The Impacts of Tourism on Local Environments,
Cultures and Communities
Nicholas Simon Kidger Tucker
Student Number: R2004D10723215
Induction Module
26762
09 July 2021
INTRODUCTION
In response to the statement, “Tourism should be banned in order to protect local
environments, cultures and economies”, this essay seeks to investigate the reasons why a ban
on tourism could have a more adverse effect on the local environment, culture, and
community than the promotion and development of tourism in certain areas, within reason
and with the correct policies and regulations in place to ensure tourism is effectively
implemented and managed. This essay will not go into the details of the required regulations
and policies required but will rather look at the potential of tourism were these are in place.
Scholtz (2014, p. 137) states that tourism contributes a substantial amount to the international
GDP and is on of the largest earners of income globally. According to the World Economic
Forum (2017) tourism is responsible for just over 9% of jobs internationally, makes up 10%
of global GDP and offers the potential to make a significant impact on the 6% of the active
population who are unemployed.
However, it is important to ensure that tourism does not have an adverse impact, or that the
potential negative consequences are mitigated and managed. This essay will not investigate
the potential negative consequences to these areas in the absence of the revenue and
employment opportunities that tourism offers.
THE IMPACTS OF TOURISM ON LOCAL ENVIRONMENTS, CULTURES AND
COMMUNITIES
Tourism can have an impact at various levels and segments of a country, from the economy
to local, regional, and international politics. There have been studies on the impacts of
tourism in multiple countries and it is important to continue to research the potential negative
impacts of tourism, how these can be mitigated and how the positive impacts can be
successfully implemented.
For the purpose of this paper, we will investigate the impacts of tourism on each of the
following areas:
1. Environment
2. Culture
3. Community
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1. ENVIRONMENT
For the purposes of this essay when referring to the environment we are referring to the
natural world, including but not limited to national parks, private parks, game reserves,
forests, undisturbed coastal areas, beaches, etc. The intention is to understand the impacts that
tourism has on these areas that are either undisturbed or rehabilitated natural areas that cater
to and in many instances may even promote nature based and outdoor tourism.
With an increasing human population and the challenges of the internationally accepted
impacts of global warming and biodiversity loss, the protection of the environment is a global
priority. It thus becomes necessary to understand what impact tourism has on the
environment.
Sunlu (2003, p. 268 – 269) found tourism can contribute positively to conservation and,
therefore the environment, through protection and preservation, raising awareness around
environmental issues, improved environmental management and planning, regulations, and
financial contributions. However, the findings also looked at the negative consequences’
tourism can have on an environment, with uncontrolled tourism leading to greater levels of
visitors than what an environment is able to withstand, often leading to habitat loss and the
negative impacts that accompany environmental degradation, for example, soil degradation
and erosion. This highlights the importance of planning and implementing the right
restrictions.
Buckley, (2000) focused his research on Nature, Adventure and Ecotourism (NEAT) and
found this type of tourism, which is primarily in and around National Parks, to provide
alternative or additional land use opportunities, whilst providing contributions to the parks
operating costs, and creating opportunities for rural communities to have an income. These
points are all important in understanding the positive impacts tourism can have by providing
incentives to protect and restore natural habitats, providing support to the parks and giving
rural communities alternative and additional opportunities to make an income that are not
detrimental to the environment. Tourism, through creating revenue and employment in and
around high tourism areas, has created an economy that promotes the protection of the
environment and discourages the degradation or alternative use of land. There is an oftenused phrase, “if it pays, it stays” referring to the need for wildlife and natural areas to source
revenue and income to sustain themselves and potentially to offer additional economic
benefit to communities and the economy, tourism is a low impact way of achieving this.
Should there be no economic or political incentive to protect the environment, there is a
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strong risk of unsustainable or destructive practices been implemented on the land, as it may
not be seen as having value.
2. COMMUNITY
When we refer to community we refer to the Merriam-Webster(2021) definition of, “a
unified body of individuals: such as the people with common interests living in a particular
area and / or a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together
within a larger society.”
Tourism offers opportunities for both employment and the generation of income for local
communities, in addition to these benefits are the improvements of numerous local
services and infrastructure that high levels of tourism can result in, for example, better
roads, air access and access to better supplies (Mbaiwa, 2005). Pansiri and Mmeriki (2010)
found that tourism has a greater impact on the people who are either personally involved,
through employment or who can enjoy the tourism services available. Tourism can also assist
in the reduction of environmental degradation and criminal activity in the area.
It would seem logical then that communities would benefit from the tangible and intangible
benefits that accompany tourism, however, Mbaiwa (2005) found increasing tourism can
often lead to higher crime rates, increased sex workers and relocation of locals, amongst other
undesirable outcomes, which have a detrimental impact on the community.
It can be argued that communities without access to employment and income are at greater
risk of social upheaval and distress. Areas where there is little opportunity often lead to
people leaving the area and socially inactive people left behind with little support. In rural
areas, with little access to job opportunities and infrastructure, tourism could provide
opportunities. Healthy environments, supported by tourism could also offer better living
standards for communities.
3. CULTURE
When looking at culture we again make use of the Merriam Webster (2021) definition of,
“The customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social
group also the characteristic features of everyday existence”.
Nzama (2008) concluded that the negative benefits of tourism in a World Heritage Site in
South Africa where outweighed by the positive impacts. Mbaiwa (2005) went further to
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explain how through cultural tourism offerings local cultures can not only be preserved but
even rejuvenated and promoted. The negative impacts would need to be addressed by all
the relevant stakeholders, leading to better dialogue, management and ownership oof the
available opportunities.
Tourism can promote cultural pride and offer rewards for local cultures keeping their
traditions alive and showcasing their unique customs. Cultural tourism, as it is often
referred to, can increase the tourism potential and value of an area which in turn will
create additional opportunities for the local communities across a broad range of activities
from the making and selling of curios to traditional tourism offerings and the provision of
supporting services to the industry.
CONCLUSION
Tourism comes with many benefits and with them an accompanying number of negative
consequences. It is important for all stakeholders and participants in local tourism to be
involved in the planning, implementation and regulation of tourism to ensure that the
positives outweigh the adverse effects.
There is an increasing amount of research that the potential of tourism, primarily naturebased tourism, can positively benefit the environment, communities and the economy whilst
contributing to sustainable livelihoods. Furthermore, through the development of skills and
education that can accompany tourism, this can improve the local communities’ capacity for
resilience. (Winter et al., 2020, p. 07).
This does not ignore the fact that tourism can have a negative impact but rather that the
positive benefits are worth pursuing, whilst ensuring the negative consequences are planned
for, managed and where possible mitigated. A ban on tourism could have a more detrimental
impact on the environment, communities, and cultures by removing the economic
opportunities that the industry provides which in turn creates an incentive to protect the
environment, benefit communities and preserve cultures.
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REFERENCE LIST
1. Buckley, R. (2000) ‘Neat trends: Current issues in nature Eco – and adventure
tourism’, International Journal of Tourism Research, 2, pp 437 – 444.
DOI: 10.1002/1522-1970(200011/12)2:63.3.CO;2-R
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Okavango Delta, Botswana’, Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change 2(3), pp. 163 –
185.
3. Merriam Webster. (2021) ‘Community’. Available at https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/community (Accesses: 03 July 2021).
4. Merriam Webster. (2021) ‘Culture’. Available at https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/culture (Accesses: 03 July 2021).
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World Heritage Sites – The Case of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa’, South Asian
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