A paper which studies the effect of tourism on the environment in several popular destinations on earth.
The paper examines how a rise in tourism in certain areas eventually affects the environment of the place, causing problems. The paper uses several examples of places around the globe where tourists frequently spend their time and shows how this trend has affects the environment. Places and problems examined include soil erosion in the Philippines due the the higher demand for flush toilets, the death of seagulls in Lancaster, PA, who mistake mass parking lots for water sources and the loss of firewood in Nepal due to the over-use by hikers. The paper also explores ways in which the tourism industry can strive to become more environmentally friendly to avoid problems in the future.
“Without a precise zoning guideline, residents and developers can cross usages and designs without regard to the bigger picture. For example, a resort could go in next to a farm. In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, for example, a farm was sold and used for an outlet center. The farm had been located at a major intersection so it was a prime commercial site. However, now the traffic there is astronomical. The foot traffic has increased as well. The pollution level has been raised greatly. The number of accidents at that intersection has risen. Farmland has been lost.”