Sustainable tourism is a myth
Sustainable tourism is a myth. Discuss
Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries and is a major source of income for many countries, however, tourism can also have its share of problems on a country, such as loss of cultural heritage. People are now seeking more responsible holidays, these include various forms of sustainable tourism such as ‘eco-tourism’ and ‘Cultural tourism’.
Sustainable tourism is ‘a form of ongoing tourism development which helps to preserve and protect the environment and ecosystems from being destroyed by acting sustainably and in such a way that we respect local traditions and heritage’. So is sustainable tourism as sustainable as everybody thinks?
Sustainable tourism is thought to not exist within eco tourism for one specific reason, this being the transportation there! There is not yet a sustainable mode of overseas transportation. Of course it’s ok if you don’t live far away from the destination so can get there by your sustainable energy efficient car, but most sustainable tourism locations are very remote and nowhere near commercialised areas, such as the Galapagos Islands where the only human residents are indigenous tribes. The only way of getting to these islands are by boat or plane which both are highly inefficient, E.g. a plane from Heathrow to the Galapagos islands releases roughly 298392kg of CO2 one way.
One of the main reasons sustainable tourism is actually sustainable is because it should have a low impact on the local culture, it should also provide jobs for the local residents and income for the country. Thomas Cook is a good example of why sustainable tourism is in doubt. For example you can book a package trip to the Galapagos islands through Thomas Cook for £2399 which includes the flight, a cruise and a place to stay whilst your there. This could be in a hotel which is all inclusive. This hotel would probably be a hotel in partnership with Thomas cook and although a few jobs may be provided for
Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries and is a major source of income for many countries, however, tourism can also have its share of problems on a country, such as loss of cultural heritage. People are now seeking more responsible holidays, these include various forms of sustainable tourism such as ‘eco-tourism’ and ‘Cultural tourism’.
Sustainable tourism is ‘a form of ongoing tourism development which helps to preserve and protect the environment and ecosystems from being destroyed by acting sustainably and in such a way that we respect local traditions and heritage’. So is sustainable tourism as sustainable as everybody thinks?
Sustainable tourism is thought to not exist within eco tourism for one specific reason, this being the transportation there! There is not yet a sustainable mode of overseas transportation. Of course it’s ok if you don’t live far away from the destination so can get there by your sustainable energy efficient car, but most sustainable tourism locations are very remote and nowhere near commercialised areas, such as the Galapagos Islands where the only human residents are indigenous tribes. The only way of getting to these islands are by boat or plane which both are highly inefficient, E.g. a plane from Heathrow to the Galapagos islands releases roughly 298392kg of CO2 one way.
One of the main reasons sustainable tourism is actually sustainable is because it should have a low impact on the local culture, it should also provide jobs for the local residents and income for the country. Thomas Cook is a good example of why sustainable tourism is in doubt. For example you can book a package trip to the Galapagos islands through Thomas Cook for £2399 which includes the flight, a cruise and a place to stay whilst your there. This could be in a hotel which is all inclusive. This hotel would probably be a hotel in partnership with Thomas cook and although a few jobs may be provided for