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The Way the People See It: The Main Problems and the Things to Tackle
Since the environmental problem is the most topical on the agenda of a range of countries in the modern society, the growing popularity of tourism cannot but concern the modern research teams (Scott 2003), institutes and individual researchers.
In spite of the fact that the tourism seems to have a most harmful effect on the environment and the wildlife of the planet, it does not end, but, on the contrary, takes its effect to ever greater scale.
Because of the factors of humans’ lives and the effect which they have on the nature, the climate change which is happening at the moment has a harmful effect on the wildlife and on the mankind. In spite of the fact tat the situation seems impossible to tackle, the scientists have already suggested a range of decisions which will help to reduce the harmful effect of human’s activity in general and tourism in particular.
One of those methods, called the asset-based community development, or ABCD, is one of the most perspective ways to solve the brewing problem which might result in serious changes in the wildlife and in people’s existence.
Moreover, taking into the consideration that the climate change can drive to different species of plants and animals vanishing from the face of the Earth, it becomes clear that the suggestion given by the ABCD needs immediate consideration.
Explaining the issue of the ABCD concern, Wisansing notes that it must take active part in the tourism industry. Emphasizing the importance of people being involved into the issues of the environmental protection and economics, he claims that together, the community can manage the industry no worse than the corresponding authorities:
What characterizes first and foremost this approach is a quest for community inputs through their active participation in the tourism development process. (49)
First of all, it is necessary to take account of the dangers which the climate change poses to the society and to the wildlife. It is quite understood that in the process of technological and industrial development, people did not pay the necessary attention to the wildlife and everything that concerned it, or touched upon it. Thus, the harmful influence of the mankind has taken its toll on the state of the modern environment.
It is absolutely clear that only a man and no one else is to blame for all global changes which the Earth is undergoing at the moment, as well as the disasters which have occurred during the process of technological development. Indeed, the impact of the power plants and factories built close to the wildlife and the natural resources has resulted in rare species vanishing, and the resources being completely exhausted.
Without contributing a tiniest amount of something useful to the wildlife and the nature, a man only takes the necessary resources out of it, which cannot help leading to another biological cataclysm. Indeed, the ways of people’s treating the nature and its reserves needs changing badly, otherwise there will be nothing to care about soon.
As it has been noticed by Koenig, the tourism industry is the branch which adds to a sufficient extent to the incomes of the Swiss. If the industry is abandoned, it will result in decrease of the country income and thus will have a negative influence on the people’s financial state, not to mention the numerous state enterprises which depend heavily on this very branch of industry.
Entertaining as it is, it still makes a great part of the total Swiss income, and leaving it to rot for the sake of the wildlife safety is no way out, for it will cause a lot of people to be unemployed and without any means to live.
However, Koenig also emphasizes that the entertainment industry and the environment are so closely interconnected with each other that, once the environment shows some anomalies, the industry will be posed to a serious danger.
The impacts of the three snow-deficient winters on ski resorts and on the entire tourism industry differed greatly among regions. The losses for the entire tourism industry — especially in the accommodation sector — were smaller than those of the transport companies (cable-cars, T-bars, chair-lifts).
For example, in the Canton of Grisons, the decreases in the number of overnight stays were nowhere as serious as the drops the transport sector had to cope with. (Koenig 1997, 47).
With regard to the above-mentioned situation, it is necessary to point out that the interdependence of the industry, the country income and the environmental issues might result in a quick and effective solution found by the scientists. It is clear now that the Swiss depend heavily on the state of their nature, and unless the changes occur, their well-being is greatly endangered.
Another example of the economical problems triggered by the changes in the climate of countries can be illustrated with the example of the Alps and the losses which the German tourism industry has suffered due to the fact that the winter has not been snowy enough and skiing was not possible under these circumstances:
The tourism representatives all agree that winter sports can only survive in the Alps if snow-reliability is guaranteed. Precisely, the smaller ski fields at lower altitudes either have their hands bound or can scarcely finance the necessary investments (e.g. snow cannons, levelling out ski slopes, opening higher-altitude chambers in skiing areas). (Elsasser 2002, 255)
With the factors not allowing the tourism industries to develop in the proper way, the well-being of the countries is being threatened. Since tourism is one of the main branches of industry in some countries, the results of the climate change can drag the consequences undesirable for both the country and its citizens. As it has been registered by Climate Chang and Tourism (2003),
By far the lion’s share of tourism activity takes place in Europe. This consists predominantly of tourist flows between the sub-regions of northern Europe (i.e. Northern Europe, Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe2), plus flows within those sub-regions. Together these accounted for 162 million arrivals in 2000. (23)
In addition, it is necessary to day that not only the countries where the entertainment industry depends on the nature and the environment might suffer as the aftereffects of the climate change come into power, but also the countries which are not quite rich in the natural resources and where any negative factor can result in the economic collapse.
Although Hamilton claims that “the impact of climate change should be seen in its context” (Hamilton 2005, 13), its influence on various industries in the countries all over the world is more than significant. It indicates that the nature has suffered crucial changes and that it needs certain help, which people can provide only in case they devote their actions to the environmental problems fully.
The Possible Solutions and Suggestions
Since the problems described above need the urgent solution, the methods which the scientists have suggested need serious consideration. In the light of what is happening in the wildlife at present, it is understood that people need to reconsider their attitude towards the wild nature, as well as their own ideas about managing the environment and planning their tourism.
One of the most modern solutions which have the potential to become the guidelines for the researchers to restore the wildlife is the above-mentioned ABCD.
Since it suggests the way to save the wildlife, quite different to what has been considered so far, the project has all grounds to become the main guideline for the people to start renovating the wildlife and making the nature rich and flourishing again. As the enthusiasts of the ABCD explain their point themselves,
Too often when approaching community improvement, people focus on what is wrong and requires fixing. Now there is a better way. Instead of occupying themselves with a community’s deficits, forward0thinking organizations are identifying and building on local assets.
After all, even the most troubled community has strengths. Once people’s eyes are open to community assets, a positive energy for change takes over. (Walker 25)
It is necessary to bear in mind that these are the people and their problems that need to be considered first and only then one should pass to looking for the improvements on the rest of the issues. Solving the problems which have been accumulated within the structure of the society is of greater importance than even the issues of global warming and the ozone holes.
As soon as people come to terms with each other and agree upon what they think their prior goal, and what means should be used in achieving this goal, and the measures which need to be undertaken when striving for the better future and suggesting the new ways to help the nature recover from people’s intrusions. As a matter of fact, UNTWO (2009) has suggested the idea of climate responsiveness for the mankind:
Given tourism’s importance in the global challenges of climate change and poverty reduction, there is a need to urgently adopt a range of policies which encourages truly sustainable tourism that reflects a “quadruple bottom line” of environmental, social, economic and climate responsiveness. (24)
Thus, according to Joppe, there is a way to make the tourism sustainable without exhausting the natural resources and causing the nature to be tossed out of its balance. It is highly recommendable that the natural sources should be taken a better care of, while people can search for a compromise which will help both to sustain the industry and to recover the natural resources.
Only recently are economic development officers becoming interested in developing tourism within the community; previously, it was seen as a responsibility of the Chamber of Commerce or whatever other organization was charged with promotion. (Joppe 476)
Thus, Joppe makes it understood that the recently suggested theory might help to improve the state of the nature without harming the national industries and supporting the domestic producers. Consequently, the countries which will undertake the enterprise aimed at improving the state of the environment will greatly benefit both economically and with respect to the natural goods and resources.
The latter replenished, there will be no restrictions as for the development of the national industries and their prosperity. Such compromises might take the counties to a further improvement of the state of the wildlife, and the rest of the countries can also follow the example of those who will have succeed in the new way of conducting the economical processes.
Thus, one of the most recent case studies concerning the skiing industry has shown that a compromise is possible (Katzenberger 2006). Beg (2002) also emphasizes that the issue of sustaining tourism is more than simply being eco-friendly and not bringing harm to the existing ecological system.
Another cross-cutting sustainability issue relates to maintaining eco-system “health”. Climate change may threaten eco-system health in a number of important ways, including accelerating irreversible change such as through loss of species and of habitats (e.g. coral reef systems). (131)
Generally speaking, the issue of sustaining tourism has been one of the key ideas of the ABCD. Unwilling to harm the countries which literally survive on tourism, where the people coming to see the sights are the only source of income and the tourism industry is the only value for money, the ABCD organization takes the notion of sustainable tourism as one of the key elements to saving the environment without harming the people.
To get the general picture of what the sustainable tourism is, it would be necessary to quote UNWTO, who claims that the tourists who visit the developing countries can “Help local populations develop their own social projects, or support with donations local initiatives aimed at improving living conditions” (UNWTO 7).
With such humane measures undertaken, and with the tourists unwilling to harm the environment, both goals can be achieved.
At this point, the issue of ecotourism emerges. Aimed at maintaining tourism industry without bringing harm to the environment, ecotourism was defined by Khanal (2007) as “travelling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objectives of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestations (both past and present) found in these areas” (2), the novelty suggests a new way of saving the wildlife.
Denman (2001) suggests that the community-based ecotourism should be aimed at satisfying the needs of the tourists first, so that they could get the maximum advantage of the given kind of tourism, otherwise they will be tempted to cling to another kinds of tourism, which are less demanding in terms of caring the wildlife. The issues of people’s interest must be prior to such kind of tourism industry.
“All community-based ecotourism products should offer a high quality of visitor experience and be subject to a rigorous business plan.” (Denman 18). He also insists that the ecotourism issue must make an efficient use of the modern market technologies in order to attract s many visitors as possible:
Ecotourism projects must be based on an understanding of market demand and consumer expectations and how to place the product offer effectively in the market place. (Denman 16)
The means to control the environment with help of the economical means also suggests that the actions undertaken by people need certain verification and that the consequences of those actions must be calculated to every possible detail. Each and every nicety ahs to be taken into account, otherwise there will be no possible improvement.
Among the suggested models of saving the environment and leaving the enterprises untouched is the Hamburg Tourism model suggested by Hamilton (2007).
He emphasizes that this study, aimed at close investigation of the environmental problems caused by the unceasing tourism has driven to some practical results, yet not quite sufficient to speak of improvement. Speaking about the importance of analyzing the economic data in correspondence with the environmental changes which have taken place, the study still proves incomplete:
There are several other shortcomings of the HTM. Its resolution is crude. It does not distinguish seasons, nor classifies tourists by age, income or trip purpose. Spatially, the model is restricted to countries. This paper only improves on the last shortcoming by downscaling to regions. (Hamilton 2007, 162)
In response to the unfortunate study conducted, the scientists have suggested another way of changing the environmental situation.
Described above, the idea of using the assets of the communities to fight the problems of the nature and the changes which it is temporarily undergoing, seems to suite the current needs of the economics and the environment in the very best way, allowing people both to concentrate on the needs of the nature and the replenishment of its resources, as well as on the economical issues, without devoting too much of the state income to the restoration of the resources.
As a matter of fact, this is the alternative development which Pieterse (2000) was talking about. Thus, the model suggested by the ABCD is one of the most efficient as for today, and it seems that the results which it is going to bring are the most valuable fro the modern society and its needs.
Conclusion
With regard to everything that has been said above, it is quite obvious that the new strategy suggested by ABCD is vital and it can be applied to the existing situation so that it could be somehow improved.
Although the positive effect of the above-mentioned theory has not been verified yet, the assumptions and the calculations which have been made so far allow to suggest that the model applied to the reality can have a huge positive effect on the environmental situation, also improving the tourism industry and allowing the developing countries to participate in the project, getting their own profit.
In spite of the numerous buts and cons against the theory suggested by ABCD, it must be admitted that there is no alternative to the new strategy, or, at least, no alternative the effect of which would be of the same scale.
The touchstones of the suggested theory of the environment-friendly tourism is the only existing theory which can help the mankind to maintain the economical level and to rescue the natural resources that have not been wasted yet. With the new methods, there is also the hope to replenish the missing resources.
Thus, it is possible to claim that the new theory has all grounds to be put into practice. When the safety of the environment depends on the mankind, it is people’s duty to do everything possible to slow down the climate change and minimize its negative effect. With such an approach, there is a possibility to live on a flourishing planet.
Reference List
Beg, N. et al. (2002). Linkages Between Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Climate Policy, 2, 129-144.
Denman, R. (2001). Guidelines for Community-Based Ecotourism Development. WWF International, Gland: WWF International,1-26.
Elsasser. H. & Burki, R. (2002). Climate Change as a Threat to Tourism in the Alps, Climate Research, 20. 253-255.
Hamilton, J. M. & Tol, R. S. J. (2005). The Impact of the Climate Change on Tourism and Recreation. Hamburg: University of Hamburg, 1-27.
Hamilton, J. M., & Tol, R. S. J. (2007). The Impact of Climate Change on Tourism in Germany, the UK and Ireland: a Simulation Study. Reg Environ Change, 7, 161-167
Joppe, M. Sustainable Community Tourism Development Revisited. Tourism Management. 17 (7), 475-479.
Katzenberger, J. et al. (2006) Climate Change and Aspen: an Assessment of Impacts and Potential Responses. Aspen, CO: Aspen Global Change Institute.
Khanal, B. R. & Babar, J. T. (2007). Community Based Ecotourism for Sustainable Tourism Development in the Mekong Region. Cuts International. 1, 1-8.
Koenig, U. & Abegg, B. (1997). Impacts of Climate Change on Winter Tourism in the Swiss Alps. U. Koenig & B. Abegg. 5 (1), 46-58
Pieterse, J. N. (2000). My Paradigm or Yours? Alternative Development, Post Development, Reflexive Development. Netherlands: Institute of Social Studies, 343-373.
Scott, D. (2003) Climate Change and Tourism. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism. Djerba, Tunisia, 1-55.
UNWTO. (2006) Tourism Can Help In Poverty Alleviation. What Can You Do? Geneva: World Tourism Organization. 1-8
UNTWO. (2009). From Davos to Copenhagen and Beyond: Advancing Tourism’s Response to Climate Change. Geneva: World Tourism Organization, 1-27.
Walker, J. E. (2006). Building from Strength. Asset-Based Community Development. Communities & Banking. Boston, MA: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 25-27
Wisansing, J. (2005). Towards Community Driven Tourism Planning: a Critical Relief of Theoretical Demands and Practical Issues. Alberta: Venture Publishing, 47-59.
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