1. Tourism and the Environment

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

3. 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

4. Free Market Impact Impact of free market view of tourism
Consumption: well-being, “utility”
Ignores: pollution, depletion of environmental resources
Difficult to specify cost in market system
Tourism– low cost of development; cost vs. environment
Unspoiled environments become commodities

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

7. 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
Example: Ghana

8. Trends in Eco-Tourism “Local” prevents leakage Risk of “greenwashing”
Sustainability
Long-term
Management
People & place
Examples:
Bali “losmen”
Senegal Casamance

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

10. Sources
Holden, Andrew. Environment and Tourism. Second ed. London: Routledge, Print. Routledge Introductions to Environment Ser.
McLaren, Deborah. Rethinking Tourism and Ecotravel. Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian, Print.