Environmental Impacts
The quality of the environment, both natural and man-made, is essential to tourism. However, tourism's relationship with the environment is complex. It involves many activities that can have adverse environmental effects. Many of these impacts are linked with the construction of general infrastructure such as roads and airports, and of tourism facilities, including resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, golf courses and marinas. The negative impacts of tourism development can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which it depends.
On the other hand, tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. It is a way to raise awareness of environmental values and it can serve as a tool to finance protection of natural areas and increase their economic importance.
Objectives of Environmental Impact Assessment
- To make sure that environmental considerations are explicitly addressed and incorporated into the development decision making process.
- To forestall and avoid, reduce or offset the adverse significant biophysical, social and other relevant effects of development proposals.
- To shield the productivity and capacity of natural systems and the ecological processes which maintain their functions.
- To encourage development that is sustainable and optimizes resource use and management opportunities
Features of Environmental Impact Assessment
There are several characteristics of environmental impact assessment:
- It is a methodical evaluation of all noteworthy environmental consequences.
- It is a structured, systematic and comprehensive approach.
- It is a procedure which forces developers to reassess proposals.
- It is a process leading to a statement to guide decision-makers.
- It is a method which has the potential to increase developer's responsibility to the public.
- It should be subject to independent, objective review of results.
- It should include clear statement of identified impacts as well as possible alternative development options.
- It is an extrapolative tool and estimates the changes in the quality of the current environment as a result of the proposed action.
