Sustainable Development
Green Tourism
It is recognised that Tourism is the worlds largest
industry BUT – it has a poor reputation in terms of its
impact on the Environment. Most of us can think of a few areas
of concern, but here are some others that have been identified
by the World Travel & Tourism Environmental Research Centre.
- Changing land-use patterns and consequent changes in ecological
systems i.e. loss of open space, wild life habitats, flora/fauna.
- Emissions, litter, sewage, hazardous and other waster products.
- Pressure on heritage and other cultural and natural resources
from visitor numbers.
- Increasing densities of development leading to congestion
and overcrowding, especially at peak times.
- Uniformity of structures and buildings and lack of respect
for architectural harmony and load materials.
- Competitive pressure from Travel and Tourism businesses for
scare local resources and infrastructure such as transport facilities,
water and other utilities.
- Undermining of cultural practices and tradition.
- Marine, terrain and climatic change induced in some areas
by tourist usage e.g. beaches or ski resorts.
However Travel and Tourism can also have a positive impact on
the Environment. Over the past decade a number of forward thinking
individuals have looked at methods to protect the Environment,
to increase our understanding it and to continue to run a successful
business. Areas that they have looked at are:
- Protection and active conservation of natural and built heritage
resources – justified by their own intrinsic value for
posterity and the revenue which visitors contribute.
- Creation of economic value and protection for resources which
otherwise have no perceived value to residents, or represents
a cost rather than a benefit.
- Opportunity to communicate and interpret the values of natural
and built heritage and of cultural inheritance to residents
as well as visitors of visited areas. Thus helping to create
a new generation of responsible consumers.
- Enhancement of the natural and built environment to meet
rising quality standards necessary to sustain modern Travel
and Tourism. E.g. improved transport links and health services.
- Reconstruction for visitor usage of urban environment and
environments degraded by the industrial practices of former
extractive and manufacturing industries.
- Establishment of attractive environments for tourism destinations
– for residents as much as visitors, which may support
other compatible new economic activity – from agriculture
and fishing to service manufacturing industries.
- Effective management of visitors within an environment so
that it can support long term economic development and repeat
visits.
- Research and development of good environmental practice and
management systems to influence the operations of Travel and
Tourism businesses as well as visitors behaviour at destinations.
South Ayrshire Council has launched a number of initiatives in
recent years to encourage the establishment and development of
GREEN TOURISM, these include:
- The development of Cycle
Routes throughout South ayrshire – in partnership
with Sustrans.
- The development of new paths/walks throughout the countryside
– in partnership with Scottish
Natural Heritage’s Paths for All initiative.
- The development of a Bio-Diversity Action Plan to ensure the future of the diverse flora and fauna
which is to be found within Ayrshire.
- The promotion of the GREEN TOURISM BUSINESS SCHEME within
South Ayrshire by the VisitScotland. This is one of the most exciting developments
as a recent MORI poll indicated that 61% of travellers think
it is important that the companies that they deal with take
into account Environmental Issues.
The natural, built and cultural environment of Scotland is its
greatest tourist asset.
