Sustainable tourism and why is it important to care for the environment?

Tourism is beneficial since it allows travelers to develop their skills, learn more about new cultures and destinations, and cheer them up. It, on the other hand, is extremely detrimental to the environment.Tourism has a huge negative environmental impact. These issues include the depletion of local natural resources, pollution and waste management issues. Overconsumption of natural resources is common in tourism, especially in places where resources are already scarce.In this blog, I will explain why it is important to care for the environment and spreading awareness about sustainable tourism.

Negative effects of tourism.

Pressure on the region’s resources.

One of the most serious negative repercussions of tourism is over tourism. Travelers deplete local resources by using them. Furthermore, if too many people congregate in one location, local resources will get depleted over time.The first to go will be fresh subterranean water. This is already happening in many cities around the world, causing significant disruption to local populations. Tourism also puts a huge strain on local land use, causing soil erosion. Buildings sink into the earth under their own weight in some places.

Nature destruction and habitat loss.

The ecosystem suffers because of the building of new hotels and roadways. Animals are compelled to relocate when their natural environment is destroyed. This is extremely detrimental to the growth of many animal populations.Furthermore, the issue of garbage disposal contributes significantly to environmental damage. Marine life suffers when untreated effluent is released into the ocean. Other trash that is not properly disposed of (for example, dumped in a forest or river) can harm the environment by releasing toxins over time.

Loss of the cultural identity of the place and community.

Locals are frequently forced to adapt their traditional ways of life to accommodate the wants of tourists. Tourist-oriented shops are stocked, hotels are developed and built in the same style, and small family restaurants are converted into pubs due to demand. Gradually, a tiny, cozy hamlet transforms into a party hotspot with a lot of noise. And residents in the area have no choice but to adapt.The cuisine is an excellent example of this. Local restaurants are gradually beginning to offer more products for foreign tourists, making cuisine that are more understandable to travelers rather than locals. And eating is an essential component of any culture.All of this transforms the formerly charming and unique city into yet another tourist destination with the same appearance.

Aggression and crime rates are on the rise.

It is critical to become acquainted with the customs and traditions of each new location you visit. In one country, what is considered normal may be considered disrespectful or even insulting in another.Tourists frequently disregard local customs and moral norms due to ignorance or carelessness. Locals may become irritated as a result of tourists’ ”poor” behavior, which undermines local culture.Also, some persons may be enticed by the easy money offered by visitors to engage in illegal activity. As a result, there is an increase in crime and antisocial behavior.For those who come to Finland for the first time, you can read the rules of conduct in this wonderful country in my other blog.

Increased pollution.

When many people congregate in one location, rubbish accumulates. To begin, there are plastic waste items such as water bottles, take-out containers, varied packaging, plastic bags, and so forth.More flights, hotels, energy wasted in buildings, more tourist shopping centers, and other activities are wreaking havoc on the environment.Pollution produces an adverse environment for the local animals, driving them away from their natural home.

The exploitation of animals to entertain the tourists.

Animal tours are virtually always available everywhere you go on vacation.It can be an elephant safari in Asia or a photo with lion cubs in South Africa. There are also circuses, aquariums, and street vendors where animals perform shows for tourists to enjoy.All these hobbies can appear to be a lot of fun. Some people think that animals like to perform or roll people. In reality, all of these animals go through a lot of pain. They are frequently removed from the wild at a young age. Their owner keeps them in deplorable conditions, and humans use extremely severe and often cruel tactics to educate the animal to perform tricks. These include beatings, making loud noises to intimidate animals, shattering their spirits, and keeping them in chains, among other things.Many people take part in these activities because they adore animals and wish to learn more about them. They simply have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes. As a result, it is critical to raise awareness about these challenges.It is hard to list all the hazardous things because there are so many! Congestion of people and vehicles, rising pricing for goods and services, destination reliance on tourism, and degradation of natural landmarks and the like are just some factors. Every day, tourism causes huge damage to the environment! However, tourism is beautiful and important. You just need to travel wisely and develop sustainable tourism.Ekomatkaajat’s goal is sustainable tourism and care for the environment. It is important for us to protect nature and animals to make tourism more enjoyable for everyone. Find out more about volunteering and environmental protection on our website.In my next blog, I will show you how to make tourism more eco-friendly.