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Managing the Impacts of Tourism

It is today crucial to enhance the capabilities of countries around the world to minimize the adverse impacts of tourism while expanding its positive role in development. Obviously, tourism interacts with the natural environment. Numerous observers stress the negative effects of this industry.It is a fact that it often overuses water resources for hotels, swimming pools or golf courses. An average golf course in a tropical country can use as much water as 60.000 rural villagers. And water, as everyone is aware, is one of the most critical natural resources. The current and uncontrolled development of Marinas throughout the world is also, among many others, a cause for concern for the environment and particularly the marine environment and the protection of the coastlines. A recent United Nations Environment programme report underlines that tourism is a source of pollution like any other industry: air emissions, solid waste, sewage, chemicals, noise etc... To take just a few examples of unfettered tourism: How many people have climbed Mont-Blanc in the French Alps? Probably over 25.000 people reach its summit each year. And an estimated 35.000 trekkers and 85 mountaineering expeditions climb every year the Indian Himalaya. But on the other hand, tourism if it is well managed can have very positive effects. First, the improvements to infrastructure and new leisure amenities benefit the local community. But above all, tourism, and especially nature and ecotourism, can help promote natural resources such as water, forests or conservation of wildlife. And it gives the host community new sources of employment which will enable younger generations to remain in their villages rather than migrate to overcrowded cities while conserving their environment. In fact, it is obviously a matter of balance. In a world where travel is easier and less expensive than it ever has been, tourits must assume more responsibility. They should at least be aware of the need to respect the places they visit which represent a precious heritage for the future generations.

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