Online version: PDF - DTIE
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UNIT 2: TOURISM, HOSPITALITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT – IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS<br />
049<br />
Examples of Good Practice<br />
The Dutch Government has developed and tested environment indicators that<br />
function as a barometer of the health of travel and tourism. These indicators<br />
were defined at the national, destination and consumer level using a number<br />
of criteria, including tourism demand and supply, social and demographic<br />
information, landscape and the physical environment, water, air, waste, and<br />
noise.<br />
COMMON QUESTION Does environmentally-sound tourism mean limiting<br />
visitor numbers and the number of tourism businesses in a destination?<br />
Environmentally-sound tourism does not imply limits, but rather the anticipation,<br />
management and monitoring of the environment impacts caused by visitors<br />
and the businesses needed to service them.<br />
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For a start, if all tourism businesses and attractions reduced resource use<br />
and lowered waste output, if local authorities ensured adequate supporting<br />
municipal services (especially at peak season), if tourism sites worked on<br />
visitor management to prevent environment damage and over-crowding, and<br />
if visitors were told how they can enjoy a low-impact holiday, environment<br />
damage could be greatly reduced.<br />
COMMON QUESTION Is it more environmentally-sound to target a smaller<br />
number of high-spending tourists, rather than larger numbers of backpackers,<br />
campers and package-holidaymakers?<br />
It is important to stress the effectiveness of good environment management,<br />
rather than merely concentrating on visitor numbers. A small number of illinformed,<br />
poorly supervised tourists tramping around in fragile areas can cause<br />
considerable damage, while a larger number of well-organised groups can end<br />
up having relatively fewer impacts.<br />
It must not be forgotten that high-spending tourists demand luxury facilities<br />
and services, and that providing these facilities and services (especially in<br />
remote locations) generally causes serious and irreversible damage.<br />
An argument in favour of package tourism is that most package tourists move<br />
around in groups and generally spend their vacation concentrated around the<br />
resort area. Since their impacts are limited to a specific geographical zone,<br />
impact monitoring and management are greatly facilitated.