International Tourism and Its Serious Effects on Climate Change - Coursework Example

Table of Contents Introduction 02 International Tourism and Effects on Climate Change 03 Impact on the Environment 04 Impact on International Tourism 05 Conclusion 06 References 07 Introduction Tourism is one of the most climate dependent, fastest growing and world’s largest economic sectors. The rapid increase in international tourism and the number of tourist has been considered as a major contributor of climate change over the years. The effects should be considered to be cyclical in nature as both climate change and international tourism are inversely related to one another. In this assignment a study on the impact of international tourism on the global climatic condition is brought forward, examples on how it has affected the environment and the other factors and how climate changes have impacted tourist health and also non-climatic tourism. The task also highlights how increasing tourism has directly and indirectly affected the living and natural conditions and a strong presentation of the effects on the third world countries. International Tourism and Effects on Climate Change Climate has been considered as the main drivers of international tourism as maximum tourist seek either snow or the sun for relaxing. It has been the most important factor in destination choices. Tourism has grown from a mere domestic activity to a big international business and process with people wanting to travel more frequently. An improved coordination between different societies, environments and consumer cultures has resulted in a rise in world tourism. Technology too ha s backed this business as the upgraded developments have resulted in faster aircrafts and trains, growth of individual incomes and the social media and internet bringing people more closer to the destinations and easy booking options (Nicholls, 2003). The components of tourism has lead to climate changes like excessive heating, carbon dioxide emission, high use of air-conditioners, vigorous constructions and many more. Tourism is considered responsible for approximately 5% of the total global CO2 emission. Climate change is becoming a serious matter and there is an immediate need for developing alternative sources of energy. The non-renewable sources of energy are dying out very fast and it shall become very difficult to restore them to respectable one. Some factors which have contributed towards climate change are human population, aircraft industry and increase in travel frequency, dietary preferences and garbage. The global human population were never before so well off and they are getting used to the situation. They did not pose the ability to travel from one continent to another with such great ease. With the ever growing technology and prosperity the people have started touring on a regular basis. With the invention of the first man made flight and the ability of breaking the sound barriers has resulted in a new wave of climatic problems (Hamilton, Maddison and Tol, 2005). Aircraft industry is considered as one of the major causes of climatic changes and the largest contributor of green house gas emission and there is a staggering growth in its contribution. The increase in competition, with new entrants, has added to the increasing effects. The competition among the operators provides choice for the customers to get the lowest possible rates and attractive off season discounts which ultimately adds to the CO2 emission and harming the climatic condition. A situation of global humongous proposition has arrived due to the increase in travel frequency. The natural resources needed for filling those propositions are also disappearing at an alarming rate. With the third world countries becoming more favoured options for the global travellers have also resulted in decrease in the already scarce resources like food, water and minerals. With good financial position of individuals and interest to tour has increased in the travel frequency of the people. The dietary preferences of customers have travelled to the different countries people travel with the need for likewise food. Most of the travellers belong to the first world countries and are brought up on staple diet of chicken, beef and other non vegetarian food which are not the staple food of the third world countries and so are not available. This preference of food has encouraged previously vegetarian countries to offer such food resulting in livestock farming out of control and hence contributing to green house gas emission (Volo, 2005). The touring people add heavily to the garbage of the country consisting of mainly non recyclable items electronics and plastics. A very few countries follow the regulations of disposing most of the dangerous material are dumped into the oceans or outsourced to third world countries which are in some serious need of dollars. The above points have correctly evaluated that growing tourism has significantly contributed to the changes in the global climatic conditions. Impact on the Environment Climate has an important role in the environment system of the planet and even the smallest of changes has affected the environment to a great extent. With the studies and research done by the experts have already informed the world regarding the consequences of climate changes over the last 30 years and some of the impacts are clearly visible on water, forests, food security and agriculture. Water, which is considered as the essential component for the survival of all species has always been supplied through rivers, lakes, oceans and seas and have also served the industries and agriculture. The climate changes have resulted in imbalances causing floods and droughts. The scarcity of fresh water and the danger of running out of it shall result in shortage of drinking water and water for agriculture, food and income (Alcamo, Florke and Marker, 2006). Individuals are aware about the importance of forests for their ability to purify air, improve the quality of water, provide variety of food and fruits, wood products, different medicines and above all prevention of soil erosion. It purifies the air and absorbs a huge amount of CO2 emitted in the atmosphere. The rise in deforestation and the need for providing pleasure for tourism has increased the impacted the CO2 content of the atmosphere and also resulted in causing natural calamities like landslides, etc. Loss of livestock due to tourism has led into a situation of food insecurity. With the impact on climate and the changing weather, rainfall has decreased due to seasonal shifts and has adversely affected agriculture as most of the third world countries rely on rain for their agriculture. The growing changes in climate mainly due to tourism industry have caused changes in the environment and living. Impact on International Tourism Although tourism has been considered as one of the constituents of climate change is not out of the impact of changes like other aspects of the world and its environment. Tourism being an important economic sector is intertwined with climate change (Ceron and Dubois, 2007). The changing climatic conditions have both direct and indirect effects on the tourism industry over the next ten years. Global warming, caused due to climatic changes, is a direct threat to tourism. With tourism trying to popularise ecotourism for attracting visitors but being very expensive has resulted in less number of visitors thus affecting tourism. The weather and climate of a destination is an important element for tourist choice and activity. With choice of a place of visit being directly influenced by the climatic conditions, the tourism of some places suffers intensely and a large part is considered as unseasonal (Amelung, Nicholls and Viner, 2007). Aircraft industry being considered as a major cause of CO2 emission and the level of the gas rising daily has made the government and the other organisations to enforce greater pressure on the airline companies to strictly follow the rules and norms resulting in increase in base fares causing de-growth to tourism. The snow on the mountains are melting at a greater speed and thus the activities of winter tourism like snow spot tourism and ski have reduced resulting in huge pressure only for a few months and very slack for the rest of the year. The sea levels are also rising at a speed which is more than usual. This is turning out to be serious concern for costal tourism as there is huge demand among tourist for coastal areas for sunbathing, sandy beaches and other such activities. The shortage of food and fresh drinking water is adding to the difficulties of experiencing tourism causing a decline in international tourism. The impact of international tourism on climate and that of the climate on tourism is considered as a cyclical process and cannot be described as a direct blaming for one another. But it is the human beings who have taken tourism to a different level making tourism more responsible for the occurring climatic changes. Conclusion Tourism has proved to be a source of living for millions of people globally and has rapidly increased in the recent past. With the increase has also increased the problem of global climate change that has directly or indirectly affected the living of individuals. The project has studied the impact of climate and tourism on one another and also on the environment we live in. With the need of reducing the effects of international tourism on the global climate a situation of tourism crisis has taken place. References Alcamo, J., Florke, M. and Marker, M. 2006. “Changes in Global Water Resources Driven by Socio-Economic and Climatic Changes”. Center for Environmental Systems Research. University of Kassel, Germany Amelung, B., Nicholls, S., & Viner, D. 2007. Implications of Global Climate Change for Tourism Flows and Seasonality. Journal of Travel Research, 45(3), 285-296. Ceron, J.P. and Dubois, G. 2007. 'Limits to Tourism? A Backcasting Scenario for Sustainable Tourism Mobility in 2050', Routledge, pp. 191 - 209. Hamilton, J.M., Maddison, D.J. and Tol R.S.J. 2005. Climate change and international tourism: A simulation study‟. Global Environmental Change” 15:253-266. Nicholls, S. 2003. „Climate Change and Tourism‟. Annals of Tourism Research 31:238 240. Volo, S. 2005, 'A consumer-based measurement of tourism innovation', Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism 6, 73-87. Read More