Environmental Consideration in

Tourism, Carrying Capacity &Environmental Impact

Assessment Presented By-

Bidhu Bhushan Mishra

Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management

Noida

ENVIRONMENT

“Environment comprises all the natural and cultural

surrounding of people.”

Physical Environment

Natural component.

Built Component.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Impact can be defined as :

“ The form of altered human behaviour that stems

from interactions between agents of change and sub-

systems on which they impinge.”

Impacts can be positive and negative.

POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Better Conservation of Natural Areas.

Conservation of archaeological and historic site.

Preservation of Natural Resources.

Increase economic value of natural resources.

Beautification & Aesthetic value increment.

Environmental Education and awareness.

Improvement of environmental quality.

Improvement infrastructure.

NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT“Excess of Everything is bad”

Depletion of natural resources.

Construction activities and infrastructure

development.

Deforestation and unsustainable use of land.

Ecological disruption.

Environmental hazard.

Damage of archeological and historic site.

DIFFERENT TYPE OF POLLUTION

Air emissions

Visual

Noise

Solid waste

Releases of sewage

Oil and chemicals

Even architectural/visual pollution

TOURISM CARRYING CAPACITY

According to Mathieson and Wall (1982)

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of people

who can use a site without an unacceptable alteration

in the physical environment and without an

unacceptable decline in the quality of experience

gained by visitors.

According to World Tourism Organization

The maximum number of people that may visit a tourist

destination at the same time, without causing destruction

of the physical, economic, socio-cultural environment and

an unacceptable decrease in the quality of visitors'

satisfaction.

MEASUREMENT CRITERIA OF CARRYING CAPACITY

The two aspect to be considered-:

The indigenous physical and socioeconomic environment.

Tourism image and tourist product.

1. Physical

2. Economic

3. Sociocultural

4. Infrastructure

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT(EIA)

Many Countries and regions have adopted

environmental protection legislation, and the

environmental impact assessment procedure is being

increasingly applied throughout the world to all type of

development, including tourism projects, to ensure

that any negative environmental impact are analyzed

and minimized.

EIA APPROACH

EIAs are designed to follow a particular format and

are required to be submitted to the government for

its review as part of the project approval procedure.

The precise format of EIAs will vary from one place to

another, but typically it includes social and economic

factors, as well as impact on the physical

environment.

CONTI…

The EIA procedure is a very useful technique to

ensure that environmental impact of proposed

projects have been taken into consideration and

preventive action taken, and provides the basis for

making any necessary adjustment to the plans.

EIA MODEL

A basic model for environmental impact assessment

is presented here to provide a guideline, but each are

should adapt this to its particular requirement. This

model does not include economic and sociocultural

factor.

CONTI…

An environmental impact checklist is prepared such as

fallow-

Air Pollution

Surface water pollution, including river, stream, lakes,

ponds, and coastal water.

Ground water pollution.

Pollution of domestic water supply.

Noise pollution, in general and at peak periods.

CONTI…

Solid waste disposal problems.

Destruction of flora and fauna.

Ecological disruption and damage.

Land use and circulation problem within the project

area.

Landscape aesthetic problem.

Environmental health problem such as malaria and

cholera.

CONTI… Damage of archeological, historic and other cultural

site.

Damage to specific important and attractive

environmental feature, such as large tree, hilltops,

and unusual geological formations.

Generation of erosion, landslide, and similar problem

Likelihood of damage to the project from natural

environmental hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanic

eruption, hurricane.

CONTI…

Each factor is then evaluated in terms of possible

type and extent of impact a useful technique is to

prepare an evaluation matrix,

Such as the shown in figure.

Type of ImpactEvolution of Impact

No Impact

Minor Impact

Moderate Impact

Serious Impact

comments

Air Quality

Surface water Quality

Ground water Quality

Road Traffic

Noise Level

Solid waste disposal systemArcheological and Historic siteVisual Amenity

Natural vegetation

Wild animal life -Ground animal-Birds & Insects

THANK YOU