Impacts of Tourism (SQA National 5 Geography): Revision Note

Impacts of Mass Tourism

Positive impacts on people

• Creates jobs in hotels, restaurants and entertainment

  • This increases local incomes and standards of living

• Tourism brings money into the local economy through spending on food and trips

  • This increases tax revenue, meaning governments can afford to invest more in public services and infrastructure

  • It also creates a multiplier effect, leading to economic growth

• There are improvements to infrastructure (such as electricity, roads and airports) and facilities (such as health clinics and water parks)

  • This can benefit locals by providing access to better services and making it easier to commute to work

• Tourism promotes cultural exchange and helps to keep traditions alive

  • Local cultures and traditions may be valued by tourists, helping to preserve them

  • People learn new skills, such as speaking multiple languages

Negative impacts on people

• Jobs may be seasonal and poorly paid

  • This means that improvements in the standard of living might be minimal 

• Local people may not benefit economically as much as expected

  • Many mass tourism companies are multinational, so money leaves the local economy (known as leakage)

  • All-inclusive tourist resorts mean that tourists don’t spend much money in local restaurants or pay for local tour guides

  • If countries borrow money to invest in tourism, it can increase national debt

• Large numbers of tourists might increase traffic congestion and cause overcrowding

  • This can cause noise pollution, reducing the quality of life for residents

• High demand may also lead to rising house prices, meaning that local people can’t afford to stay in the area

• The behaviour of tourists can sometimes offend local people and cause tensions

  • Over-consumption of alcohol may lead to anti-social behaviour

  • Tourists may not respect local cultures, for example, in relation to dress codes

Positive impacts on the environment

• Beaches may be cleaned up to help attract tourists

  • Blue Flag beaches are internationally recognised for high water quality and effective environmental management

• Tourism can provide an incentive for governments to designate land as nature reserves, conserving ecosystems and biodiversity, while generating income

• Profits from tourism can be invested in environmental management, e.g. waste management systems or conservation projects 

Negative impacts on the environment

• Mass tourism can cause pollution and damage the environment

  • Large numbers of flights lead to increased carbon emissions, contributing to global warming

  • Increased traffic and congestion lead to air pollution

  • Too many visitors can cause footpath erosion or litter problems

  • Increased sewage may lead to water pollution, threatening aquatic and marine species

• Large-scale tourist development, such as resorts and hotels, can lead to the clearance of ecosystems

  • This reduces wildlife habitats, threatening biodiversity

Impacts of Eco-Tourism

Positive impacts on people

• Provides economic benefits for local communities

  • For example, by creating jobs and funding local services

  • This increases income and improves the standard of living

  • Locals can make extra money by offering guided tours, selling handmade crafts, and providing local accommodation

• Helps to preserve cultures and traditions

  • Travellers to the area are encouraged to respect and learn about the cultural heritage of the area

• Improves education and skills

  • Visitors learn about conservation efforts, local ecosystems, and sustainable practices

  • Local people learn about sustainable land management and develop skills such as tour guiding

• Empowers local communities

  • If eco-tourist resorts are small and locally-owned, communities may be involved in decision-making

Negative impacts on people

• The total number of jobs is limited due to the small-scale nature of eco-tourism

• Income can be unreliable if tourism is seasonal

  • This means that improvements in the standard of living might be minimal

• When nature reserves and national parks are established, local communities may lose their land and source of income

  • For example, in Kenya, pastoralists from the Maasai tribe have lost grazing lands, leading to a loss of culture 

• Local people may be exploited for cheap labour or as a cultural attraction

  • Tour companies may be owned by foreign businesses which benefit more than local residents

  • Traditional cultures could become diluted as local people grow more accustomed to tourists

Positive impacts on the environment

• Environmental protection is prioritised

  • Eco-lodges often ensure minimal negative impact on the natural environment by limiting resource use, pollution and damage to ecosystems

• Governments and local communities are incentivised to protect local ecosystems

  • Eco-tourism helps to generate income while protecting the environment, but only if the landscape is unspoiled

  • This discourages activities that degrade the environment, such as hunting or deforestation

• Provides money to fund conservation efforts

  • Eco-tourists are often willing to pay park entrance fees and make donations to help protect the environment

• Visitor rules help to reduce any negative environmental impact

  • For example, ‘do not pick plants or flowers’, ‘do not feed animals’

Negative impacts on the environment

• Sometimes, ecosystems are damaged to create eco-lodges or souvenirs

  • For example, trees may be cut down for wood or to make space for developments

• Even relatively small numbers of visitors can disrupt and degrade ecosystems

  • Visitors can generate waste, cause soil erosion and put pressure on water supplies

  • Noise may scare wildlife and disrupt breeding

• Overseas tourists increase carbon emissions, contributing to global warming

  • Eco-tourist destinations are often remote, requiring long-distance travel by air and road