Environmental Contradictions in Sustainable Tourism

The principles of sustainable development are widely accepted, but, given the conflicts of interest that occur over time and space, their resolution is likely to be problematic. Nowhere is this more evident than in the field of tourism. There is probably no other economic activity which cuts across so many sectors, levels and interests. The relationship between tourism development, socio-economic development and the environment is circular and cumulative. Most tourism activity places additional pressures on the environmental resources upon which it is based, compromising the present and future interests of tourist and host populations as well as of tourism organizations. Without adequate environmental protection, prospects for development will be undermined. There is an essential need to build on the positive links between the environment and tourism and to break the negative links. The latter will not be easy, however, owing to the conflicts of interest that occur. The positive links may be described as win-win situations, benefiting environment and development prospects alike. Negative links are also likely to occur however. To break these, trade-offs will have to be made between conservational and developmental goals. An identification of the extent and nature of these trade-offs will be facilitated by environmental accountancy procedures which include environmental auditing.