In-Depth Analysis of Hillarys Boat Harbour - Case Study Example

A Report on Hillary’s Boat Harbour Student Name Student Number Date of Submission Introduction The following paper presents an in-depth analysis of the Hillary’s Boat Harbour one of the well-known tourist destinations in Western Australia. The essay aims at elaborating more on environmental, economic as well as socio-cultural consequences of tourism and hospitality by narrowing down to Hillary’s Boat Harbour. Additionally, the report targets on a critical evaluation of the long-term sustainability of the harbour as well as recommendations for the future. The paper will be categorised into three parts with the first section providing general insights on the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural consequences of tourism and hospitality. Under this section, the essay will affirm to some of the benefits and drawbacks of the existence of tourism and hospitality sector to individual country’s economic status and the impacts of the socio-cultural and environmental factors. In addition, the second part will provide specific knowledge on Hillary’s Boat Harbour. The section will arguably present a substantiated evaluation of the aspects discussed in section one in relation to Hillary’s Boat Harbour. Additionally, the third part will major on the sustainability of Hillary’s Boat Harbour and as well providing recommendations for the future. The report will then terminate by providing a conclusion or a summary of the key elements presented in the report. Part A: Economic, environmental and socio-cultural consequences of tourism and hospitality The essence of developing tourism and hospitality industries has in the recent years gained increasing attention. For a number of years, tourism and hospitality sector has been a primary avenue of generating earning foreign currency for many countries. Tourism and hospitality industry comprises of various functions including but not limited to planning, organising, training, coordinating as well as evaluating and monitoring at local, regional, national and international levels insinuating that tourism is broadly integrated into a functional unit of a country’s economy (Smaranda & Daniela, 2012). Tourism has presently made significant fast strides in most countries and has largely been used as a potent instrument of eradicating with unemployment, poverty, promoting good inter-cultural relationships through embracing different cultural activities and ethnic group interactions, and as well providing channels through which environmental balance can be achieved (Uysal, Woo & Singal, 2012). Tourism and hospitality industry plays a fundamental role as a generator of employment as its services range from accommodation, travel, catering and maintenance of traditions and culture in regard to handicraft industry and similarly as a way of eco-system preservation. Tourism and hospitality industry has a significant influence on community development which is achieved through community participation and sustainability. According to Patrick and Roseland (2005), community involvement enables local community members to shape their local economies by directly or indirectly influencing the type of industry, business or employment opportunities present in their areas. In addition Lee (2013) presented an argument that community participation usually ensures sustainability in that locals develop positive attitudes and approaches to the every environment that provides them with financial resources and employment. The impacts of tourism and hospitality are categorised as either being positive or negative in one of the three groups that are economical, environmental and socio-cultural. Through the interaction between local communities and the tourists, there result in gains regarding social welfare. This is through upgrading the local infrastructure and development of new capacity. However, interaction, on the other hand, might result in borrowing of undesired culture from the tourists or even breaching of local customs and traditions by tourists (Mathieson & Wall, 1982). Additionally, tourism and hospitality sector may benefit the host economy through income generated in residence places, recreation centres, and various game parks. Besides tourism initiating creation of employment opportunities, it also acts as a source of foreign exchange, development of infrastructure, and has an impact on the balance of payment through narrowing trade deficits of the host country. However, despite possessing positive impacts to the economy, tourism has many hidden costs that to some extent have an unfavourable economic impact on the host country. Also, tourism may not have much profit especially to those countries that are poor. Instead, it might result in the large transfer of revenues out of the country thus exclusion of local businesses. On the other hand, through increased investment in tourist attraction areas impacts the subsistence resulting in less degradation of natural resources. Also, the industry encourages awareness by the community which enhances management and stewardship of the natural resources. However, tourism and hospitality may pose severe impacts on the natural environment ranging from land degradation, exploitation of local resources, air and noise pollution, solid waste and littering as well as degradation of marine ecosystems in coastal areas (Briassoulis & Van der Straaten, 1999). Part B: Hillary’s Boat Harbor Hillary’s Boat Harbour has over the past years become one of the successful tourist attraction, recreational, commercial, and boating development centre. In light of its well situated, secure and protected cafes, restaurants, marine activities and swimming beaches, the harbours have continues to attract a relatively high number of visitors estimated to be four to five million annually. Being one of the most famous harbours in Australia, Hillary’s has worked to ensure that the surrounding environment remains favourable to every visitor and the surrounding community. The number of visitors has increased in the past years due to its high hygiene levels which have provided community members with job opportunities thus reducing problems such as overfishing which as a major aspect of pollution. The a report n Hillary’s Boat Harbour has been rated as one of the safety diving sites thus alluding to the idea that the place has less or no detrimental impacts. A report n Hillary’s Boat Harbour has been able to control dune erosion and the beach environment through constructing well-sheltered harbours. However, despite the Hillary’s Boat Harbour efforts to maintain the favourable and conducive environment, a monitoring conducted by the WA Department detected bacteria levels in its waters. Despite its efforts, there continue to be risks of an environmental pollution regarding sewage production, traffic emissions and depletion of region’s natural as well cultural resources (Pearce, Lynch & Hanson, 2006). Since its development, Hillary’s Boat Harbour has been a central source of employment for community members who have been able to secure jobs in different sectors within the harbour. The harbour has both, directly and indirectly, created jobs in areas such as transportation, retail, and hotel catering. Through income generated by before-mentioned employees, it, in turn, results in multiplier effect thus creating more jobs in the country. The Hillary’s Boat Harbour has also created opportunities for small businesses which is an important aspect of the surrounding communities and the country as well. The businesses above generate extra tax revenues hence contributing to economic development. However, Hillary’s Boat Harbour may pose a threat in terms of terrorism and natural disasters. Also, small businesses experience seasonal jobs depending on weather changes. On the other hand, through the improvement of various infrastructures and leisure amenities, the local communities have been to benefit a lot from the same. Tourists are visiting Hillary’s Boat Harbour help in the preservation of the traditional culture and customs, festivals as well as art and craft. Tourism has a significant impact on the local cultural heritage which is mainly through the rebirth of its arts and crafts and ancestral heritage. Interchanges between guests and hosts create a cultural understanding which to some extent raises global awareness of human rights abuses and poverty. However, despite Hillary’s Boat Harbour possessing more positive social effects, there exist some challenges to the surrounding society. The harbour experiences much crowding and congestion whose aftermaths are drug and substance abuse, prostitution and high crime levels which are of danger to the host community (Kim, Uysal, & Sirgy, 2013). Part C: Sustainability of Hillary’s Boat Harbor Sustainable tourism is that which leads to proper management of all the resources in a way that economic, environmental and socio-cultural needs can be adequately fulfilled while still maintaining the ecological, socio-cultural and economic systems. Hillary’s Boat Harbour must ensure a balance in the three dimensions that is economical, environmental, and socio-cultural aspects in order to guarantee itself a long-term sustainability. The Hillary’s Boat Harbour has for the years ensured that it makes optimal use of the environmental resources constituting of primary elements in the tourism development and as well has maintained key ecological processes that help conserve biodiversity and natural heritage. On the other hand, the harbour has paid respect to the socio-cultural authenticity of the local communities, consequently conserving their built and living cultural and traditional heritage and values. Also, it has considerably contributed to intercultural tolerance and understanding which has for over the years ensured long-term sustainability. Additionally, Hillary’s Boat Harbour has ensured long term and viable economic operations that have provided socio-economic benefits to the surrounding individuals and stakeholders. Such benefits have been fairly distributed comprising of income earning opportunities such as beach attendants, and hotel managers, and other social services including swimming amenities and basking areas to host the communities. Creation of employment opportunities in the hotels and recreational centres have ensured poverty alleviation. The harbour should focus on perfecting on areas of pollution which are the main challenge to most tourist attraction centres. Also, it should focus on social factors such as crime and drug abuse which result from overcrowding and congestion (Kim, Uysal, & Sirgy, 2013). Conclusion To conclude, the report provided a general as well as specific discussion of the economic, environmental and socio-cultural consequences of the tourism and hospitality industry. According to the report, it is evident that the industry possesses significant impact to the society, environment and economy as a whole. Drawing insights from the report, the advantages of the industry outweighs the disadvantages as it helps create employment opportunities, embraces cultural diversity and ensures environmental degradation has been kept in check. References Briassoulis, H., & Van der Straaten, J. (Eds.). (1999). Tourism and the environment - regional, economic, cultural and policy issues (ENVIRONMENT & ASSESSMENT Volume 6) (2nd ed.). Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. Smaranda, S., & Daniela, M. (2012). Tourism Organization and Coordination in Australia and the Managerial Strategy for Tourism Development. Journal of Knowledge Management, Economics and Information Technology, 2(5). Spanou, E. (2007), "The Impact of Tourism on the Sociocultural Structure of Cyprus", Tourism: an International Multidisciplinary Journal of Tourism, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 145-162. Lee, T. H. (2013). Influence analysis of community resident supports for sustainable tourism development. Tourism Management, 34, 37-46. Kim, K., Uysal, M., & Sirgy, M. J. (2013). How does tourism in a community impact the quality of life of community residents?. Tourism Management, 36, 527-540. Uysal, M., Woo, E., & Singal, M. (2012). The tourist area life cycle (TALC) and its effect on the quality-of-life (QOL) of destination community. In Handbook of tourism and quality-of-life research (pp. 423-443). Springer Netherlands. Patrick, R., & Roseland, M. (2005). Developing Sustainability Indicators to Improve Community Access to Transit in Rural Residential Areas. Journal of Rural and Community Development, 1, 1-17. Mathieson, A., & Wall, G. (1982). Tourism: Economics, physical and social impacts. New York: Longman Pub. Group Pearce, A. F., Lynch, M. J., & Hanson, C. E. (2006). The Hillarys Transect (1): seasonal and cross-shelf variability of physical and chemical water properties off Perth, Western Australia, 1996–98. Continental Shelf Research, 26(15), 1689-1729. Read More