Tourism and the Environment

Environment– Concern for Tourist “Quality” tourism includes… Beautiful landscape Relaxed atmosphere Sunshine Healthy climate Attractive places for excursions

Hardin’s Tragedy of the Commons 1968 Paper Farmers share land (the commons) to graze cattle One farmer increases herd, others follow; profits maximized Land becomes overgrazed Lower quality milk Next generation and the loss of the commons Short vs. long term benefits

Free Market Impact Impact of free market view of tourism Consumption Ignores: pollution, depletion of environmental resources Difficult to specify cost in market system Low cost of development Unspoiled environments become commodities

PPP– Polluter Pays Principle Emitting wastes= bearing costs Government tax? Punitive fine?

Debt-for-Nature Swaps Resource is “world’s” possession, so “world” can pay for it NGOs buy government debt for small amount Area is conserved; government gives up sovereignty on area of country

Trends in Eco-Tourism “Local” prevents leakage Risk of “greenwashing” Sustainability Examples: Bali “losmen” Senegal Casamance

Positive Environmental Impact? Conservation Rwanda’s Parc National de Volcans Garbage Removal Mt. Everest