LC3002 Englis for Academic Purposes
LC3002 Englis for Academic Purposes
Introduction
There has been a significant increase in global tourism in the current era driven by various factors such as digital connectivity and improved transportation systems (O’Hare, 2023). To discuss this obvious factor, this research has been developed. Due to this international travel has become increasingly affordable, with both negative and positive impacts on destinations. In that case, sustainable tourism plays an important role in preserving the cultural and natural heritage of those destinations. The main objective of this essay is to analyze the current situation and problems of global tourism. Understanding this, will help recommend sustainable tourism approaches and analyse their prolonged advantages. Finally, a reflection has been concluded on my learning journey.
Main body
Global tourism’s current state is marked by impressive growth. In the present era, the Tourism sector has created a remarkable footprint internationally by modifying different factors like improving the transportation systems as well as developing the connecting links through digital platforms. Travel and tourism contribute 7.7 trillion USD to GDP worldwide in 2022. This was 7.6% of the total GDP of the world (Statista, 2022). According to the report of O’Hare, (2023), Iconic destinations such as Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, Madrid, New York, London, Berlin and Rome are becoming attractions among international travellers who seek historical and unique cultural experiences. These destinations supply exceptional historical milestones, breathtaking landscapes and amazing cultural experiences. Every year thousands of tourists visit these iconic destinations to create exceptional memories. However, the influence of tourism on these destinations is sometimes severe. In this aspect D and E, (2020) opined that Tourism has several impacts on the economy of tourist destinations, especially among developing countries or “LEDCs (Less Economically Developed Countries)”. Tourism has many hidden expenses that adversely affect the economies of destination countries. Often, rich countries benefit more than poor countries. Host countries have to import many consumer goods such as food and beverages that are developing or poor. This is due to the domestic products are of low quality. Therefore, developed countries that import food are benefited. On the other hand, Gössling, Scott and Hall, (2020) stated that the rise of tourism has impacted these regions raising different challenges. The mass population has become a widespread problem, especially in famous tourist places. The roads are crowded with tourists and the infrastructure is challenged with the large number of visitors. Additionally, Zhang, Yin and Peng, (2021) opined that heritage and cultural destination commodification increases the concern regarding heritage preservation. With the tourism commercialization progress heritage destinations are becoming vulnerable. In 2019, global tourism experienced an adverse impact due to the pandemic outbreak. As a result, a nearly 72% decline was noticed in global tourist arrivals in the year 2020 and in 2021 it was 71%. However, Global tourism is on track to return to pre-pandemic levels, with twice as many travellers in 2023 than in 2019. It reached 80% of international arrivals at epidemic levels in 2023. However, the recovery of tourism also experiences some challenges (Statista, 2022a). As per the UNWTO (2023) report, economic conditions remain important factors influencing the recovery of global tourism in 2023 with increasing oil prices and high inflation translating into high accommodation and transport costs. Due to this, travellers are increasingly looking for affordable pricing solutions and are expected to travel nearer to their homes. Uncertainty stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war and other rising geopolitical tensions also resume illustrating downside risks, according to a report.
Assessing the challenges created by mass tourism, especially cultural or natural heritage destinations, and over-tourism potential risks raises notable concerns. Cros and McKercher, (2020) opined that Mass tourism faces different types of challenges regarding cultural treasures. Inadequate Infrastructure creates problems in the public transportation system. The factor of tourism depends upon the number of popular sites in a particular area along with the number of tourists visiting that place. Liu et al., (2022) opined that Mass tourism has a great impact on environmental degradation which increases the pollution level. As the activity of tourists increases it generates large amounts of waste which includes plastic pollution as well as pollution of water resources that harms the Marine system. On the other hand, Legrand, Chen and Laeis, (2022) stated that Nowadays hotel resorts which are related to the tourism industry gradually increasing day by day which also destroys the balance of biodiversity in the ecological system. Accumulation of a large number of tourists in a particular site creates a threat to the life of flora and fauna. Food traffic destroys the different types of landscapes where excessive noise misbalances the system of wildlife animals. On the contrary Samal and Dash, (2022) opined that Different types of commercial and traditional practice which deals with a particular type of cultural activity increase the rate of visitors to a particular place. Local communities help to increase the profit of the tourism industry by maintaining authenticity in their culture. However Żemła, (2020) stated that Over tourism mainly affects the locals. Around Europe, many cities such as Venice and Barcelona have experienced the over-tourism phenomenon that has caused intense tension among residents. Locals complain of an increase in house rent and prices. Due to the proliferation of online platforms like Airbnb, they have inflated them. The tourism industry faces different types of challenges and threats on its way to maintaining sustainable development and integrity by focusing on the crude cultural heritage. Different types of issues have been pointed out, especially conservation relating to environment development of communication and empowerment of tourism practices.
Addressing tourism’s negative impacts is a serious challenge encountering the tourism industry currently. In order to identify and overcome the challenges associated with mass tourism, both the tourism industry and tourists need to adopt adequate sustainable practices. As noted above, it has three broad effects such as socio-cultural, environmental and economic. Tourism sustainability is founded on three tridents such as environmental, societal and economic. In that, societal sustainability has two pillars cultural and social. According to Ivona, (2021), Tourism sustainability is directed at ensuring the protection, continuity and growth of local or regional characteristics or resources that are tourism assets. For this, the tourism industry has to consider the socio-cultural, environmental and economic factors and take measures to strike a proper balance. Regions’ beauty, cleanliness and tidiness are also important to attract international tourists. Thus, maintaining an appropriate balance between socio-cultural, environmental and economic factors becomes essential for sustainable tourism. Henson, (2022) stated that to eradicate the different types of challenges faced by mass tourism it has promoted different types of multi-facilitate approaches by which the tourists as well as the tourism industry play an important role in improving communication for eco-friendly travel practices and accommodation. According to Chakraborty, (2020), Tourist makes significant contributions to reducing pollution and carbon footprints to safeguard the ecosystem by taking adequate responsible travel approaches. Selecting environment-friendly services such as biodegradable products, green-certified hotels, renewable energy-incorporated hotels and many more., they can minimise environmental harm.
On the other hand, according to Sujood, et al. (2021), Tourism is interested in ensuring the environmental standards of tourist destinations. In order to ensure this tourism industry needs to develop eco-friendly infrastructure which can control the behaviour of tourists and mitigate the distraction of environmental footprint that causes a climatic change as well as loss of biodiversity. People involved in tourism can make partnerships with social workers or those people who perform to safeguard the environment. In this aspect, Streimikiene et al., (2020) opined that Sustainable tourism is a viable process that can help improve and develop tourism facilities and mutually benefit regional societies. Preservation of cultural heritage and norms is also crucial in maintaining sustainable tourism. According to the UNESCO (2023) report they established “The UNESCO World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Programme” that illustrated a new method considering stakeholder cooperation in planning for heritage and tourism management is included at a high destinationation level. The main aim of this program is to promote sustainable tourism at international heritage properties via fostering enhanced awareness and capacity of entire stakeholders to preserve cultural and historical heritages. In this aspect, Megeirhi et al., (2020) opined that tourist needs to enhance their awareness regarding local cultures and norms that can help them to understand historical place preservation significances. Overall including these approaches tourism industry and travellers can preserve cultural and historical heritages.
Sustainable tourism establishment concentrates on handling tourism in a strategic method that ensures long-term benefits considering both the natural and cultural heritage preservations as well as the economic effects for regional communities. The tourism industry can ensure the continuity of regional characteristics by promoting the adaptation of sustainable practices and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. Loureiro and Nascimento, (2021) stated that Adopting a sustainable tourism approach supports enormous potential for managing broader tourism-related challenges and providing long-term advantages for the environment, society and destinations. The practice of sustainable tourism has addressed the different types of challenges which are created by mass tourism and also shows the benefit of tourism by considering the communities as well as the environment. It has also focused on preserving the local culture’s different natural sites and invaluable assets. Different tourist management has taken the responsibility to control the activity of the twist that helps to mitigate and navigate the impact of overcrowding which creates pollution. This hills to maintain The authenticity of cultural heritage. Tourism has also promoted the different types of conservation theory relating to environmental factors such as depletion of resources minimising carbon emissions and maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Empowering the local community through economic development the tourism industry can support the different types of tourism activity that creates opportunities for the residents who can actively take part in the activity and generate benefits from them. It not only increases the socio-economic development plan but also exchanges good ideas between tourists with the residents. The inclusion of sustainable tourism practices mitigates different types of challenges with proper consideration. It also helps to make communication between local community stakeholders and the company. Sometimes lack of resources becomes a significant barrier for developing the tourism sector. Different countries have focused on remote locations to promote the value of the tourism sector. The government has also set up a regulatory body which enforces different types of policies that help to promote tourism practices sustainably it also assesses the impact of environmental conditions on tourism practices.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be concluded that the tourism industry has an excellent growth in the current era. It comes with mass tourism-related challenges such as environmental degradation, cultural commodification and overcrowding that harm heritage preservation and local culture. Sustainable tourism practices are an adequate solution to mitigate these challenges. With increasing demand for eco-friendly products and services, tourism industries are turning to sustainable tourism practices. That helps in safeguarding different travel destinations’ cultural and natural heritages.
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Cros, H. du and McKercher, B. (2020). Cultural Tourism. [online] Google Books. Routledge. Available at: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=zgXeDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT17&dq=Mass+tourism+faces+different+types+of+challenges+regarding+cultural+treasures.&ots=YHTXYA7BPh&sig=FhstIHDhmObdVNc7H-NYd3Z8fZA [Accessed 4 Mar. 2024].
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Megeirhi, H.A., Woosnam, K.M., Ribeiro, M.A., Ramkissoon, H. and Denley, T.J. (2020). Employing a value-belief-norm framework to gauge Carthage residents’ intentions to support sustainable cultural heritage tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28(9), pp.1351–1370. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1738444.
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Sujood –, Hamid, S. and Bano, N. (2021). Intention to Visit Eco-Friendly Destinations for Tourism Experiences: An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior. Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, [online] 9(4), pp.343–364. Available at: https://www.jsod-cieo.net/journal-tsw/index.php/jtsw/article/view/297.
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Żemła, M. (2020). Reasons and Consequences of Overtourism in Contemporary Cities—Knowledge Gaps and Future Research. Sustainability, [online] 12(5), p.1729. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051729.
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Reflective Journal
During the development of this SPSE essay on the topic of sustainable tourism, I gained a wealth of knowledge about the multifaceted dynamics of the tourism industry and tourism-related issues. The subject selection generates high curiosity regarding sustainable tourism approaches within the global tourism sector. Besides that, it also provides a realization of understanding tourism relevant to different stakeholders’ points of view. This can help establish a significant approach to identifying Sustainable tourism associated with complicated challenges. It boosts my interest in adopting sustainable approaches to achieve my sustainable goal. Throughout the study I understand that the contribution of the tourism industry to the worldwide GDP is very high. I also understand that mass tourism comes with some adverse effects and hidden costs that can affect the daily lives of local people.
Additionally, this topic’s involvement enhanced my understanding of Sustainable tourism implementation’s relevant advantages and disadvantages within different destinations. Sustainable tourism practices help to ensure cultural and historical Heritage preservation while minimizing environmental impact and boosting eco-friendly approaches to adaptation. However, implementation of the exercise sometimes fails due to various factors such as stakeholder resistance, resource constraints and geopolitical instability.
While exploring the entire topic, I noticed that various causes of resistance can be eliminated by adopting appropriate solutions. For instance, the tourism industry can adopt local society empowerment approaches while tourists can adopt different environment-friendly approaches like eco-friendly product uses, green infrastructure accommodation selection and many more. This not only promotes sustainable approaches but also cultural heritage preservation. The topic continuation helps me to understand the importance of safeguarding valuable resources. Hence I make promises to adopt adequate responsible travel manners that help to meet this goal. It not only increases awareness of the importance of sustainable practices among international tourists but also includes all tourism-relevant stakeholders to encourage the adoption of a cooperative and communal approach towards sustainable objectives. I am focused on providing a better future to the next generation through these methods such as protecting cultural heritage, empowering regional communities and preserving the environment. Overall this essay helps in my understanding of sustainable tourism and selecting appropriate solutions and approaches that can reduce environmental damage. Furthermore, I am interested in further investigation of this topic and focus on encouraging an adequate sustainable travel approach.
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