Introduction
Tourism is one of the world’s fastest developing industries, with its continuous growth having an enormous impact on the environment. Following the rise of environmental awareness over the last several decades, a number of strategies and initiatives were introduced to address the issue, with the concept of sustainability being one of them. Implementations of this concept in the tourism industry involve establishing the balance between environmental, economic, and social aspects within the industry and reducing the negative impacts of tourism activities. The purpose of this paper is to explore the negative impacts of tourism on the environment, the concept of sustainability, and the ways in which it can be implemented in the tourism industry.
Environmental Impact of the Tourism Industry
With tourism being one of the world’s fastest-growing industries, its environmental impacts have increased dramatically over the last several decades. Tourism is almost wholly dependent on the environment, with its primary sources being natural resources (beaches, seas, mountains, lakes, rivers, etc.) and man-made attractions (historical buildings, heritage sites, monuments, etc.) While the development of tourism provides a number of benefits to the region, including the creation of new jobs, the development of the infrastructure, and a boost to the economy, it also puts enormous pressure on the local environment.
The environmental impacts of tourism are mainly linked with the increase in transportation and the number of visitors to the region, and the development of general infrastructure (roads, airports, resorts, marinas, hotels, restaurants, etc.). Negative impacts occur when the flow of tourists is greater than the region’s ability to cope with it (Sunlu, 2003). It especially concerns areas providing an authentic experience to visitors, such as rain forests, wilderness, lakes and rivers, coastline and marine environments, rural villages, and mountain areas. These negative impacts include increased pollution, natural habitat loss, soil erosion, and increased pressure on indigenous communities and local wildlife.
The tourism’s rapid growth poses a threat to many regions around the world, placing stress on the local culture and environment. This is particularly the case with developing countries where the tourism industry is usually uncontrolled and poorly managed, resulting in the degradation, depletion and, in some cases, total destruction of essential natural resources (Mikayilov et al., 2019). The most critical issue the tourism industry now has to face is its negative impacts destroying the very things on which it depends.
The Concept of Sustainability
Sustainability is a concept of a balanced environment that addresses the challenge of aligning the consumption of a rapidly expanding population with the limitations of the planet’s natural resources. The goals of sustainable development, as identified by the 2005 World Summit on Social Development, are economic development, social development, and environmental protection (Ritchie and Crouch, 2003). With the growing global awareness of the dangers of climate change and global warming, the concept of sustainability is becoming increasingly popular in all areas of human life.
The principles of sustainability are implemented in the tourism industry through the concept of sustainable tourism. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO, 2013, p. 10) defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.” The purpose of sustainable tourism is to establish a balance between cultural integrity, environmental protection, social justice, and economic benefits while addressing the needs of the population and reducing the damage to the environment (Ritchie and Crouch, 2003). It provides an answer to the challenges that the tourism industry now faces and suggests a long-term solution.
Implementation of the Principles of Sustainability in Tourism Industry
Implementation of sustainability principles in tourism suggests sharing environmental responsibility between national governments, local businesses, and tourists. While governments and international organizations, such as the UNWTO, establish the general strategy of tourism development, each community and company within the industry takes their own actions to facilitate this strategy (Qian, 2018). Everyone involved in tourism activities is encouraged to participate in implementing the principles of responsible tourism.
On the international level, the pillars of sustainability are economic development, social justice, and environmental integrity. Environmental objectives include finding the best ways to use natural resources, protecting ecological processes, and supporting the preservation of the region’s resources and biodiversity (Bac, 2008). A number of international organizations, including the UNWTO and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, establish the general principles of sustainable tourism and international industry standards. On the regional level, the aims of local businesses and organizations include:
- Preservation of cultural values— encouraging the region’s social and cultural development and ensuring that the company’s activities do not run contrary to the country’s natural, cultural, and historical values.
- Reduction of the environmental impact—using renewable energy sources, recycled materials, rational water and energy consumption, and sustainable waste management.
- Support of local population and businesses—creating jobs for local communities’ members, favoriting local businesses that conserve cultural heritage and traditional views, addressing local communities’ needs, increasing the local residents’ quality of life.
- Development of visitors’ environmental, cultural, and political awareness—finding new language and ways to explain crucial environmental and social issues to the general public.
The environmental impact of tourism can be reduced by each traveler by implementing the same principles. The key elements of each tourist’s desired behavior include being respectful to the local traditions and aware of the culture, economy, and politics of the communities visited, as well as being respectful to the natural environment. The main aim of any tourist is to make a destination better rather than worse by visiting it.
The principles of sustainability as they are applied to tourism include meeting the demands of both tourists and the local community while creating beneficial effects on the environment. In order to achieve these goals, all members of the tourism industry need to implement this approach in their everyday life and incorporate it into their long-term management plans (Koncul, 2017). There are several ways in which the tourism industry can take part in environmental protection and conservation:
- Financial contributions. They can include contributions directly to local areas and habitats, special conservation programs and activities, and government organizations.
- Improved environmental management and planning. By conducting a thorough analysis of the impact of tourism on local natural resources, the owners of tourist facilities, such as hotels and resorts, can develop a relevant management strategy. It should be aimed at reducing the negative impact of tourism activities, development planning, preventing mistakes, and careful usage and preservation of natural resources (Angelevska-Najdeska and Rakicevik, 2012).
- Raising of environmental awareness. It can include encouraging visitors to implement the principles of sustainable consumption, informing them on local environmental issues, inviting them to participate in relevant activities, and promoting environmentally conscious behavior.
- Protection and preservation. It includes the introduction of policies aimed at protecting the local environment and the organization of various activities to support them.
One of the most popular ways to promote environmental awareness is to make it trendy. One of the most vivid examples of this approach is the concept of ecotourism, which has become increasingly popular over the last several decades. International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education” (The International Ecotourism Society, no date, para. 2). Ecotourism is based on the principles of maintaining the harmony between people and nature, the efficient use of resources, and a principle of respect that encourages to save resources from use rather than use them (Fennell, 2020). Ecotourism initiatives are based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and environmental awareness, and encourage tourists to not only enjoy the country they are visiting but also strive to understand and respect its traditions.
Conclusion
Sustainability is a strategy that provides an answer to the issue of the increased impact of the tourism industry on the environment. Its principles include sharing responsibility between national governments, international organizations, local communities and businesses, and tourists, promoting environmental awareness, and encouraging the development of an individual management strategy for each particular region. The implementation of the concept of sustainability in the tourism industry aims to create a balance between social, economic, cultural, and environmental aspects of tourism and reduce its negative impacts. It proves that tourism has the potential to benefit the environment if all members of the industry are engaged in environmental protection and conservation.
Reference List
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