Contribution of international Tourism to Environmental Change - Case Study Example

CONTRIBUTION OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISM TO CLIMATE CHANGE Name Course Tutor Date Executive Summary The first section of the report introduces the report outlining its core purpose and foundation. The next section then explores the contribution international tourism has had on climate and thus environmental change. The next section then identifies another environmental issue with relevance to international tourism that is also likely to cause environmental change. The next section then makes a prediction on the impacts the identified issues will have on international tourism in the next decade. The next section then concludes the report. The very last section of the report has list of works by various authors that were consulted when compiling the report as per the plagiarism rules. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Contribution of international Tourism to Environmental Change 4 Other Environmental Change Issue due to International Tourism 5 Impacts of Climate Change Issues Identified on International Tourism in the next Decade 6 Conclusion 7 Bibliography 8 Introduction The tourism industry forms the core industry in the global economy that most countries depend on (Reddy & Wilkes, 2013). International tourism received a boost with the development of information communication technology as well as transport industry. International tourism refers to the temporary movement of a person or a group of individuals from their area of residence to crossing borders to other areas for purposes of business, leisure, and recreation among others for a period less than one year (Reddy & Wilkes, 2013). Recent statistics indicate that the industry is expanding at a faster rate compared to any other sector of the economy. At the same time there has been a number of debates on the impacts tourism has had on the environment especially through contributing to climate change (Reddy & Wilkes, 2013). International tourist is heavily dependent on the environment, meaning that any changes in the environment may have significant consequences on international tourism (Scott, Hall & Gössling, 2012). The major impact of international tourism on climate change has been through transport, infrastructural developments the accommodation facilities and other forms of transports altogether (Scott, Hall & Gössling, 2012). The aim of this report is to explore the contribution of international tourism on climate change discuss any other environmental change and predict the impacts of the climatic change issues discussed on international tourism in the next ten years. Contribution of international Tourism to Environmental Change International tourism heavily depends on the environment directly or indirectly however, in the recent decade international tourism through its various activities has led to environmental change. Environmental change refers to the change or modification in the conditions that surround plants and animals as a result of the alteration of the existing natural equilibrium (Peeters, Szimba & Duijnisveld, 2007; (Hamilton, Maddison & Tol, 2005)). In the context off international tourism the widely discussed environmental change is climate change (Hamilton et al., 2005). The climate change has taken place is the increase in the temperatures in the whole world following global warming. The tourism industry heavily relies on transport especially air transport for long distances and vehicle transport for short distances (Peeters et al. 2007). This has led to increase in levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. Generally, the amount of CO2 emitted from the international tourism industry is estimated to be 5% of all the emissions (UNWTO, 2011). The international tourism aviation industry contributes 40% in this followed by car transport that accounts for 32% (UNWTO, 2011). The other activity within the industry that has led to the increase in the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere is the accommodation industry such as hotels and lodgings that accounts for 21% (UNWTO, 2011). This results from the use of natural gas in cooking as well as the emissions from the machines within the facilities. The other forms of transport and activities such as infrastructural developments have contributes 7% out of all CO2 emissions from the industry (UNWTO, 2011). The increased amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has led to the increase of temperatures in the atmosphere as the CO2 traps heat that comes from the sum into the earth’s atmosphere (Schott, 2010). The other gases and compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as well as other ozone depleting substances have depleted the ozone layer leading to the penetration of the sun rays into the atmosphere thus increased terrestrial temperatures (Ramasamy & Swamy, 2012). The increase in temperature has caused increased desert like conditions, shift of seasons and thus storms along the coastal plains (Schott, 2010). The increased temperature has cause the melting of glacier in the Polar Regions as well as ice caps on top of mountains (Reddy & Wilkes, 2013) (Reddy & Wilkes, 2013). This has been widely experienced in the Himalayas peaks in Nepal (Ramasamy & Swamy, 2012). The result has been rising of the sea levels leading to the submergence of islands and thus loss of biodiversity and migration of wild animals (Ramasamy & Swamy, 2012). The effects of the increase has been the leaching of coral reefs as has been the case with Caribbean islands. Additionally, the coastal beaches have also been eroded and plants washed away as well as animals initial habitats and ecosystems intruded. Other Environmental Change Issue due to International Tourism The increased temperatures due to CO2 are not the only environmental change experienced in the context of international tourism. There has been pollution of air, water, noise and land. Air pollution results from the congestion of the destination areas with vehicles that release toxic fumes in the air. These fumes have been associated with acid rain and smog. For example, the Grand Canyon National park accommodates over 2.5 million people annually (Rabbany et al., 2013). This has additionally led to the congestion of the area with wastes that degrade the scenic beauty of such destinations. The problem of lettering and solid waste accumulation has largely affected the Caribbean islands where an estimated 70,000 tons of waste is recovered annually (Rabbany et al., 2013). The littering and solid wastes destroy the aesthetic beauty of the destinations and also cause death of sea animals at their worst since they are not biodegredable.The use of cruises have led to the deposition of oil in the water bodies leading to the death of birds and sea animals that attract tourists. The sewage from the coastal hotels is sometimes led into the water bodies leading to algal blooms that affect the sea animals (Rabbany et al., 2013). There is also some form of noise pollution that results from vehicles, trains, cruises, trains and boats that cause annoyance and disturbance that distresses and distracts wild animals and could lead to ferocious reactions. Impacts of Climate Change Issues Identified on International Tourism in the next Decade The issue of climate change is real and if not kept check of the next decade will not be so smooth for the international tourism industry (UNWTO, 2011). The rate at which the environmental change is being experienced has drawn the attention of environmental bodies and lobbyists to come forth and caution of the looming danger in the near future (Rabbany et al., 2013). This is likely to cause a shift in the pattern of seasons leading to the changes in the agricultural sector that tourism greatly depends on (Hamilton et al., 2005). The industry is also likely to face high operational costs as a result of melting of snow (Hamilton et al., 2005). The process and technological requirements in creating artificial snow for skating, skiing and other snow based tourism activities require a lot of money that would mean that little return on investments shall be experienced (Rabbany et al., 2013). Most investors in the industry are therefore likely to direct their investments in other industries. The policy makers are also likely to impose heavy fines on the industry in compliance with the set protocols. The industry will be strained as all its profits will be used in carbon budgets and offsetting practices (Hamilton et al., 2005). The increase in temperature will also disrupt the schedules of the international tourists making it difficult to plan some field activities such as surfing, beach ball and sky surfing among others. There are also likely to be rise in diseases especially vector borne diseases most so in the tropical regions causing tourists to shy off from visiting such areas. For instance the reduction of snow is estimated to affect the alpine tourism in Sweden. The islands in Greece are likely to be submerged in the next decade reducing the tourist destinations as a result of the melting ice in the Polar Regions leading to rise in sea levels especially in the Mediterranean period (Moen & Fredman, 2007; Galanos, Roukanas & Sklias, 2012). This is likely to cause a drop in the arrivals to the various destinations not only in Greece but worldwide in general since climate change is not localized neither is it evenly distributed (Moen & Fredman, 2007). The regions that are currently attracting tourists and are heavily dependent on climate will be rendered obsolete in the next decade thus decreasing the profits of the industry (Galanos et al., 2012). The natural caves and archeological sites might be washed away and all the investments in accommodation facilities destroyed by the storms that result from increased precipitation and temperatures. This means that policy makers and the stakeholders in the industry should adhere to sustainable practices and encourage innovation so as to find better ways of conserving the environment while still reaping from it. Conclusion There is a mutual interdependence between international tourism and the environment. However, recently international tourism seems to have taken a shift and is now harming the very same environment that it depends on through climate change propagating factors discussed in this report. The major issue of climate change is increase in temperature that has resulted in the change of environment in the different ways discussed in the report. The increase in temperature has caused melting of snow and ice caps, increase in precipitation and increase in drought like conditions that have consequently led to loss of biodiversity. Additionally, the international tourism has also been responsible for pollution of air, water, land and noise as have further been elucidated in the report. As can be seen the next decade is tight for international tourism as the identified climate change issues are likely to affect it negatively and thus hurting the future global economy. The policy makers and concerned bodies should therefore be in the forefront in championing for environmentally sustainable solutions so as to avert the above identified impacts that are highly likely in the next decade. Bibliography Galanos, G., Roukanas, S. & Sklias, P. 2012, “The Potential Economic Impact of Climate Change on the Greek Tourism Sector”, International Journal of Business and Social Science, 3(21), 164-172. Hamilton, J. M, Maddison, D.J. & Tol, R.S. 2005, “Climate change and international tourism: A simulation study”. Global Environmental Change, 15 (2005) 253–266. Moen, J. & Fredman, P. 2007, “Effects of Climate Change on Alpine Skiing in Sweden”, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 15(4), 418-437. Peeters, P., Szimba, E. & Duijnisveld, M., 2007, “Major Environmental Impacts of European Tourist Transport”. Journal of Transport Geography, 15, 83-93. Rabbany, G., Afrin, S., Rahman, A., Islam, F. & Hoque, F. 2013, “Environmental Impacts of Tourism”, American Journal of Environment, Energy and Power Research, 1(7), 117- 130. Ramasamy, R., & Swamy, A. 2012, “Global Warming, Climate Change and Tourism: A Review of Literature”, Special issue: Sustainability, Tourism & Environment in the Shift of a Millennium: A Peripheral View, 6(3), 72-98. Reddy, M. V., & Wilkes, K. 2013, “Tourism, climate change and sustainability”, New York, Routledge. Schott, C. 2010, “Tourism and the implications of climate change: Issues and actions”, Bingley, U.K: Emerald. Scott, D., Hall, C. N., & Gössling, S. 2012, “Tourism and Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation”, New York, Routledge. UNWTO 2011, December, “Tourism and Climate Change”, Retrieved from http://dtxtq4w60xqpw.cloudfront.net/sites/all/files/docpdf/climatechange.pdf Read More