Sustainable Tourism: Impact & Challenges

This assignment delves into the multifaceted impacts of sustainable tourism initiatives, focusing on the perspectives of residents and their communities. It requires a critical examination of both positive and negative consequences, exploring how sustainable tourism can contribute to development while mitigating potential harm. Students are tasked with identifying key challenges hindering the effective implementation of sustainable tourism practices and proposing innovative solutions to address these issues.

Running head: SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Sustainable Tourism Development
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Introduction
The aim of the assignment is to discuss the importance of the stakeholders in the tourism
development at different levels by substantiating the case studies provided. The detailed
discussion has been made which covers the picture of the sustainable development of the tourism
and its impact on the future. Against this background, the negative and positive impacts of the
tourism have been evaluated along with the concept of sustainable development.
Task 1
Draft 1
Q1. Discuss the role of major stakeholders in a Sustainable Tourism Project like the one
in the Lake District (make sure you discuss Publics/,private sector and voluntary
organisation along with locals) (AC 1.1)
The contribution of the public sector is important in terms of administrative and
economy, which deals with the good delivery and the services for the government
whether local/municipal, or regional (Rio and Nunes 2012). The Government continues
to make concerted effort in order to secure the protected areas through the mode of
financial support. The lake district is funded directly from DEFRA.
The private sectors’ contribution in the tourism development to achieve economic
growth, create a decent job for the people by following CSR(Rio and Nunes 2012).
The voluntary organization is having 200 people who have engaged themselves to work
for the Lake district like the rangers, estate and forestry teams, ecologists, archaeologists

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Q2. Discuss how stakeholders( at least 3) can benefit from planning of tourism
developments? (from large scale , to national , regional and local level) (AC 2.1)
Government benefits at national level are, that this sector is getting 35% of tax from the
tourism and this in turn leading to the growth in the economy. At the Regional level, the
government can focus on regional development by focussing on infrastructural growth
such as schools, roads, markets and so forth and from there the Government can income
money (Weiermair and Peters 2012). At the local level, the benefits can be enhancing the
interaction with the tourism agencies through the government and employment of the
local people in the tourism industry.
Private sector at national level can form partnership with the public sector and contribute
to the national growth. At the regional level, the private sector can benefit financially
from the point of view of tourism. If the private sector builds up tourist sectors in the
context of natural beauty, it can definitely attract tourists and make the region popular. In
the local level, the private sectors for the purpose of the tourism development, can hire
people from the locality and train them accordingly to serve the tourists. This would
further increase of the employees in the private sector. (Weiermair and Peters 2012).
Voluntary organizations at a national level would profit by cooperating with the
government and helping out the tourists. However, their contribution in national level is
not significant (Weiermair and Peters 2012). At the regional level, the voluntary
organization can benefit by providing help to the tourists and receiving commission for
them so that they can visit any nearby tourist spots. In the local level, the organizations
can receive help while operating with the harmony in local government, culture and
community and can get financial benefits from them (Weiermair and Peters 2012).

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Q3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages (at Least 3) of public/private sector
tourism planning partnerships.(AC 1.2)
The public private partnerships together bring improvements in the tourism sector. It renders
help to frame designs, business plans and take monetary assistance from the private ownership.
With PPPs, the government might able to include the cost economy in maintaining and operating
services.
However, the private partners might suffer labour issues, monetary problems out of this public
private relationship. If Public Private partnership is not properly framed, the contracts of PPP
might result in reducing quality of the services, lack or inefficiency of suitable maintenance of
the installation (Weiermair and Peters 2012).
Q4. Explain the importance of interactive planning systems and processes in tourism
development. What are the pros and cons of having such a system for example in the Lake
District Case Study context (AC 2.2).
Interactive planning system plays a vital role in the tourism development success. It
means that the stakeholders in tourism can provide benefits in the local area promoting
particular development environmentally, economically and socially. Planning system in

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the tourism is regulating the transformation to ensure that the development is achieved in
regard to the intentions, rendering environmental, economic advantages to the process of
development (Leon 2012). This planning system of tourism has benefitted the Lake
District of England profoundly. The Lake District was previously a plotland. When this
plotland came under the consideration of the stakeholders, then it became necessary to
develop for the tourist attractions. The public, private and the voluntary organizations
played a tremendous role to develop the plotland and attract the tourists in their area.
Q5. What is good about the concept of sustainable development? Visit the
website below and use the full Charter for Sustainable Tourism to justify your answer
http://www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/charter.html (AC 3.1).
The sustainable development of tourism is a good concept as it gives recognition to the
tourism as it contributes positively to the cultural and socio-economic zone, on the other
hand, it as well recognized tourism, as the contributor to the environmental degradation
(Leon 2012). It looks at the pros and cons of the tourism, also at the same time, it takes
into consideration to gives protection to the dignity of human of both tourists and local
communities. It focuses on the fact that tourism must make its contribution to the
sustainable development and be integrated with human, cultural and natural environment.
It is ensured that tourism must ensure the acceptance of the evolution in context to its
influence on the bio diversity, natural resources and the capacity for the assimilation of
any influences and residues produced.

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Q6. Investigate the factors that hinder sustainable tourism development in the above
context. (AC 3.2).
The factors involved are
With the changes in the global climate, it results in the increasing of temperature, the rise
in the level of sea and the occurrence of frequent hurricanes. Weather plays a significant
role in the tourism industry. This climate change would negatively affect not only the bio
diversity but the natural resources as well. The influence of the rise of sea level on the
industry of tourism can be resulted in the increasing erosion in the beach. Violence and
crime was also becoming major factor to the achievement of the sustainable development
as it affects not only the life of the human beings, but also the economic development.
Q7. Analyse different stages in planning for sustainability in the above context. (AC 3.3).
It is important to define the goals and objectives for the tourism and it makes sure the
latter is the sub set of the objectives. The objectives of tourism incorporate the
sustainable environment.
Next part of the plan includes identifying the system of tourism is to take them to any
tourist sites and make them aware about the environmental degradation and the
importance of the environment.
Later recommending them about the steps that are necessary to take for the sustainability

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of the environment.
Q8. List positive and negative impacts of tourism (at least 3 each) evaluating different
methods available to measure tourist impact (Economic, social and environmental
measures).(AC 2.3)
From the point of view of economic factors, tourism creates, the development is mainly
linked with the economic progress (Griggs et al 2013). Therefore, most often measures
that are used in the research of tourism are concerned with the economic impacts, the
potential of the tourism can be understood as the total increase in the people’s income
located in a specific zone, usually measured in the financial terms. Measures dealing with
the direct gains of tourism incorporate the earnings from employment, profits in business
and the number of jobs increasing. The economic impacts can be measured with the
STEAM model, which measure the number of visitors, the way it is generating incomes
and expenditure levels of the visitors. Environmental measures focuses on the
ecotourism process in the context of tourism industry through the process implemented
by EIA. The planning by EIA includes carrying out exercises by the developers and the
other bodies, which allowed the local planning authority to understand the negative
impacts of environment. EIA further assesses the ecotourism promotes conservation of
natural resources and wildlife as they are considered to be the assets of government. On
the other hand, tourism includes threat to the natural and cultural resources to a region
such as supply of water, heritage sites and coral. Such threats increase pollution through
the emissions of greenhouse gases from traffic and increasing the production of sewage

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and noise (Griggs et al 2013).
From the social factor, The intensity rate of tourism which includes the visitors per
1000 populations and per square kilometer of the entire area of land is another process to
measure the impacts of the developments in local and ultimately HDI used by UN. The
improvements of the infrastructure results from tourism provide benefit to the local
community. Tourism encourages the preservation of the occidental customs, festivals and
handicrafts (Griggs et al 2013). However, on the other hand, the behavior of the visitors
can have a detrimental effect on the environment. Such as alcohol problems, drug abuse
and the increasing levels of crimes can occur.
Task 2
1. Suggest and examine methods of resolving a conflict of interests between the various
stakeholders to ensure the future well-being of Okavango delta as a tourism
destination and discuss the pros and cons. (AC 4.1)
Okavango Delta is a wetland Zone includes a wildlife habitat for the international
interest. There are almost 120,000 people in this area. However, the major problems of
this enclave are low incomes limited source of food, unemployment, and periodic crop. In
order to bring development in this area, the foreign companies have established tourism
business. Tourism is a good way to improve the economy of the regions that has poor
development (Naidoo et al. 2017). In Okavango the tourism business has been developed
however, there is limited interaction between the stakeholders. The local people are not

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getting a good job as they are recruited for low skill and low pay occupation. The higher
positions are occupied by the foreign employees. Hence, the limited interaction between
the visitors and the local people and the issues in occupying good job position highlight
on the major conflicts between the stakeholders.
Conducting a forum to reduce the conflict between the stakeholders is a good way.
However, this forum enables the authority of the business to arrange a meeting, which
allows the stakeholders to express their viewpoints (Saarinen 2017). The meeting should
be productive and needs to drive towards the resolution. This will be a good way to
minimize the conflicts between the stakeholders in the context of Okavango. This will
help the local people of this area to establish a better communication with foreign
employees; as a result, cultural tourism will be developed.
The tourism industries need to focus on the cultural heritage and the traditional element
in order to develop the service interest for a particular area (Monterrubio et al. 2017). In the
context of Okavango, the maximum employees those occupied a higher position in the
tourism industry are foreigners. On the other hand, the local people are resisted to get a
chance to occupy the good position. Hence, the tourism department in this area needs to
provide more concern to the local cultures and the elements to make a collaborative work
between the local people and the foreign employees. This may reduce the stakeholder’s
conflicts.
The tourism industry in Okavango needs to advocate however, it is important to reduce
the favouritism. In order to maintain the human right in the working sector, it is essential
to develop policy in the workplace, which will reduce favouritism (Loperena 2017). In the

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context of Okavango, the local people fail to get the similar right for a job position in
comparison to the foreign employees. Hence, reduction of the favouritism will be helpful
for these people to reduce conflicts between the stakeholders. On the other hand, state
and regional government need to play important role in protecting the human right in
Okavango region to minimize the stakeholder’s conflict.
2. What are the implications of balancing supply and demand in that region. (AC 4.2)
Service is supplied based on the demand of the customers. However, in the tourism
industry, they need to make a balance between the supply and the demand of the
consumers (Bramwell et al. 2017). In order to supply the service properly, it is important
for the tourism industry of Okavango to forecast the demand of the customers in the
tourism industry. By making a balance between the demand and supply in the tourism
industry the organization is able to satisfy their customers. In the context of Okavango,
there is high poverty and development of the seasonal crop. For this reason, providing
sufficient amount of food to the tourists is a big challenge for the tourism industry in
Okavango. However, the tourist organizations have met these challenges as the main
lodges of this region supply food from the South Africa. As a result, a balance has been
created between the supply and demand, which increases the number of customers in this
region.
In order to make effective sales, it is crucial for the tourism business to keep a balance
between the supply and demand (Boley et al. 2017). In the context of Okavango, if the

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tourism business keeps the balance between the demand and the supply they will be able
to reduce the operation cost that usually occurs due to the unplanned promotional
activities. The tourism industries have to struggle constantly by keeping the balance
between the balance and supply in Okavango as there is poor chance to get food sources
and other faculties for the tourists. However, this area is congested with crop failure and
high incidence of disease. As a result, the customer service can be hampered in this
region (Loperena 2017). Hence, by maintaining equilibrium between the demand and
supply the tourism industry will be able to provide delicate service in this enclave, which
will enhance their profit margin.
3. Make a judgement of both positive and negatives aspects of enclave tourism for
Okavango Delta (Look at the moral and ethical aspect)(AC 4.3)
Enclave tourism is a process of development of the tourism business in a small geographical
region where people can fulfill their travel interest without going outside the country (Boluk et al.
2017). The major positive aspect of enclave tourism is environmental protection. Okavango Delta
is wetland zone with wild habitat. Hence, the establishment of the tourism industry in this area
will protect the natural resources and wildlife. On the other hand, the infrastructure of such

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wetland as road, electricity, telecom service and water supply will be improved in order
establishes the tourism business. These are beneficial for the local people of such region. On the
other hand, the employment rate has increased in Okavango as many people have got a job in the
tourism sector. Foreign exchange, cultural preservation, and development of the healthcare
service are the major positive aspects of enclave tourism (Monterrubio et al. 2017). In Okavango
Delta, many foreign tourism businesses have developed that generate the import of food, which
reduces the food scarcity in this area. On the other hand, improvement of the health service for
the tourists also helpful for the local people to give them a disease-free life as this region is
covered with various diseases.
Cultural destruction is a major negative impact of enclave tourism (Saarinen 2017). In Okavango
Delta, there is less interaction between the tourists and the local people, which affects the culture
of this region. On the other hand, low benefit like low job security and no work safety are other
issues of enclave tourism. The people of Okavango get poor job position due to their low skill
and the jobs are not secured. On the other hand, the maximum revenue from the tourism business
goes to the outside of this region, which affects the local development.
Task 3
1. Compare current issues associated with tourism development in Thailand and
Nepal.(AC 5.1)

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Current issues in Nepal incorporate the environmental problems due to the tourism such as
pollution, deforestation. Deforestation has become serious problems in the Sagarmantha National
Park (Nepal 2013). The tourists there used the firewood to cook and eat due to the absence of
sources of energy in that specific area. At the same time, lodging activities are also being
encouraged in order to meet the demand of the tourism (Cohen and Cohen 2012).
Even in Thailand, there are some negative impacts made by the tourists such as environmental
harm and the pollution. Out of this tourism, there is also an increase of HIV and AIDS which are
spreading negative impacts in the country (Sharpley and Telfer 2014; Muzzine and Aparacio
2013).
2. Evaluate, with recommendations, the future development of tourism in these
above 2 destinations (Thailand and Nepal)(AC 5.2)
In Nepal, deforestation took place due to the lack of energy resources and the using of
firewood. Government must look into the matter deeply and provide the area with the
necessary energy resources so that the tourists do not over utilize the forest resources.
In Thailand, in order to stop Sex tourism, the country can adopt certain measures such as
checking the identification of the person and further job descriptions of that person. There
should be continuous check on the probable areas where prostitution takes place. If any
such incidents are caught then the situation needs to be taken under control immediately.

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Conclusion
Thus, it can be stated that sustainable development in the tourism sector is necessary. In
this topic, accordingly, the contributions of the stakeholders are being mentioned and their
functions at different level in order to promote tourism. Against this background, with the help of
the case studies, it became easier to propound the different ideas regarding the tourism
development and further recommendations are substantiated in regard to the tourism
development in Thailand and China.