Geography Tourism (2.4)

Positive environmental impacts (Conservation of natural environments and preservation of biodiversity)

Where: Galapagos National Park in Ecuador

What:

• An entrance fee of US$100 is charged to visitors

• Revenue generated from the fees are channeled to conservation and upkeep of the park → Hiring of park rangers

Positive environmental impacts (Restoration of degraded aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem)

Where: Skjern River, Denmark

When: 1960s

What:

• Straightened and embanked → Destroy surrounding wetlands to create agricultural land → Land degraded

• River heavily polluted

When: 1987

Who: Government

What: Launched a project to remeander the river → Turning it back to natural curve waterway; Re-flooded 2000 hectares of farmland converted back to marshland

Negative environmental impacts (Pollution)

Where: Maldives

What:

• Relies heavily on long distance flights from Europe and Asia

• Island is remote → Tourist travel there mainly by air → Create significant CO2 emissions per tourist

• Increase atmospheric CO2 → Global warming and rise of sea levels → Flood homes, roads and airports → Disrupting tourism industries → Loss of homes → Distress on people

Negative environmental impacts (Depletion in natural resources)

Where: Bali

What:

• Draws approximately 3 million litres of water per day

• Hotels and resorts take water from the public water supply system and large amount of groundwater to meet tourists demand

• Rivers in regions drying up → Reduce water resources availability for locals and terrestrial and aquatic species

• Limited supply of water to meet rising demand → Water prices have increased

• Agriculture is being increasingly unprofitable → Rising water costs → Local farmers experiencing loss of livelihoods

Negative environmental impacts (Threats to wildlife habitats)

Where: Great Barrier Reef

What:

• Tourism activities damage coral habitats

• Reef receives around 2 million visitors each year

• Diving and boat anchoring → Break coral structures and stir up sediment → Block sunlight needed for coral growth

When: 2005-2020

What:

• Heavily visited reef sites have lower coral cover compared to protected area with fewer tourists

• Damage to coral reefs → Many marine species depend on reefs for food and shelter → Affected