| Protecting the environment is now one of the | | | | environmental and historical significance are |
| most talked-about and hotly-debated topics | | | | becoming crowded. This is putting pressure on |
| across the globe. Many companies are spending | | | | ecosystems within these areas and threatening |
| hundreds of millions of dollars to create products | | | | the flora and fauna. Also climate change is going |
| or make their products environmentally friendly. | | | | to mean that certain places will not favour visitors |
| An example is the electric car that is being looked | | | | because of weather conditions becoming extreme |
| at as a viable option to that of the present | | | | which will lead to overcrowding in other places |
| gasoline powered car. In 2009 world leaders met | | | | with more favourable weather conditions. Again |
| in Copenhagen to discuss ways in which they can | | | | this presents a danger to the ecosystems in the |
| prevent global warming and reduce on the effects | | | | overcrowded areas and to the tourism of the |
| of climate change, in effect protecting the | | | | area. |
| environment. The travel industry too has not | | | | 3. Deforestation. In spite of the worldwide call to |
| been left out of this issue. In an industry where | | | | protect the environment there are still areas |
| the number of people engaged in international | | | | where massive logging is taking place. This is also |
| travel has been predicted to reach the billion mark | | | | contributing to destruction of flora and fauna and |
| in 2010, there is concern about its contribution to | | | | is a threat to the tourism in those areas. |
| the damage done to the environment. Also like | | | | 4. With the call to go green affecting all industries |
| every other industry the travel industry needs to | | | | across the globe the tourism industry has not |
| be concerned about ways of doing business that | | | | been left out. There is pressure on those who are |
| are environmentally friendly. Outlined below are | | | | in the industry to find methods of doing business |
| some of the environmental issues affecting the | | | | that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. |
| travel industry which stakeholders need to | | | | For example can the hotel industry build hotels |
| address and in some cases seek out long term | | | | that are more environmentally friendly? What |
| solutions. | | | | methods can they use to conserve energy and |
| 1. Aviation which ferries hundreds of thousands of | | | | reduce on chemicals that are used in the dry |
| tourists across the globe is of great concern to | | | | cleaning of tons of laundry used in the industry? |
| those seeking to protect the environment. A | | | | 5. Human encroachment. With populations |
| major concern for the industry is greenhouse gas | | | | continuing to grow worldwide there is now |
| emissions and their implication for climate change. | | | | competition between man and animals for space. |
| Aviation produces at least two percent of | | | | Humans are now encroaching on areas like |
| emissions. One way the aviation industry is | | | | National Parks that are protected and marked for |
| working on this problem is by rolling out newer | | | | wildlife. This has led to reports of people and their |
| planes that have fuel efficient engines which | | | | livestock being killed by wild animals which in turn |
| means less carbon emissions. However not all | | | | leads to people hunting and killing these animals |
| airlines especially in the poorer countries can | | | | that are considered to be a threat. This is a |
| afford buying new aircraft. | | | | threat to the tourism of the area. Human |
| 2. Mass tourism. With the cost of travel becoming | | | | encroachment is also forcing animals to move |
| cheaper and more and more people venturing | | | | away from their habitat to other areas where |
| further away from their countries to places that | | | | they cannot survive leading to the extinction of |
| were previously inaccessible but can now be | | | | certain species. |
| reached because of air transport, areas of | | | | |