Global Tourism: Tourism and the Environment - Essay Example

Global Tourism- Tourism and the environment Introduction The environmental quality, both man-made and natural is a significant prerequisite for the growth and development of tourism. Nevertheless, the relationship between the environment and tourism is intricate. It comprises of various activities that can result to undesirable environmental outcomes. Most of these outcomes are connected with the construction of infrastructure for instance airports and roads and other facilities used by the tourists for example hotels, resorts, golf courses, shops and restaurants (Davies, 2000). The negative results of the development of tourism can increasingly obliterate the ecological resources it depends on. Additionally, tourism can also generate positive results on the environment by leading to environmental conservation and protection. Tourism can increase understanding of environmental values and serve as an instrument to fund defense of natural vicinities and raise their economic significant (Sawkar, et al, 2010). The title of the article is tourism and the environment (Failte Irelands Environmental action Plan 2007-2008). The author’s purpose in writing this article is to illustrate the importance of the environment for tourism. He explains the environmental challenges facing the tourism industry and how to maintain sustainable tourism. The author focuses on the Irish tourism and states that the country’s tourism industry relies on appropriate and strong environmental policies. Summary This review focuses on tourism and the environment in Ireland. The prospect of Irish tourism is inextricably connected to the eminence of the environment. The country’s tourism has been built upon their scenic landscapes, rivers and lakes, coastline, and cultural heritage. In order to sustain the competitiveness and economic feasibility of the Irish tourism, it’s vital to maintain the worth of these resources. Ireland’s tourism industry depends on appropriate and strong environmental policies (Davies, 2000). The policy includes such measures as agreements, laws, rights allocation and charges. Failte Ireland put up an environmental unit in the year 2005 as part of the planning unit and policy. The unit is meant to advocate for eminence physical environment and promote suitable environmental practice for tourism (Sawkar, et al, 2010). The country will work together with local authorities and various public bodies such as the Heritage council, Environmental Protection Agency, Heritage and Local Government in backing a sound tourism base for efficient environmental policies. The country’s environmental action plan 2007-2009 explains environmental challenges facing Irish tourism and suitable measures to fight these challenges. The plan takes in to account national policy on sustainable development, EPAs state of environment report, Ireland’s environment (2004), its environment in focus report (2006), and the report of the Tourism Policy Review Group, New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action (2003). Ireland has experienced increased tourism due to its scenery, environmentally clean and green destination, unspoilt environment and attractive cities. In the year 2006, overseas tourists to Ireland rose to an estimate of 7.4 million and provided 12 percent of the Irelands jobs. The Irelands quality environment has provided a plat form for marketing campaigns and their success depends on the reliability of the environmental image. Ireland must be maintained in terms of scenic beauty, friendly welcoming people, distinctive heritage culture, high quality facilities and unspoilt environment to ensure that the country lives to its reputation. The rising rate of development of Ireland over the last 15 years has benefited the tourism industry and the Irish economy. Nevertheless, there is a linkage between the economic growth and economic degradation which has led to negative outcomes on the value of tourism products. Development can lead to negative outcomes such as loss of historic character, decline in water quality, and decline in amenity and scenic value of seascapes and landscapes. Ireland is faced with an environmental challenge of poor water quality. Other challenges that require to be addressed include: controlling litter in rural and urban areas, waste management, managing the results of climate change, and dealing with increased energy consumption and as a result there will be continued gains from tourism (Davies, 2000). There are various challenges facing the tourism sector in rising levels of sustainability and requires to be addressed. They include: promoting the practice and principles of sustainable practice, reducing the environmental effects of tourism travel, achieving increased seasonal and regional spread of tourists, reducing tourism related environmental effects, waste management, water conservation and improvement of energy efficacy; and dealing with damage to roads and traffic congestions in certain areas (Sawkar, et al, 2010). By the year 2012, overseas visitors are expected to increase in Ireland and as a result the country needs to make meeting European commitments on water quality and international commitments on waste control and air emissions. If tourism is well managed and located properly, it should be acknowledged as a productive activity which has the capability to profit the host community, the visitor, and local environment. Sustainable tourism requires a balance to strike between the requirements of the visitor, the host state and the place. To ensure sustainable development everybody in the tourism industry should take responsibilities to fight tourism degradation. The industry should also ensure that it works closely with other organizations to manage the rising numbers of tourists, and examine ways to reduce negative environmental outcomes. Failte Ireland being a National Tourism Development Authority has played the role of ensuring sustainable development. The sector is working together with other agencies to provide support and advice to the industry and in formation and implementation of policies to facilitate sustainable tourism in Ireland. The Environmental Action Plan 2007-2009 contains five key objectives which are formed as a result of the challenges facing Irish tourism. These key goals include: To advocate for the safety of vital environmental and tourism resources; to put environmental aspects at the center of sustainable tourism policy at state, local and regional levels; to commence research resulting to a better understanding of the association between tourism and the environment; to support excellent environmental actions in the tourism industry and direct on the growth of ecotourism; and to create a number of planned partnerships in executing this plan (Sawkar, et al, 2010). Critique The author uses sources and credentials from various books and journals to support his discussion. The Environmental Action Plan takes in to account national policy on sustainable development, EPAs state of environment report, Ireland’s environment (2004), its environment in focus report (2006), and the report of the Tourism Policy Review Group, New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action (2003). The author also uses information from other authors such as Lawlor et al, 2007, Curtis, 2003 who indicates that Irish rivers, estuaries and wetlands are valued commodities. Lanzarote, 1995 has also been used by the author as he explains the principles of sustainable tourism (Sawkar, et al, 2010). In his discussion, the author targets tourism stake holders who he claims should take a more practical responsibility to safeguard environmental quality as environmental is a vital influence of tourism (Davies, 2000). He also targets the government who are supposed to impose measures such as laws, agreement, charges, and fees to those who deteriorate the environment and see to it that there is reduction in negative impacts of development. The author has used adequate evidence to justify his discussion. He has used various sources and credentials to support his article. In his argument, the author explains the linkage between the economic growth and economic degradation which has led to negative outcomes on the value of tourism products. Tourism comes together with development and this development can lead to negative outcomes such as loss of historic character, decline in water quality, and decline in amenity and scenic value of seascapes and landscapes. Despite this, the author has clearly explained how these negative impacts can be minimized to ensure a sustainable development. In my opinion, this article is very effective as the author despite explaining how well to improve the environment so as to attract and retain tourists, has also explained the negative impacts which result from development of tourism and requires to be addressed. In order to attract tourists, a state requires having good infrastructure, hotels and resorts and these can obliterate ecological resources (Sawkar, et al, 2010). As a result, stakeholders should ensure that both the effects of environment and tourism are well looked at to ensure sustainable tourism. Various external sources such as journal articles, websites and books have compared significantly with the authors arguments. For example, the article on the study of Armenia tourism and environment states that the environmental quality is a significant prerequisite for tourism development and therefore all actions that can result to environmental damage should be regulated. Tourism and environment, the other side of the coin an article written by Irmgard L. Bauer also supports the author’s ideas and argues that innovative research is needed so as to provide a better understanding base for this strategy. Jciotta has also written an article titled the importance of a clean and healthy environment in tourism industry which states that the need for a healthy environment in tourism and the implications of tourism in the environment should be a vital consideration in everyday life (Sawkar, et al, 2010). I agree with the way author has dealt with the issue of tourism and the environments and the environment Action Plan 2007-2009. In his article, he has stated contentious issues which need to be looked at and their solutions if there should be sustainable tourism development. Conclusion The study of tourism and the environment is a significant issue in everyday life if there is to be a sustainable tourism development. This review has looked at various key issues of tourism and development such as the importance of environment for tourism, environmental challenges facing the tourism industry, how to ensure sustainable tourism, and the Environmental Action Plan 2007-2009 for Ireland. Quality environment is an important prerequisite for the growth of tourism. Such challenges as water quality, effects of climate change, litter control, increased energy consumption need to be addressed to ensure sustainable tourism. If tourism is well managed and located properly, it should be acknowledged as a productive activity which has the capability to profit the host community, the visitor, and local environment. Sustainable tourism requires a balance to strike between the requirements of the visitor, the host state and the place. Ireland has come with Environmental Action Plan 2007-2009 which explains environmental challenges facing Irish tourism and suitable measures to fight these challenges. In my opinion, this article is good and the Failte Ireland Environmental Action Plan if put into practice can yield excellent results in the field of tourism and the environment. Other states should follow the footsteps of Ireland if they want to maintain sustainable tourism. Work Cited Davies, P. Environmental Implications of the Tourism Industry. Retrieved 2000 From < citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.25 > (Accessed September 27, 2010). Sawkar, K. et al. Tourism and Environment. Retrieved From < siteresources.worldbank.org/WBI/Resources/wbi37134.pdf > (Accessed September 27, 2010). Tourism and the Environment. Retrieved From (Accessed 24th September 2010). Read More