.
- Eco tourism — Responsible travel to a natural environment that conserves nature whilst addressing the needs of visitors and the host communities.
- Tourists are given guidelines to follow.
- It is sustainable as it protects the environment and benefits locals at the same time.
- Example: The Galapagos Islands — tourists pay an entry fee.
- Biosphere reserves — An area of land or body of water that is protected by law to conserve ecosystems. They protect plant and animal species whilst meeting the needs of the population.
- Consists of 3 zones.
- Transition zone = all human activity (fishing, farming).
- Buffer zone = research and tourism.
- Core zone = no human activity.
- Example: The Baconao Reserve.
- National parks — Areas of natural or semi-natural land owned and monitored by the government. Set aside for human recreation and enjoyment whilst protecting animals and the environment. Restricted from most development.
- There are around 7000 national parks.
- Example: The biggest is the Northeast Greenland National Park (3x larger than Germany).
- Visitors cannot touch wildlife and cannot leave litter.
- Has over 1800 plant species (a plant-oriented reserve).
Case study: Seychelles (an area where tourism is important)
- Tourism makes up 25–30% of GDP directly.
- Tourism makes up 30% of the labour force.
Impacts of tourism in Seychelles
- Water shortages.
- The government's lack of investment: they invested a loan of 25 million USD on a desalination plant instead of fixing water pipes.
- 75% of water is lost to old and leaking pipes.
Case study: Dubai (an area where tourism is important and how it is managed)
- Tourism makes up 11–12% of Dubai's GDP directly.
- The industry grows 10% annually.
- Dubai's tourist arrivals increased by 3 million from 1998 to 2014.
- Dubai receives 9 million hotel guests annually, making 4 billion USD from that alone.
How is this managed?
Points and named examples you may use in your answer:
- Eco Tourism — The Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa.
- Biosphere Reserves — the Marawah Marine Biosphere: specialises in the protection of marine species (refer to what a biosphere reserve is).
- National Parks — Mushrif Park.
Mushrif Park (national park example)
A protected area of significance owned and managed by the government to preserve ecosystems and culture.
- Located in the centre of Dubai's conservation reserve.
- Home to 100 bird species and 33 mammal/reptile species.
- They recycle most of their materials, such as plastics and paper.
- It is sustainable as it protects the environment and wildlife whilst also being a tourist attraction and having built-in facilities for tourists.