Environment, Tourism and Transport

 

Aircraft Emissions

Tourism development and the growth in traveller numbers worldwide provides certain benefits and drawbacks. For instance, transportation, as a component of the tourism industry, has many negative effects on the environment due to carbon dioxide emissions, pollution, etc. Air, road, rail and water transportation required for tourism development influence the quality of the environment, contributing to climate change. Transportation is essential for the tourism industry, and represents the main evidence of touristic impacts on the environment.

Impact of Railway Transportation in Tourism on the Environment
In the late 20th century and early 21st century, railway transportation of passengers and travellers fell in demand because of competition with other modes of transport. However, in some areas worldwide, the railway network continues to modernise e.g. since 1965 Japan has introduced high-speed trains in large cities – and Europe has almost 200 cities connected by EuroCity, TGV, Intercity, railbus and Eurotunnel, with knock-on consequences for the environment.

Impact of Road Transportation in Tourism on the Environment
The tourism industry is particularly reliant on the development of road transportation due to the different modes of transport that use roads. Road transport exerts a significant toll on the environment in terms carbon dioxide emissions and other harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere. Moreover, road transport is responsible for sound and soil pollution, land consumption for infrastructure, and accident risks.

The Impact of Water Transportation on the Environment
Water transportation in the tourism sector is a growing industry, especially via cruise ships. Approximately 20 million passengers embarked on a cruise ship in 2016 worldwide compared with 0.5 million people in 1970 (Ștefănică, 2017). The impact of such a dramatic increase in cruise ship passengers also has significant environmental implications e.g. carbon dioxide emissions, pollution, increased non-renewable resource use.

The Impact of Air Transportation on the Environment
For the environment, air transportation is considered as one of the primary causes of climate change, the depletion of the ozone layer, and via airports, it is a major chemical pollution source for the air in nearby residential areas, and is also responsible for sound pollution.

Consequently, the tourism industry contributes to climate change especially by means of carbon dioxide emissions (due to both the transportation of tourists and of the products necessary to satisfy their needs once arrived at their destination), as well as the use of non-renewable energy for various installations (liquid and gas fuels being used for the preparation of domestic hot water, central heating, technological steam for professional washing/ cleaning services, cooking and accommodation etc.) (Ștefănică, 2017).