John Deniele L.

Cruz
Assignment in Macro Perspective of Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Environmental Impacts of Tourism

Enumerate and discuss the different positive and negative environmental impacts of
tourism. Provide an idea on how to exhaust the positive environmental impacts and
mitigate, if not eradicate the negative environmental impact of tourism.

Positive Environmental Impacts of Tourism

1. Environmental Awareness – The public will become aware of the issues in the
environment because of tourism activities. Both the locals and tourists will be
given an idea on the value of the different ecological features which should be
properly taken care of as they are significant elements on tourism. Private and
public sectors inform consumers on environmental impacts such as the hotel
representative will tell the consumer their laundry process to save energy and
water. Tourism industry adopts and satisfy tourist needs by making them part of
environmental-friendly programs such as sustainable tourism, ecotourism and
responsible tourism.
Example: As part of the preparatory programs for mountain climbers in Mt. Pulag,
all should undergo a briefing session where they will be taught on what are the
things they can and they cannot do during the hiking activity. This briefing will
also give an idea to the hikers on the environmental-friendly measures and the
possible negative impacts to the environment once they violate the rules and
regulations.

2. Conservation and Preservation - Preservation can be done by zoning areas of

natural environment through strict guidelines to be followed for development of
visitor experience. Built or man-made constructions can also preserve the
environment by putting restrictions on certain areas which are only accessible
through a fee. The money raised from visitors can help for restoration. The
natural resources, especially if they will be used as part of tourism activity or
program, will also be controlled in order to ensure sustainability.
Example: Certain areas in Palanan Rainforest are actually off-limits to tourists but
a certain trail is opened for them which still shows the unique feature of the
nature-based tourist attraction. The primary reason for this is to preserve the
natural park for potential negative tourist activities.

3. Environmental Quality and Infrastructure Improvement- Tourism will contribute

towards the implementation of programs that will promote the improvement of
environmental quality and establishment or construction of control infrastructures.
By opening an area for tourism when it is considered as a national park, the
 protection programs by the government will be in placed. Pollution control and
reduction mechanisms will also be installed within the natural area. Moreso,
infrastructure will also be built to control the negative impacts that will be inflicted
on the area once it is opened for tourism.
Example: Public waste facilities are installed at Olango Island Bird Sanctuary in
Cebu after it is opened for bird watching tourist activity. This program or move
limits the pollution and unnecessary garbage disposal within the area which
helps in maintaining the environmental quality of the island.

4. Species Regeneration – Tourism can encourage the promotion of programs that

will propagate certain species of flora and fauna. If the species is actually
considered to be a point of interest, tourism will be the primary driver in ensuring
that these species will live for a long period of time. Government will also help in
ensuring that these species will only be for amusement and not for consumption
purposes of the tourist.
Example: The government of Pangasinan opened a site at Hundred Islands
National Park where the taklobo or giant clams are propagated. The installation
of artificial coral reefs will serve as the habitat of taklobo. This regeneration
program is actually opened for the tourist so that they will also have an idea on
how to make these species live for a long period of time.

Negative Environmental Impacts of Tourism

1. Pollution – Tourist activities may lead to unnecessary environmental excretions.

There are several types of pollution caused by tourism. Solid waste pollution will
occur when tourist dispose garbage inappropriately. Water pollution can be
caused by poor sewage management systems of restaurant properties and other
tourism establishments. Air pollution can be caused by transportation vehicles
such as airplane and buses that are used to access a tourist destination. Visual
pollution can be caused by built structures of tourism that may not be consistent
with the ambience and theme of the area. Noise pollution can cause disruptions
to the ecological system of an area.
Example: Because of the establishment of several resort properties in Boracay,
sewage management systems were not controlled leading to excretion to the
beach area of the island. The paradise island coastal area was then polluted
because of these tourism activities.

2. Land Degradation – This refers to the temporary or permanent lowering of

productive capability of the land area. When the tourism activities are promoted,
the quality of soil decreases making it unsuitable for agricultural purposes.
 Example: Plantations in Pampanga were affected by rapid tourism development
as the type and quality of crops diminishes. It has been said that rampant tourism
development within the zone led to a negative effect to the quality of soil of the
area.

3. Encroachment – The tourism development may encourage investors to actually

occupy beach and coastal areas where they can establish their properties. When
this happened, just like land degradation, the beach quality will also diminish as
too much tourist activities will affect the coastal area. Resort property owners
may need additional area for future development until reaching a point that they
occupy or install their facilities to the actual beach area.
Example: Boracay Island resort owners started building their facilities far from the
main white beach but because of increasing tourist arrivals, accommodation
facilities became in demand. The resort owners extend their properties to the
coastal area which should not be constructed with anything and must have been
an open area in the beach.

4. Resource Stress and Depletion – Increasing number of tourist arrivals will only
mean greater number of people who will need the natural resource. The
environmental capacity will really be affected by an increased number of people
that includes residents, workers and tourists who will consume these natural
resources. The effect will be scarcity of the resource.
Example: The locals near Dakak Beach Resort experienced freshwater shortage
when the tourist arrivals to the area increased. As the resort facility was recorded
to consume a lot of water resource on its rooms, locals were affected by the
depletion.

Environmental Impact Management Control and Mechanisms

These programs will try to optimize the positive benefits of tourism to the
environment while minimizing the potential negative impacts and consequences.

1. Local Community and Tourist Involvement – This program will require the
involvement of both local community residents and the tourists to the
preservation and conservation programs. Instead of plain awareness-raising, it
will be better if the tourists will actually participate on an environmental-friendly
program such as tree-planting or coastal clean-up that can serve as the main
tourist activity itself. This activity has been promoted as voluntourism where the
tourist contributes to an advocacy that helps in improving the welfare of the
community and the environmental quality of the area. The participation of locals
should also be strengthened to the point that they are cleaning and maintaining
 the natural area in order to ensure sustainability. The positive benefit of
environmental awareness will be optimized because of this.

2. Partnership and Linkages – Government offices can establish partnership and

linkage with non-government institutions and private sector to promote
environmental protection, preservation and conservation programs. This program
will be able to answer the problem for resource shortage as the newly-
established partners and linkages can pledge their capabilities towards the
implementation of the program. With this the positive benefits of preservation and
conservation will be more attainable.

3. Setting of Activity Limits and Restrictions – Carrying capacity should be

considered properly to ensure that the environmental site condition will not be
threatened and damaged that much. By providing a limit to the number of
persons which can be accommodated within the tourist destination or activity
also delimits the potential impact to the environment. This program will minimize
and mitigate the pollution impact and resource stress and depletion.

4. Implementation and Monitoring of Environmental Regulations – The local and

national government may ensure lower negative impacts by creating
environmental policies and regulations for the tourism stakeholders. The private
sector will be controlled regarding the extent of development that will be
permitted on the tourist destination. Tourists will also have their corresponding
do’s and don’ts once there will be regulations that will be put in place. This will
not only cover the creation but also the monitoring phases where the officials and
authorities ensure that rules and regulations set forth the tourism activity and
development were properly complied for.