Greta Jimenez
Tourism is a significant contributor to the global economy, but it also has a detrimental impact on the environment. Water pollution is one of the negative consequences of tourism, and it can occur in both water-scarce areas and regions with abundant water resources. The increase in tourism often coincides with urbanization, which leads to a rise in industrial and domestic wastewater discharge, further compounding water pollution issues. Tourist activities, such as boat tours, sightseeing, and seafood dinners, directly and indirectly contribute to water pollution. Plastic pollution, in particular, is a major issue, with tourism generating large amounts of plastic waste that often cannot be recycled. Additionally, tourism infrastructure, such as shops, restaurants, and hotels, and the incorrect disposal of waste, including sewage, further exacerbate water pollution. The growing number of tourists and insufficient management measures can lead to a decline in water quality, as seen in places like Lijiang Ancient Town and the West Lake Basin in Hangzhou, China.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main sources of water pollution from tourism | Plastic waste, sewage, litter, chemicals in sunscreen, discarded fishing nets, cruise ship waste, urbanization, and increased industrial and domestic wastewater discharge |
| Factors contributing to the problem | Unregulated recreational activities, tourist carelessness, and economic opportunities |
| Impact on the environment | Coral reef degradation, overfishing, disruption of marine ecosystems, and water quality deterioration |
| Solutions | Environmental education, awareness, investments in protection, integrated strategies, sustainable management practices, and countermeasures on water management approaches |
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Plastic pollution
Tourism contributes to the eight million tonnes of plastic that enter the ocean each year. This plastic comes from single-use plastic items used by tourists, such as water bottles, as well as plastic waste generated by hotels and cruise ships. Hotels often provide single-use plastic toiletries such as shampoos, toothbrushes, and combs, and cruise ships release large amounts of microplastic-laden wastewater.
The plastic pollution caused by tourism has led to negative consequences, including the devaluation of waterfront properties and a reduction in visitors to polluted areas. For example, the Island of Goeje in South Korea lost $37 million in revenue due to plastic pollution on its beaches.
To address this issue, the tourism industry has taken steps to reduce its plastic footprint. Some tour operators, hotels, and cruise lines have committed to removing single-use plastics and replacing them with sustainable alternatives. For instance, Thomas Cook, one of Britain's biggest tour operators, pledged to remove 70 million single-use plastic items from its operations in 2018. Similarly, companies such as Hilton, Marriott International, and Royal Caribbean have banned plastic straws, stirrers, and cups.
In addition to industry efforts, individuals can also play a role in reducing plastic pollution. The World Travel and Tourism Council has encouraged travellers to minimise their plastic use by bringing their own water bottles, carrying reusable bags, and using refillable toiletries. These small changes can collectively make a significant impact in reducing plastic pollution in the tourism industry.
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Urbanisation
Urbanization, which often goes hand in hand with urban tourism activities, exacerbates water pollution issues. This is due to a number of factors, including increased wastewater discharge, poor waste management techniques, and the use of chemical products by tourists. As cities grow, so does the amount of industrial and domestic wastewater discharged into rivers, which has a detrimental effect on their quality. This is evident when comparing the river water quality in China's Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, where urban rivers were found to be significantly more polluted than rural rivers.
Urban tourism activities contribute significantly to water pollution in these areas. For instance, the demand for new experiences and destinations from visitors leads to an increase in tourism activities in cities, which in turn creates more waste and puts a strain on water resources. This is supported by a literature review on cadmium pollution, which found that tourism activities such as hotel wastewater management and increased traffic contribute to the presence of cadmium on beaches, in coastal waters, and in urban parks.
In addition to the increase in wastewater, urbanization also leads to pollution from industrial sources. This includes mining, quarries, factories, and insufficient treatment facilities, all of which can impact the region's water quality. Furthermore, as the population in urban areas grows, there is more trash and plastic waste generated, which can make its way into water ecosystems. This is especially true in small island developing states, where tourism-led growth is common, and solid waste, including plastic waste, can become a significant source of pollution, affecting water quality.
Effective city planning and management practices are crucial in addressing these issues. This includes incorporating environmental conservation and sustainable management practices, as well as investing in environmental education and awareness to mitigate the impact of urbanization and tourism on water pollution.
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Tourist carelessness
One of the most significant ways in which tourist carelessness manifests is through the generation of plastic waste. The tourism industry often relies on cheap, non-recyclable plastics, such as cutlery, water bottles, straws, and smoking packaging. This has led to a substantial increase in marine plastic pollution, especially during the high tourist season. For example, in the Mediterranean region, marine litter was found to surge by up to 40% during these periods. The impact of this plastic pollution is not limited to the aesthetic degradation of coastal areas but also extends to the disruption of marine ecosystems and the harm caused to marine life.
Tourists' demand for seafood dinners contributes to overfishing, which further upsets the balance of marine ecosystems. Overfishing depletes fish populations, affecting the food chain and the overall health of the marine environment. Additionally, the chemicals in sunscreen have been implicated in coral bleaching, accelerating the degradation of already fragile coral reef ecosystems. Human activities, such as over-diving and snorkelling, have also taken a toll on these delicate structures, with approximately 50% of the world's coral reefs suffering damage or destruction.
The issue of tourist-induced water pollution is not confined to a single region but is prevalent in various parts of the world. In Tanzania, for instance, the tourism industry was found to be responsible for around two-thirds of all marine plastic pollution in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar Island. This pollution has severe repercussions for the local and national economies, as these coastal locations heavily depend on tourism.
To address the problem of tourist carelessness and its contribution to water pollution, a multifaceted approach is necessary. This includes integrating environmental conservation and sustainable management practices, as well as promoting environmental education and awareness among tourists and local communities. By implementing effective strategies and investing in protection measures, it may be possible to mitigate the adverse impacts of tourism on water ecosystems.
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Cruise ships
From 1993 to 1998, there were 87 confirmed cases of cruise ships illegally discharging oil, garbage, and hazardous wastes into US waters, resulting in millions of dollars in fines. Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corporation have been implicated in multiple incidents of pollution and cover-ups, including the dumping of toxic chemicals and the falsification of records. In 2008, the Ninth Circuit Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could not exclude vessel discharges from the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements, leading to the implementation of the Vessel General Permit (VGP).
To address cruise ship pollution, environmental advocacy groups have petitioned the EPA to take regulatory action. The EPA has since studied cruise ship discharges and waste management, releasing a Cruise Ship Discharge Assessment Report in 2009. Friends of the Earth also produces an annual Cruise Ship Report Card, ranking major cruise lines based on their environmental and human health impacts. However, the cruise industry has been criticized for constant greenwashing, and there are calls for stricter laws and regulations to prevent further destruction of oceans and ecosystems by cruise ships.
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Overfishing
Tourism is a significant contributor to plastic pollution in water ecosystems. However, the relationship between tourism and water pollution is complex and requires further investigation. That being said, it is clear that overfishing is one of the most significant threats to our oceans and is closely tied to tourism.
The Mediterranean Sea, the world's top tourism destination, is the most overfished sea globally, with the highest percentage of unsustainably harvested fish populations. This overfishing is driven by the development of technology that allows fishing fleets to fish farther, deeper, and with greater intensity. Inadequate government capacity and cooperation to manage, regulate, and control fisheries, especially in developing nations and on the high seas, also contribute to the problem.
To address overfishing, smarter management systems, known as fishing rights, can be implemented. Under fishing rights, fishermen's interests are tied to the long-term health of a fishery, and their income improves alongside the fish population. This has been successful in several countries, including Belize, Denmark, Namibia, and the United States. Additionally, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has called for an end to harmful subsidies that contribute to overfishing.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic waste is the largest source of water pollution from tourism.
The tourism industry often uses cheap, non-recyclable plastics like plastic cutlery, water bottles, straws, and smoking packaging. Tourist-related activities also lead to the incorrect disposal of plastic waste, litter, and sewage into the ocean.
Marine life is hurt by the millions of tons of plastic waste dumped into the oceans annually. Coastal developments, such as hotels and restaurants, threaten the delicate ecosystem of the ocean.
Tourism development can result in water pollution in areas with abundant water resources. The increase in tourists, service infrastructures, and insufficient management measures result in a decline in water quality.
The increase in tourists led to an increase in garbage, and the government neglected the pollution brought by tourism activities, resulting in a decline in water quality.
