U. Tourism, its impact on the environment. What are harmful aspects of modern tourism?
Name some advantages and drawbacks of modern ways of travelling. Which countries would you like to visit?
Unit 2 (upper)Paradise lost. p. 20-21 Tashi Wheeler – girl on the move. T. 2.8-2.10
Tourism development can put enormous pressure on an area and lead to impacts such as soil erosion, increased pollution, discharges into the sea, natural habitat loss, increased pressure on endangered species and constantly repeating forest fires. It often puts a strain on water resources, and it can force local populations to compete for the use of critical resources.
Of the hundreds of operations along the whole world only a few have some environmental and social concerns. Minimum effort is done to safe the biodiversity that is so needed to support the development of the tourism industry. What can we see when we arrive at desired foreign destinations? A lack of long term planning, poor site management, poor waste and water management and empty-headed use of energy sources. We must all be aware that just by presenting an, "eco", look does not mean environmental action is a concern of an establishment. By only employing a few local people, a company does not necessarily help sustain, train or empower the local community.
Water resources: water, and especially fresh water, is one of the most critical natural resources. The tourism industry generally overuses water resources for hotels, swimming pools, golf courses and personal use of water by tourists. This can result in water shortages and degradation of water supplies, as well as generating a greater volume of waste water.
Local resources: tourism can create great pressure on local resources like energy, food, and other raw materials that may already be in short supply.
Land degradation: important land resources include minerals, fossil fuels, fertile soil, forests, wetland and wildlife are dying.
Air pollution and noise: transport by air, road, and rail is continuously increasing in response to the rising of environmental pollution. It has been reported that the number of international air passengers worldwide rose from 88 million in 1972 to 344 million in 1994.
Climate changes: tourism involves the movement of people from their homes to other destinations and accounts for about 50% of traffic movements; rapidly expanding air traffic contributes about 2.5% of the production of CO2.
Legal and Illegal Fishing: trawlers are trying hard to wipe out the marine life in the World Ocean. For the health of the oceans, the local fisherman, the deep-sea sport fisherman and all of us who enjoy this fascinating sphere; this is a disaster!
There are some advantages of modern ways of travelling: fast arrival at the foreign destination, the opportunity to visit almost every country in the world, comparably cheap way of holiday, raising per capita income in the host countries, broadening the mind, becoming a world citizen.
But the drawbacks are horrifying: pollution, rationed water, diseases, climate changes, wiping out the unique representatives of flora and fauna, hectic lifestyle, feeling exhausted, unable to get along the kids your age.
I`d like to visit several countries, first thing first - France, because it`s a land of good food and wine, of royal castles and perfectly restored farmhouses, of landmarks known the world over and hidden landscapes few really know. And of course firstly I`d like to delight art and romance in the shining capital on the River Seine. Paris probably has more familiar landmarks than any other city in the world. Well informed, silver – tongued and oh-so-romantic, the ‘City of Light’ is a philosopher, a poet, a crooner. As it always has been, Paris is a million different things to a million different people.
My second dream is Japan because of its ancient temples or futuristic cities, foggy hills, lightning-fast bullet trains, suit-clad businessmen or kimono-clad geisha. Many people believe that Japan is one of the world's most expensive countries. In fact, it's cheaper to travel in Japan than in much of North America, Western Europe and parts of Oceania. Others think that Japan is not available or even downright difficult. The fact is, Japan is one of the easiest countries in which to travel. It is, simply put, a place that will remind you why you started travelling in the first place.
