Indeed we have much to
gain from Tourism; the benefits are overwhelming for all facets of life in
T&T as suggested by your comments. Researchers however, have disputed over
the negative impacts of Tourism.
Popular disadvantages seem to surround the
same three categories mentioned under tourism benefits, that is economic, social
and environmental. Economic drawbacks may include a strain on a country’s
resources such as water, food and energy; social issues can lead to the erosion
of traditional values with the introduction of too many foreign policies and
with regards to environmental, a lot may be at stake such as soil erosion, off
course heightened land and sea pollution, vulnerability to deforestation and
amplified pressure on endangered species.
Do you all agree or
disagree? Will such negative impacts affect T&T’s tourism and to what
extent? How can they be minimized so that benefits may outweigh negatives and a
sustainable tourism sector can be maintained and enjoyed?
As you mentioned those drawbacks that Tourism can have on a country, I will agree that there will be negatives to some extent. In my personal opinion, everything will bring into question the manner in which the industry is managed. As long as there is a mismanaged and unregulated state of resources that make the industry a striving one, the negatives will most definitely outweigh the positives.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to your aforementioned negative impact of tourism on a nation's resources of food, water and energy, i will dismiss those as being negative because our land is abundantly rich in each of those three things mentioned. You may ask why I would disagree?
Firstly, there is ample land with which to produce the ingredients needed for food production, in order to feed locals and tourists alike. And, with a very diverse ethnic background, T&T never fails to impress on food displays at large social events. The problem lies within local production vs foreign imports and other intricacies that make up the agriculture sector in T&T.
Secondly, fresh, potable water is a finite resource but it is readily available to more than 50% of the country. However, the issue of wastage creates the negative impact here. I have witnessed wastage on mass levels by persons & industries alike. Also, the advent of man made water parks can allow for wastage as there are thousands of cubic feet of water being used to sustain the entertainment aspect of it. But, I see it again as a matter of proper management and regulation of this vital resource. More efficient management & regulation practices will show more positive than negative.
Thirdly, the energy sector might have to work harder to "power" the tourism sector but as revenue circulates locally, it can be sen as a win - win for all interlinked sectors. And, it is known that our economy heavily depends on revenue generated by the energy sector and all its foreign investors. Also, our country has been blessed with having raw materials in abundance with which to power energy related industries. Again, it needs to be vigilantly monitored from both an energy and environmental perspective. One example I will use will be the very recent Petrotrin oil spill in Marabella that affected residents and the Guaracara River. Prior to that, the oil spill that immobilized the Gulf of Paria. Better management and regulation!!!
The social negatives are quite valid in the context of traditional values. In this case, the person's mindset will come into play because someone who has respect for nothing will display that quality and it will be seen in the backlash of pollution & erosion and in society today, there is a mindset of "If I can't personally benefit, then I don't care". With special regard to foreign policies, I think there needs to be a stringent enforcement of already existing policies, for example the Ramsar Site, which is a global body that serves to conserve wetlands throughout the world. Also, there are sites deemed as Environmentally Sensitive Areas (E,S.A.) but they are not being patrolled by the relevant authorities. So, proper education and enforcement is needed to effect more positives from a social standpoint.
The obvious negatives of environmental degradation through tourism is evident and probably holds the most negatives. As generations come and go, we become more oblivious to the fact that forest reserves, wetlands, mountains, coral reefs and other geographical landforms & seaforms, all serve to protect our island. So when those things are abused, excavated, destroyed, we are more prone to natural disasters. People need to understand how to care for our environment through intense & informative learning sessions and also to practice what is being preached. Additionally, with very strict enforcement against pollution and implementation of FUNCTIONAL recycling centers, the blatant "wrongs" being dealt against mother nature can possibly be "righted" and turn the countless negatives into positives.
In any situation there will always be pros and cons. Despite the factors that may be disadvantages, there will always be Foreign Exchange and island visitation. One way disadvantages can be outweighed is by enforcement by the EMA and respected Regional Corporation by dealing with the problems that areas in T&T deal with eg. pollution.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above comment that was made about food, water and energy. Trinidad & Tobago population stands at about 1,328,019 and we have no problems in providing this much people with food, water and energy. Yes there are some who might struggle to get some or perhaps all, but the majority of the Islands do not have this problem.
ReplyDeleteAs for traditional values, it is my belief that our culture will continue to stand strong. That is one that we pride ourselves on. But I will not mind seeing some "improvements" that can be made to it. Most of us tend to have a very bad habit of dropping our trash anywhere thinking that someone else will pick it up. As mention in a previous post that respect for our country should start at home and continue to to tough in school.
With the environmental impact that you mentioned I do not think that will be a problem (well I hope not.) The reason that I think this is because the environment is the main reason that we get tourists in the first place. We are two beautiful islands but if our environment was dirty or polluted we will hardly have any visitors. No one wants to go to an island that is polluted. After the oil spill I would hope that a lesson was thought and that regular maintenance is done to see that something like that never happens again.
ReplyDeleteI will have to disagree with the above comment, who says that environmental issues are not really that much of a problem. I understand the point that he/she is trying to make but the way in which we currently treat our country in regards to the environment is disgusting to say the least. Most people treat it like a huge garbage dump, with out even a second thought as to what they do. It is because of these thoughtless actions that we have flooding in areas where we should not, because instead of properly disposing of there old items the river in the back is easier to dump it. Polluting the water for people who might still bathe in it and when the rain falls, the river is clogged up because of all the trash so the water passes threw homes.
ReplyDeleteNot only the rivers are a problem but the beaches as well. People go to the beach to relax and get rid of stress, just a good time, set up the music, eat food and have some drinks. This is all good and encouraged as part of our culture. But what MUST STOP is when these people do this and throw all of there garbage in the bush behind them. "Out of sight, out of mind" thinking that is just them and is a little so no one will take it on, but when everyone continues to do this eventually no one wants to go back because it get to nasty and they wonder why. Both locals and tourists do this. (not all, but this is directed to those that do)
ReplyDeleteThis not only destroys the physical beauty of the beach but it can also be more deadly for marine life and other animals as well. The plastic bottles and plates take over 400 years before they begin to decompose. So when the wind blows that take it into the ocean for fish and other marine life to eat it and die or become trapped in the plastic used to hold a six pac of can beer and also die but a lot slower and most likely more painfully.
Leatherback turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and eat them and choke. Because of the ocean currents a plastic bottle that stars off in Trinidad waters can end up half way around the world. The power is yours to change our country. (yes that is a captain planet reference and they should reboot it as well.)
I read of an article where researchers found that the actual expected amount of sea pollution was actually less than projected. A good thing, not so? But, when aquatic species were tested, traces of our filth were seen in the bodies of the marine life. The inevitable circle of destruction to ourselves will be our demise if a sense of respect for what God blessed us with is not treated with the care it so rightly deserves.
DeleteI agree that there are always two sides to a story, but Tourism is supposed to be something that reflects positivity. All through the year there are many tourists in the island so there is definitely income that is introduced, management just has to employ better measures in order to maintain a certain standard and ensure all or most of these negative attributes be eradicated.
ReplyDelete