Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Positive socio-cultural impacts
and their transport. Some of the worst environmental
problems include:
•
Congestion and overcrowding - in popular holiday
Travel and tourism can have many positive socio-
cultural impacts on destinations, which include:
areas we all see the effects of too many people and
too many cars;
•
Provision of community facilities and public services
•
Pollution - of water and air, not forgetting noise
- local people benefi t from new facilities that are
provided for tourists, e.g. new attractions, transport
services and events;
pollution, plus the spoiling of the landscape that
people have come to see and enjoy;
•
Erosion of resources - the wearing away of soil and
•
Improved standards of living - in developed and
vegetation by walkers, horse-riders, cyclists, cars, 4
x 4s and motorcycles;
developing countries, the income from tourism can
help people to improve their livelihoods and gain
greater social status;
•
Loss of habitats for fl ora and fauna;
•
Litter - both an eyesore and a threat to the safety of
•
Preservation of customs and crafts - tourists often
people and animals.
buy locally-made handicrafts that are an extra
source of income for host communities;
In the UK, the negative environmental impacts of
tourism are not confi ned to countryside areas, but are
also found in cities and on the coast. Negative impacts
in the countryside are most acute in the National Parks,
which together accommodate over 100 million visits per
year. Parks close to urban centres come under particular
pressure, for example the Peak District, South Downs
and Lake District National Parks. Tourism's harmful
effects on the urban environment affect many historic
destinations that are popular with tourists, such as York,
Bath, Chester, Cambridge, Stratford-upon-Avon and
Oxford, as well as our capital cities - Cardiff, London,
Belfast and Edinburgh. Congestion, pollution and litter
are three of the most common problems concerning
tourism in the urban environment. On the coast, sensitive
areas such as sand dunes and estuaries can be harmed
by tourist pressure, while the popular seaside resorts,
such as Llandudno, Torquay and Newquay, have to deal
with a huge infl ux of visitors for a relatively short period
of time, plus all that they bring with them. In areas of
the country that are prone to drought, water supply can
be a problem in the peak tourist season, while sewage
disposal is a constant challenge to local authorities.
•
Revival of festivals and ceremonies - such as dance,
music and theatre;
•
Cultural education - tourism can be a force for
good by encouraging visitors to meet new people
and learn about different cultures.
Activity 12.3
Carry out some research into the positive and negative
environmental impacts of tourism development in
your own local area (or a nearby tourist area).
Tourism can have positive cultural impacts
This activity is designed to provide evidence for P1.
