Some
people believe that tourists should accept social and environmental responsibility
while others believe that tourists should not accept any responsibility at all.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
people believe that tourists should accept social and environmental responsibility
while others believe that tourists should not accept any responsibility at all.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is irrefutable that tourism
industry has become the backbone of many economies of the world. No wonder all
countries are opening their doors to tourists. The negative social and
environmental impacts of tourism have led many to suggest that tourists should
accept responsibility for this. I definitely agree with this notion.
Eco-tourism, sustainable-tourism, responsible-tourism, modern-tourism or
whatever name you may like to give it, is the need of the hour. In the
following paragraphs, I intend to put forth my arguments to support my view.
industry has become the backbone of many economies of the world. No wonder all
countries are opening their doors to tourists. The negative social and
environmental impacts of tourism have led many to suggest that tourists should
accept responsibility for this. I definitely agree with this notion.
Eco-tourism, sustainable-tourism, responsible-tourism, modern-tourism or
whatever name you may like to give it, is the need of the hour. In the
following paragraphs, I intend to put forth my arguments to support my view.
The most important reason why
tourists should be responsible is that many tourist destinations are endangered
now because of the litter and pollution spread by the tourists. For example,
the Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, which is a popular tourist spot, once got so badly
damaged by the wrappers and plastic bottles which tourists threw that no
boating could be done there and it smelled so bad that people stopped going
there. It took months to get it cleaned up and restore tourism there. The local
people and the governments cannot handle such situation effectively unless the
tourists themselves lend a hand by being careful.
tourists should be responsible is that many tourist destinations are endangered
now because of the litter and pollution spread by the tourists. For example,
the Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, which is a popular tourist spot, once got so badly
damaged by the wrappers and plastic bottles which tourists threw that no
boating could be done there and it smelled so bad that people stopped going
there. It took months to get it cleaned up and restore tourism there. The local
people and the governments cannot handle such situation effectively unless the
tourists themselves lend a hand by being careful.
Secondly, there is
over-consumption of resources by tourists such as of water and fuel and this is
incompatible with sustainable development. Tourist demand for resources such as
water and food may also compete with the needs of local people and may lead to
injustice with the locals. For example, in Shimla, a popular hill station,
tourists stay in five star accommodations and take two showers a day whereas
the people outside are short of drinking water. To add to it many tourism
activities such as skiing, boating, motorised water- sports, and trekking
represent a stress to fragile ecosystems. Who will welcome the tourists to
those places if tourists don’t accept responsibility? Instead of five star
accommodations, they could live with the locals and be satisfied with one
shower a day.
over-consumption of resources by tourists such as of water and fuel and this is
incompatible with sustainable development. Tourist demand for resources such as
water and food may also compete with the needs of local people and may lead to
injustice with the locals. For example, in Shimla, a popular hill station,
tourists stay in five star accommodations and take two showers a day whereas
the people outside are short of drinking water. To add to it many tourism
activities such as skiing, boating, motorised water- sports, and trekking
represent a stress to fragile ecosystems. Who will welcome the tourists to
those places if tourists don’t accept responsibility? Instead of five star
accommodations, they could live with the locals and be satisfied with one
shower a day.
Finally, if tourists do not
respect the local people’s culture and environment, then the natives would be
hostile towards them and the whole purpose of tourism would be lost. For
example, in our religious places, it is customary to cover our head and take
off our shoes. If tourists don’t do so they would not be welcome by our people
there. So, the onus is on the tourist to know beforehand the norms of the place
and fortunately nowadays, everything is available on the net or one can get all
information from the tour operators.
respect the local people’s culture and environment, then the natives would be
hostile towards them and the whole purpose of tourism would be lost. For
example, in our religious places, it is customary to cover our head and take
off our shoes. If tourists don’t do so they would not be welcome by our people
there. So, the onus is on the tourist to know beforehand the norms of the place
and fortunately nowadays, everything is available on the net or one can get all
information from the tour operators.
Responsible tourism is everyone’s
responsibility. The well-being of the destination is not only the responsibility
of the tourism sector – it is also the responsibility of the tourist. That is
why it has rightly been said that – ‘A good tourist is one who leaves behind
nothing, but footprints; and takes away nothing, but photographs.
responsibility. The well-being of the destination is not only the responsibility
of the tourism sector – it is also the responsibility of the tourist. That is
why it has rightly been said that – ‘A good tourist is one who leaves behind
nothing, but footprints; and takes away nothing, but photographs.