Tourism Impact

s on the Enviro
nment, Econo
my, Culture an
d Society
Impact Categories
⦿ Economic
⦿ Environmental
⦿ Socio-Cultural
⦿ Crowding and
Congestion
⦿ Services
⦿ Taxes
⦿ Community Attitude
Overview
⦿ Tourism industry growth has
been a major contributor to the
economy of the country
⦿ Tourism impacts to a
community are not widely
understood – even where
tourism is growing dramatically
⦿ Most people think of tourism
as economic
Impact Categories
⦿ Each category includes positive
negative
and impacts
⦿ Not all impacts are to
applicable
community every
because conditions
or resources differ
⦿ Leaders must be sensitive and
visionary
⦿ Overlapping interests – tourism
conflicts
Tourism Impacts
⦿ A goal of developing the tourism
industry is maximizing positive
impacts and minimizing potential
negative impacts
⦿ First step – identify the possible
impacts (in category)
⦿ Havingbroad involveme
community and nt
embracing perspectiv
during planning help identify
different
resolv concern s es could
and
e
problems s tha create
later t
Positive Economic
Impacts
⦿ Contributes to incomeand
standard of living
⦿ Improves local economy
⦿ Increases employment
opportunities
⦿ Improves investment,
development and
infrastructure spending
⦿ Increases tax revenues
⦿ Improves public utility
Positive Economic
Impacts
⦿ Increases opportunity for shopping
⦿ Economic impactis widespread
in the community
⚫ Direct
⚫ Indirect
⚫ Induced spending
⦿ Creates new business opportunity
Negative Economic
Impacts
⦿ Increases price of goods and
services
⦿ Increases price of land and
housing
⦿ Increases cost of living
⦿ Increases potential for imported
labor
⦿ Cost for additional infrastructure
⚫ Water
⚫ Sewer
Negative Economic
Impacts
⦿ Increases road maintenance
and transportation system cost
⦿ Seasonal tourism creates high-
risk, under or unemployment issues
⦿ Competition for land with other
(higher value) economic uses
⦿ Profits may be exportedby non-
local owners
⦿ Jobs may pay low wages
Positive Environmental
Impacts
⦿ Protection of natur
selected environments
or prevention al
of
ecological decline furth
er
⦿ Preservation of historic buildings
and monuments
⦿ Improvement of the area’s
appearance (visual and aesthetic)
⦿ A clean industry (no
smokestackers)
Negative Environmental
Impacts
⦿ Pollution
⚫ Air
⚫ Water
⚫ Noise
⚫ Solid
waste
⚫ Visual
⦿ Loss of natural landscape
agricultural and lands to
touris
developme m
nt
Negative Environmental
Impacts
⦿ Loss of open space
⦿ Destruction of flora and fauna
(including collection of plants,
animals, rocks, corals, or artifacts
by or for tourists)
⦿ Degradation of landscape, historic
sites, and monuments
⦿ Water shortages
⦿ Introduction of exotic species
⦿ Disruption of wildlife breeding
Positive Socio-Cultural
Impacts
⦿ Improves quality of life
⦿ Facilitates meeting visitors
(educational experience)
⦿ Positive changes in values and
customs
⦿ Promotes cultural exchange
⦿ Improves understanding of
different communities
Positive Socio-Cultural
Impacts
⦿ Preserves cultural identity hos
of population t
⦿ Increases demand for historical
and cultural exhibits
⦿ Greater tolerance for social
differences
⦿ Satisfaction of psychological needs
Negative Socio-Cultural
Impacts
⦿ Excessive drinking,
alcoholism, gambling
⦿ Increased underage drinking
⦿ Crime, drugs and prostitution
⦿ Increased smuggling
⦿ Language and cultural effects
⦿ Unwanted lifestyle changes
Negative Socio-Cultural
Impacts
⦿ Displacement of residents for
tourism development
⦿ Negative changes in values and
customs
⦿ Family disruption
⦿ Exclusion of locals from natural
resources
⦿ New cliques modify social structure
⦿ Natural, cultural and public
relations calamities
Negative Socio-Cultural
Impacts
⦿ Displacement of residents for
tourism development
⦿ Negative changes in values and
customs
⦿ Family disruption
⦿ Exclusion of locals from natural
resources
⦿ New cliques modify social structure
⦿ Natural, cultural and public
relations calamities
Positive Impacts on
Crowding & Congestion
⦿ Minimizes sprawl
⦿ Concentrates tourist
facilities
⦿ Old buildings re-used for
tourism
Negative Impacts on
Crowding & Congestion
⦿ Congestion including interference with
other businesses
⦿ Overcrowding – exceeding area
capacity
⦿ Conflict
⦿ Overpowering building size and style
Positive Impacts on Services
⦿ Increases availability of recreation
facilities and opportunities
⦿ Better standard of services shops
by restaurants, and other ,
commerce
⦿ Improves quality of fire
protection
⦿ Improves quality of police
protection
Negative Impacts on
Services
⦿ Neglects non-tourist recreation
facilities
⦿ Effects of competition
⦿ Shortage of goods and services
⦿ Increases pressure on
infrastructure
Positive Impacts on Taxes
⦿ Additional state and local sales tax
revenue
⦿ Lodging tax or revenue to city (state)
Negative Impacts on Taxes
⦿ Increases property
taxes
Positive Impacts on
Community Attitude
⦿ Heightens pride in community
⦿ Greater appreciation of local resources
⦿ More facilities and range of
choices available
⦿ More interesting and exciting places
to live
Negative Impacts on
Community Attitude
⦿ Heightens community divisiveness
⦿ Increasingly hectic community and
personal life
⦿ Residents experience sense of
exclusion and alienation over
planning and development
concerns
Negative Impacts on
Community Attitude
⦿ Feeling of loss of controlover
community future (caused by outsider
development)
⦿ New building styles fail to “fit”
community
Tourist Factors
⦿ Number of visitors
⚫ small numbers of tourists are often
relatively unobtrusive and may be a
curiosity or an interesting diversion for
community residents.
⚫ As visitor numbers increase and they
become commonplace, locals may ignore
them.
⚫ When the number of visitors reaches a
point that residents feel a sense of
displacement, obstruction, loss of
community, or safety threat, resentment
Tourist Factors
⦿ Demographics
⚫ family status, age, education,
profession, etc., influence the actions
and activities of tourists and their local
visibility.
Tourist Factors
⦿ Transportation
⚫ private vehicle or rental car, bus, train,
air, or passenger ship dictates tourists'
movements, influences whether choices
are pre-selected, and affects the ease of
reaching attractions and services
Tourist Factors
⦿ Length of Stay
⚫ Day trips have less economic impact
⚫ Short (2-5 day) stays in a community
maximize per-day economic impact for
regional driving destinations, i.e., tourist
spending is maximized, but the pace can
be hectic
⚫ Tourists who stay longer have wider
range of needs and may spread the
direct economic impact more broadly
in the community
Tourist Factors
⦿ Length of Stay
⚫ Seasonal visitors (1-6 months) may take
more interest in non-tourism community
matters
⚫ Annual events can create a large
economic impact in a short period
Tourist Factors
⦿ Mass arrivals and departures
⚫ How and when people arrive (passenger
ship, opening of festival) and depart
influences traffic congestion and the
availability of attractions and services to
tourists.
⚫ Smaller lodgings and restaurants
can’t accommodate large groups.
⚫ Transportation options and availability
may limit the choice of attractions and
services.
Tourist Factors
⦿ Links to Community Residents
⚫ Reduced economicimpact when
staying with friends or relatives.
⚫ Better understanding of community
values.
⚫ High potential for repeat visitation
Tourist Factors
⦿ Ethnic/Racial Characteristics
⚫ When the tourist population differs
greatly in ethnic or racial origin or
economic status from the local
residen concerns
population, more isconsideration
needed reduc
of the
t to e
potenti for resentment, conflict and
al
⚫ Careful social
planning and ongoing ,education
crime.
can reduce points of conflict
Tourist Factors
⦿ Economic
Characteristics
Influencesincomes
⚫ Higher spending
may givetourist great
choices. to environment s hav
access er
and
negative impact on the e highe
environment. r
Tourist Factors
⦿ Activities Selected
⚫ Educational, and
cultural,
often has lower historical
impact.
social tourism and
⚫ Recreational activities mayenvironmental
have a
greater impact on the environment.
⚫ Entertainment activitiesmay conflict with
the social values of local residents.
Tourist Factors
⦿ Ability to speak local language/accent
⚫ Perceived as making more
meaningful connections with local people
and culture.
Tourist Factors
⦿ Demonstration Effect of Tourists
⚫ Local residents copying behaviors of
tourists can add new dimensions to
local culture but sometimes the
behavior is not appropriate to local
values.
⚫ Locals copying negative behavior of
vacationers (excessive drinking,
inappropriate dress, casual sex, etc.)
create social problems
Destination Factors
⦿ Local economic condition
⚫ Troubled economies may benefit from
tourism. However, government officials
should plan so that new tourism
developments are sustainable.
⚫ Towns with strong economies can
look for tourism that complements
other community goals such as
preservation of historic buildings, creation
of
⚫ recreational amenities, and
expansion of food/lodging options
Destination Factors
⦿ Diversification of the Economy
⚫ Economic diversity helps reduce the
influence of negative impacts to the
host community. If tourism has a
poor year, other economic activities
may offset the impact and vice versa
Destination Factors
⦿ Degree of local involvement in
tourism and attitudes of tourism
leaders
⚫ Local involvement helps align tourism
with the attitudes of the rest of the
community.
⚫ Local ownership and management of
tourism businesses keep profits from
leaving the community.
⚫ In most cases, if tourism businesses
are cooperative in responding to
residents' concerns, the industry will
Destination Factors
⦿ Spatial characteristics of
tourism development
⚫ Separation of active tourist areas
from residential areas reduces conflict.
⚫ Shared commercial areas.
⚫ A mix of resident-oriented and tourist-
oriented businesses adds to the
vibrancy of the retail area.
⚫ Domination of tourist-oriented
businesses pushes locals elsewhere
and may create resentment
Destination Factors
⦿ Spatial characteristics of
tourism development
⚫ Shared cultural or recreational amenities
(parks, m u s e u m s , plazas, beaches,
gardens) can be more successful with
tourism .
⚫ Tourist strips can clog streets and may
restrict resident access to public
resources, especially beaches and
shorelines.
⚫ Gated or exclusionary tourist
developments can create a class structure
Destination Factors
⦿ Viability of the host culture
⚫A strong and active local culture
combats tourism's tendency to change a
community.
⚫ Active programs to educate tourists in
local cultural practices (especially public
taboos) help reduce conflicts.
⚫ Pride in culture influences tourists to
honor local customs and adhere to
cultural restrictions
Destination Factors
⦿ History of Stability in the Community
⚫ Strong local economies give leaders
more options in influencing tourism
development to fit the community.
⚫ Strong community leaders and active
planning can place tourism more
appropriately within the and
community's geography suppo
rt
cansuitable tourism projects while
resisting
inappropriate
ones
Destination Factors
⦿ Pace of Tourism Development
⚫ Slower development provides time for
residents and leaders to reassess
tourism growth and make changes that
better serve the community.
⚫ Rapid development can strain a
community’s infrastructure and lead
to serious resident dissatisfaction.
⚫ Negative environmental impacts are also
more likely
Destination Factors
⦿ Fragility of the environment used by
tourists
⚫ Many of the most sought-after
environments for tourism are also the
most fragile.
⚫ Extra effort to plan appropriate access
and use of fragile environments helps
insure their long- term viability and
continued attractiveness for tourism
Destination Factors
⦿ Public transportation options
⚫ Availability of local public transportation
(bus, trolley, cab, shuttle, train) and
alternative transportation corridors
(bicycle, pedestrian) can reduce auto
congestion.
⚫ Poor access can make facilities
inaccessible for motor coach or public
transit.
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