16.2 Table 16.1 illustrates some of the possible economic benefits and costs of recreation, leisure and tourism. Critically review the comprehensiveness of the table, add to it where necessary and use it as a basis to analyze the effects of a leisure or tourism development or provision.
Table 16.1 leisure and tourism cost and benefits
Costs:
1. Distortion of local prices
- This arises if the cost of the imported goods seems to be lower than local ones. If there is an increase need of sun cream, sunglasses and sunhats. There will be a tendency of shortage of product therefore importation is needed but if there are not enough rules implemented by the government regarding the imports then it will only affect the local market by its allocation of goods. By that the local prices are the one that will suffer.
2. Satisfaction of some wants at the expenses of others
- There is a concept in free trade wherein it only shows irregularity because it tends to give benefit to all regarding the source of it. In the case of the prevention of the skin cancer, many will be benefited if they sell large amounts of sun creams to the market, however, it will not be in favor of others who are suffering from such disease. The approach seems to be negative because such earnings came from others unfortunate luck.
3. Imports
- Importation provides a partial solution to a country having a problem regarding the allocation of there goods and services. But having too much importation of goods and services may also result to a decline in terms of the country’s own products. Usually, the imported goods are cheaper than the product made by its own country itself. There should a proper policies and regulations that the government should impose to prevent such occurrences within the trading of goods.
4. Congestion
-This part of the social cost of tourism. Once an area becomes too much populated, several problems also follow. Especially if it is consisted of different people who have different beliefs and culture, it may lead to a lot of misunderstandings that may result to violence. It may also suggest competition regarding the available facilities, services and recreational opportunities.
5. Aesthetic degradation
- The driving force of the aesthetic degradation includes urbanization, large scale migrations, overpopulation in local area, warfare and poor agricultural practices.
6. Pollution
- The number one environmental cost of tourism is pollution. Pollution is can be classified into several types. It could be by land, water, air or noise. However, whatever its classification maybe it would still create unnecessary result to the environment. It also threatens the natural resources such as beaches, coral reefs, rainforests and other historical landmarks that were preserved by years.
7. Resource depletion
- This type of cost is also related with pollution. After causing to much pollution to the environment, there will be case wherein the resources may deplete especially the limited resources which includes the land, water and air.
8. Erosion
- Erosion is due to the excessive way of using the natural resources. This superficial destruction of the earth’s surface is caused by the climate change that becomes more possible because of the continuous destruction of the ozone layer.
9. Loss of natural environment
- Loosing the natural environment is just like loosing your identity. Because of the further changes occurring due to the massive promotion of tourism in a certain place, slowly, the environment is loosing it natural characteristics. The destruction of the ozone layer is just an example of it. It would be hard to find a solution for this serious problem because ones a part of the nature has becomes damaged it would be difficult to find other alternatives for it.
10. Loss of local control of resources
- Despite the fact of the rapid tourism progression. The loss of local control of resources also becomes a problem. There should always be a proper allocation of resources regarding on what purpose it will be used. The local community is the one responsible for controlling such resources mainly because there is also the first beneficiary of these wealth accumulated from nature. There was even a study conducted that the stewardship of the local government beyond these resources can help lessen poverty.
Benefit:
1. Satisfaction of wants
- Many were confused about the difference of wants from needs. Needs are the essential things to our daily life in order to survive. While wants are the things that you don’t really need but wish to possess or have. Money is considered want in this case. Tourism brings new money to the economy. And enough satisfaction is given to each of the people behind it.
2. Employment
- Tourism provides new means of source of income and business opportunities although employments here tend to be seasonal only. During the summer season, expect a vast number of tourists who are heading their way for a long vacation within their chosen destination. Such jobs include those tourism related ones like hotel and tour services.
3. Foreign exchange earnings
- Because of the number of tourists going in, there will a large scale earning regarding the foreign exchange. Money is needed to supply the tourist demands and needs. They need to exchange their money to the available currency of the country of their choice in order to make some purchases.
4. Technology transfer
- This would be the most beneficial claim regarding tourism. It encourages the learning of new skills and promoting new ideas that will enhance the knowledge of the people within it. Once a country with an advance technology transfer all the principle of their technology to another country then it will really provide a great help especially if the country is just part of the not so developed ones.
5. Improved health
- Improved health is also related with the technology transfer. Once the technology is transferred, it will somehow provide a remedy to the people suffering from such diseases. A collection of facts from others might help distinguish the true causes and effects which soon might help improve health.
6. Better understanding of things
- There should always be a better understanding of all the things regarding tourism. Although it can be beneficial, on the other hand it can also result enormous effects which can brought harm. The advantages and disadvantages of tourism should be taken into consideration always to avoid or even minimize having problems.
7. Regeneration in depressed areas
- The regeneration of the depressed area is more often refer to as a promotion. It encourages the community’s revitalization and beautification in order to attract tourist and at the same time, it also benefits the community itself.
8. Engine for economic growth
- The number one reason of promoting tourism is to provide economic growth. It should somehow help the economy boost its progress but in a good way of course. Sadly, there is a wrong approach regarding the way on how an economy is rising. They even included the bad expenditures in the sum total of the economic growth.
9. Source of profit
- And because it is made to enhance the economic growth of the country, therefore it is also a part of the source of income. It provides employment even if it is seasonal; it provides business opportunities related with travel and tour services, it provides further foreign investments and gives government extra tax revenue each year.
References:
Anonymous (2008) Local Communities Needs to Control Local Resources To Defeat Poverty. Available from:http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15625&Cr=poverty&Cr1= (accessed 24th June 2008)
Anonymous (2008) Tourism Cost and Benefits. Available from:http://www.geographyfieldwork.com/TourismProsCons.htm (accessed 24th June 2008)
McVoy, E.C. (1942) Sociometry, Vol.5,No.1, pp. 80-88
Murray, W.E. (2006) Geographies of Globalization Routledge, London and New York,pp.317-318.
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