Environmental protection is now one of the most discussed and debated topics around the world. Many companies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to create products or make their products green. An example is the electric car that is being studied as a viable option to the current gasoline car. In 2009, world leaders met in Copenhagen to discuss ways they can prevent global warming and reduce the effects of climate change, in effect protecting the environment. The travel industry has not been left out of this issue either. In an industry where the number of people taking international trips is projected to hit the one billion mark by 2010, there are concerns about their contribution to environmental damage. Also, like any other industry, the travel industry must be concerned with environmentally friendly ways of doing business. Below are some of the environmental issues affecting the travel industry that stakeholders need to address and, in some cases, seek long-term solutions.
1. Aviation, which transports hundreds of thousands of tourists around the world, is of great concern to those seeking to protect the environment. One of the main concerns of the industry is greenhouse gas emissions and their participation in climate change. Aviation produces at least two percent of emissions. One way the aviation industry is working on this problem is by launching newer planes that have more fuel-efficient engines, which means less carbon emissions. However, not all airlines, especially in poorer countries, can afford to buy new planes.
2. Mass tourism. With the cost of travel getting cheaper and more and more people venturing farther from their countries to places that were previously inaccessible but can now be reached thanks to air travel, areas of environmental and historical importance are becoming populated. . This is putting pressure on the ecosystems within these areas and threatening the flora and fauna. In addition, climate change is going to mean that certain places will not favor visitors as weather conditions become extreme, leading to overcrowding in other places with more favorable weather conditions. Again, this presents a danger to the ecosystems in overcrowded areas and to tourism in the area.
3. Deforestation. Despite the global call to protect the environment, there are still areas where massive logging is taking place. This is also contributing to the destruction of flora and fauna and is a threat to tourism in those areas.
4. With the call to go green affecting every industry around the world, the tourism industry has not been left out. There is pressure on those in the industry to find ways of doing business that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. For example, can the hotel industry build hotels that are more environmentally friendly? What methods can they use to conserve energy and reduce the chemicals used in dry cleaning tons of used clothing in the industry?
5. Human invasion. With populations continuing to grow around the world, there is now a competition between man and animals for space. Humans are now encroaching on areas like National Parks that are protected and marked for wildlife. This has led to reports of people and their livestock being killed by wild animals, which in turn leads to people hunting and killing these animals that are considered to be a threat. This is a threat to tourism in the area. Human encroachment is also forcing animals out of their habitat to other areas where they cannot survive, leading to the extinction of certain species.