Transcript UNEP Sustainable Tourism Framework Impacts of Tourism

UNEP Sustainable Tourism Framework
Impacts of Tourism
http://www.unep.fr/scp/tourism/sustain/
impacts/
UNEP Sustainable Tourism Framework
Economic Impacts
Environmental Impacts
Social Impacts
UNEP Sustainable Tourism Framework
Economic Impacts
Potential negative impacts
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Leakage (import leakage, export leakage)
Enclave tourism
Infrastructure costs and impacts
Increase in prices
Economic dependence on tourism
Seasonal employment
Potential positive impacts:
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Foreign exchange earnings
Contribution to government revenues
Employment generation
Stimulation of infrastructure investment
Contribution to local economies
UNEP Sustainable Tourism Framework
Economic Impacts
Leakage (import leakage, export leakage)
Goods and services
• Many countries must purchase goods and services to satisfy their visitors.
This includes the cost of raw materials used to make tourism-related
goods, such as souvenirs. For starting tourism industries, this is a
significant problem, as some countries must import as much as 50% of
tourism-related products.
Infrastructure
• Some less economically developed countries do not have the domestic
ability to build tourism-related infrastructure (hotels, airports, etc.). The
cost of such infrastructure is then leaked out of the country.
UNEP Sustainable Tourism Framework
Economic Impacts
Leakage (import leakage, export leakage)
Foreign factors of production
• Smaller countries often require foreign investment to start their tourism
industry. Thus, profits from tourism may be lost to foreign investors. In
addition, travel agents outside of the destination country remove money
from that market as well.
Promotional expenditures
• Many countries spend considerable sums of money for advertisements
and publicity. Maintaining a presence abroad may increase the volume of
tourists to a country but also represent a considerable loss of money to
foreign markets.
UNEP Sustainable Tourism Framework
Economic Impacts
Leakage (import leakage, export leakage)
Transfer pricing
• Many foreign companies manipulate their pricing to reduce taxes and
other duties. In smaller or less developed countries, where many tourismrelated companies may be foreign owned, this can represent a substantial
loss of income.
Tax exemptions
• Countries with a small tourism industry may have to give tax exemptions
or other offers to increase foreign investment. While this may enlarge the
tourism industry there, it must be taken into account as an instrument of
income loss..
UNEP Sustainable Tourism Framework
Economic Impacts
Leakage (import leakage, export leakage)
• Varies from country to country
• Varies from industry to industry. High-income tourism may increase
leakage (more imported goods and services than usual).
• Ecological or adventure tourism show smaller leakage, however (places
value largely on what the host country has to offer)
• Tourism 'leakage' in Thailand estimated at 70% (foreign-owned tour
operators, airlines, hotels, imported drinks and food, etc.). (Agenda 21)
• Less-developed countries range from 80% (Caribbean) to 40% in India
(Rasuchelbach - 2002 Cooperating for Sustainable Tourism)
• Not restricted to less-developed countries (e.g., Australia: leakage from
Japanese tourists via Japanese travel companies, hotels, etc.
UNEP Sustainable Tourism Framework
Environmental impacts
Potential negative impacts:
• Depletion of natural resources and natural attributes (renewable and
nonrenewable): water, energy, food, minerals, fossil fuels, fertile soil
• Biodiversity impacts: forests, wetlands, wildlife
• Pollution: air emissions and greenhouse gases; ozone depletion; noise;
solid waste and littering, releases of sewage, oil and chemicals;
architectural/visual pollution.
• Physical impacts: degradation of unique or fragile ecosystems; land
clearing, construction, and infrastructure development; deforestation and
intensified or unsustainable use of land; shoreline, marina, and beach
development; degradation of marine areas (around coastal waters, reefs,
beach and shoreline, offshore waters, uplands and lagoons); long-term
changes in local ecologies; trampling impacts on vegetation and soil.
Potential positive impacts:
• tourist-funded protection, management or restoration initiatives
• international environmental awareness campaigns
UNEP Sustainable Tourism Framework
Social impacts
Potential negative impacts
• Change or loss of indigenous identity and values
• Commodification; standardization; loss of authenticity and staged authenticity;
adaptation to tourist demands; cultural erosion due to commodification of cultural
goods;
• Clashes in cultures: ethnic groups, religious groups, values and lifestyles,
languages; economic inequality; insensitive tourist behavior; job level friction;
social stress; cultural deterioration; conflicts with traditional land-uses and
depriving local people of access;
• Ethical issues: Crime generation; child labour; prostitution and sex tourism.
Potential positive impacts
• Strengthening of communities
• Development of facilities for tourism that can also benefit residents
• Re-valuation of culture and traditions
• Encouragement of civic involvement and pride
• Tourism as a force for peace and international understanding