Developing Tourism:at what cost?All About Geography, p.55

Recap:

• There are many different types of tourism today. (such as?)

• It is a huge industry managed by different people. (such as?)

• Has evolved and grown tremendously over the years due to various factors. (such as?)

• Has become a very volatile industry – can influence the development of a country but can also be influenced by events outside its sphere. (such as?)

• In their culture, the origin of their people is linked to dragons.

• Long necks are representative of those sacred animals.

• Thus, wearing neck coils make them look more attractive.

The Kayan Lahwi

Women in Myanmar

• Local businesses charge about $10 for tours• Once inside, tourists can interact, take pictures

and buy souvenirs made by the women.• In other words, they have become tourist

attractions

Tours are regularly

organized to their villages

Discuss

• If you were one of the women, how would you feel?

•Should they stop wearing the neck coil?

•Would you visit Myanmar to see the Kayan Lahwai women? Why or why not?

Is tourism a boon or a

bane?

Homework

• Write a set of Cornell notes on the impact of tourism.− Economic,− Social and− Environmental

• Main Question: Is tourism a boon or a bane?

• Include your own research on case studies to support your points.

Case Study: Bali, Indonesia

Case Study: Bali, IndonesiaBali is one of more than 17,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago and is located just over 2km from the eastern tip of Java. The island, home to about 4 million people.

80% of international visitors to Indonesia visit Bali and Bali alone!

Case Study: Bali, Indonesia

Mass tourism began in the seventies when hippies and surfers discovered Bali's beaches and waves. Before long, tourism became its biggest income earner.

Case Study: Bali, Indonesia

Tourist season and Bali can get very crowded in August and September and again at Christmas and New Year, while domestic tourists from elsewhere in Indonesia tend to visit during national holidays.

Case Study: Bali, IndonesiaThe crowds along the beach during peak season

The economy of Bali

•Tourism is now the largest single industry in terms of income

•About 80% of Bali's economy (GDP) depends on tourism

•Agriculture is still the island's biggest employer− most notably rice cultivation− but this is rapidly changing

Documentary: They Paved Paradisehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBXLmUAtbVA

Discuss

• What were the impacts of tourism on:− The economy− The environment?− The people?

• In your opinion, did tourism bring more harm or good to Bali?

Impact of Tourism• Impact is a neutral word and can be

positive AND/OR negative

• Assessing an impact = Explain Positive (+ve) AND Negative (-ve) Impact

• We will be looking at the impacts of tourism from 3 different perspectives:− Economic

− Socio-cultural

− Environmental

Impact of TourismEconomic

PositiveEmployme

nt opportuniti

es

Growth in income

Increase in foreign

exchange

Infrastructure

development

NegativeSeasonal unemploy

ment

Underuse of facilities

Shortage of services

Socio-cultural

PositivePreservation of culture and local customs

NegativeDilution of culture and

local customs

Increased crime

Environmental

PositiveConservation of

natural environme

nts

Negative

Increased congestion

Vandalism

Pollution and

littering

Destruction of habitats

Increased carbon

footprint.

• Examples such as roads, electricity, water and sanitation.

• Creates employment.

• Benefits the locals too.

Infrastructure Development

• When tourists go to a country, they spend money using the local currency.

• This increases the demand for the local currency and hence, increases its value.

• Money is also earned from tourist taxes and associated goods and services

Increase foreign

exchange

• Tourists are willing to pay more for certain services than the locals.

• But majority is be lost as leakage to other countries as payment for the import of goods and services

Growth in income

• Increases no. of jobs in the service sector

• Employs over 235 million people worldwide

• i.e. 6 to 8% of all jobs

Creates Jobs

Economic Benefits (p.56-59)

• Not all developments benefit the locals.

• Sometimes local suffer when they have to compete with the locals for basic services (e.g. water, electricity)

• Example: Bali

Shortage of services

• Some facilities are seasonal and can only be used for certain events (e.g. stadiums)

• Can be costly to maintain and subject to deterioration.

• Example: the Beijing Olympics

Underuse of facilities

• Certain tourist activities require certain climatic conditions (e.g. skiing, sun-tanning)

• Thus, workers need to find other sources of income during the off-seasons.

• Example: ski resorts in the Alps and Sapporo

Seasonal Unemployment

Economic Problems (p.60-61)

CASE STUDY: Four years after hosting the Beijing Olympics

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/07/13/decrepit-four-years-after-hosting-the-beijing-olympics-this-is-what-chinas-40b-investment-looks-like/

Pit Stop 11

Socio-Cultural Impacts (p.62-64)

• i.e. impacts on the local way of life, customs and practices

•Q: What happens to a country’s culture and tradition when tourists start flocking in?

Case Study: Italy, Rome, the Colosseum For a few Euros, these ‘soldiers’ will strike a pose or take photos with you.

Some tourists were unaware that you had to pay them if you want to take a photo and ended up being hassled by these ‘soldiers’ for money.

“Hula Marketing” In hula marketing, the Hawaiian culture is romanticized to appeal to the

exotic fantasies of world travellers.

Do you agree?

“The popular images such as smiling flower adorned girls and hula dancers, or exotic moonlit feasts with natives serving hand and foot, are typical.  This kind of marketing and promotion perpetuates racist and sexist stereotypes that are culturally inappropriate and demeaning.”

• Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re09vBB3eWc

• Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1482203.stm

See video on Israeli ‘War

Tourists’ & BBC article on NZ Maori

Socio-Cultural Impacts (p.62-64)

Positive Negative

• Tourist can help to preserve local cultures and customs buy providing revenue to help fund preservation and restoration projects.

– This can be in the form of historical buildings, monuments, art and customs.

– Example of buildings and monuments: the Taj Mahal (India), Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Petra (Jordan) etc.

– Example of art and customs: traditional tea making ceremony in Japan, Haka war cry in New Zealand, Flamenco dance and music in Spain etc.

• Tourists can cause the dilution of local cultures and traditions due to commercialisation.

• In order to meet the demands of tourists, rituals may be modified and shortened to accommodate their itinerary.

• Locals can also be exploited when tourists treat them like exhibits and take pictures without permission. (e.g. Kayan Lahwi Tribe in Myanmar)

• Heritage sites can also become overcrowded and prone to wear and tear or targeted by pickpockets, scammers and touts (e.g. Colosseum, Rome)

Discuss

• What are some historical places in Singapore that have benefited from tourism?

• Tourist Traps places where goods and services are sold to tourists at inflated prices.− Does Singapore have any tourist

traps? Examples?− If a friend from overseas was

coming to town, what are some ‘tourist traps’ in SG that you will warn them about and how can they go about it?

The Newton Food Centre Incidenthttp://ieatishootipost.sg/2009/03/newton-food-centre-incident-your-say.html

In 2009, a group of Americans had to fork out $239 for 8 tiger prawns at NFC. They were outraged and made a complaint to the Straits Times. It sparked a media frenzy and several stalls ended up shutting down as a result.

The Truth Behind The Pickpocket Team Scamhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7GBqBxwKIc

Refer to p.64 and 65Environmental impacts of tourism

Environmental Impacts (p.64-65)

Environmental

Positive

Conservation of natural environments

Negative

Increased congestion

Vandalism

Pollution and littering

Destruction of habitats

Increased carbon footprint.

Beach in Rio de Jeneiro

Trash litter along Kuta Beach, Bali

Coral Reef Destruction @ the

Caribbean

Once a brilliant shade of blue, the

Morning Glory pool's appearance has altered since

the 1950s, thanks to an accumulation of coins, rubbish and

natural debris.

Tourist coins blamed for permanently

destroying Yellowstone hot

spring

Pictured: the Morning Glory in 1950

The pool has been dubbed the Fading Glory, due to the

transformation from its original colour to the yellowy-green hue it

has today.

Pictured: the Morning Glory today

Pictured: the Morning Glory today

Nile relic vandal hunted down in Chinahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1qRtPH4qdY

Impact of TourismEconomic

PositiveEmployme

nt opportuniti

es

Growth in income

Increase in foreign

exchange

Infrastructure

development

NegativeSeasonal unemploy

ment

Underuse of facilities

Shortage of services

Socio-cultural

PositivePreservation of culture and local customs

NegativeDilution of culture and

local customs

Increased crime

Environmental

PositiveConservation of

natural environme

nts

Negative

Increased congestion

Vandalism

Pollution and

littering

Destruction of habitats

Increased carbon

footprint.

Thinking deeper

•What are the impacts of tourism in SINGAPORE?

• It is possible for tourism to exist without any negative impacts?

•Who should be held responsible for the negative impacts of tourism? Tourists? Locals? The government?

PitStop 12