Examine in detail the effects of tourism - essay

INTRODUCTION

Tourism is the activities of people travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for no more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.

GDP

• Tourism is a significant industry in South Africa and contributes to economic growth and employment.

• Tourism has the potential to stimulate economic recovery during a recession.

gdp indirect

Tourism contributed 9% to GDP in 2018

●Includes Government and private sector spending such as purchase of new aircrafts and construction of new hotels

Employment

● Tourism:

Tourism directly employed approximately 954,000 people (5.7% of South Africa’s workforce) in 2024.

Tourism is a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings.

Tourism creates employment in rural and remote areas where other job opportunities are limited.

Tourism externalities

Positive Externalities:

the Gautrain provides links to different areas speedily especially to the airport.

Negative externalities:

Traffic and congestion, extra policing due to crime, increased health service and sanitation, environmental decay.

Tourism can cause inflation, which makes some goods unaffordable to locals.

Environmental

• Environmental degradation: High tourist activity and vehicles damage vegetation, compact soil and cause erosion, destroying natural habitats and threatening nature

• Pollution: Tourism-related transport, releases greenhouse gases and air pollutants, contributing to climate change. Sustainable transport like the Gautrain, can reduce emissions.

• Destruction of ecosystems and disturbance of wildlife: Tourism infrastructure, such as roads, airports and hotels, can destroy habitats. Tourist activities can disturb wildlife, disrupt breeding and feeding patterns, and alter animal populations.