Abstract
The essay is constructed and written down in four different parts that are an introduction, analysis of impacts, integration of sustainability principles, and conclusion. The introduction provided the overview of adventure tourism and its types. The second part further described the adventure tourism in the Polar Regions and its impacts. The factors that affected the economy and affected the local community were identified and analyzed. The threats and concerns related to the safety of wildlife and environment were also mentioned. The third part provided the short description of sustainable tourism and sustainable development. The principles of sustainability were also suggested that could reduce or eliminate the negative impacts of tourism and could make it a sustainable tourism. The steps were suggested for tourists, local community, government, and other related authorities for the sustainability. These measures are proposed to be implemented for better working of businesses. The conclusion provided the overall short and concise analysis of an essay.
Introduction
Adventure tourism does not have a specific definition, but it can be defined as tourism that may provide three elements to the tourists. The elements are physical activity, relationship with the environment and nature, and involvement in the culture (Adventure Travel Trade Association, 2013). The tourists can select their destination from a pool of local or international adventure places.
Adventure tourism is based on the diversified range of tourist activities and places. Some of the adventure activities are river journeys, whitewater kayaking, whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, sailing, expedition cruises, diving, surfing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, ice climbing, mountaineering, hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, off-road safaris, and aerial adventures, etc. (Buckley, 2006). The tourists also visit jungles, forests, deserts and polar regions to observe the wildlife and to perform their adventurous activities.
The outline of an essay is given below for the further understanding.
1. Analysis of Impacts
The environmental and economic impacts of tourism would be described.
2. Integration of sustainability principles
The sustainability principles would be described that would be better for the environment and tourism.
3. Conclusion
The critical overview of the topic would be provided in this segment.
Analysis of Impacts
The tourism of Polar Regions that are Arctic and Antarctic regions is known as the polar tourism. The Polar Regions consist of ice-covered areas that provide access to snow sports, mountaineering, and observation of wildlife. The tourism created some positive and negative impacts on the economy and environment.
The economic impacts are that people of the regions consider tourism as a positive source for their economy. The tourists come from different places and prefer to use local people as guides or suppliers. The local people also earn money as the tourists spend on the transport, accommodation, dining, and other activities. The local government and its authorities are sensing economic load as they are responsible for the development, maintenance, and operation of the tourism structure. The tourism impacted their economy by creating the need for medical facilities, transportation, access to water and the gathering and disposal of waste products in the area. The cost of rescue and emergency services is also involved as the government purchases the costly equipment and supplies for the safety of people. The training of the law enforcement agencies, rescue, and the medical staff also requires time and cost. The foreign companies that are operating their hotels or other business in the region are also generating the revenue.
There are some serious environmental impacts and concerns associated with the tourism in the Polar Regions. The increasing number of tourists can result in the rise of water and air traffic (Snyder, UNEP, & TIES, 2007). Any ship accident or damage can result in the oil spilling and other dangerous events. The regions are also becoming polluted because of the carelessness of tourists. The wildlife of the regions is also facing the environmental issues as they are disturbing by the presence of tourists in their area. The colonies of birds and other animals are also affecting and damaging by the tourism activities. The tourists and their activities are also damaging the terrestrial ecosystems and causing interference in the research and development activities. The research and development programs of various countries are in progress in the polar regions. The tourists can cause the interference in their life and research activities.
Integration of Sustainability Principles
The sustainable tourism is a process of maintaining the balance between various impacts of on culture, community, and the environment. The sustainable development defined as a development that fulfills the present needs without reducing the capabilities of next generations to fulfill their needs (International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2016). The sustainability is based on five main principles or domains that are the material, economic, life, social, and spiritual (Ben-Eli, 2006). The sustainable tourism can be achieved by understanding and target the market, respecting the natural and cultural values, collaborating with the local community, and by providing benefits to both the hosts and tourists (South Australian Tourism Commission, 2016).
The tourism in the Polar Regions can be made sustainable by reducing the negative aspects of tourism. The tourism should be made more beneficial and feasible to the local community. The participation of local community in the development and implementation of sustainable policies positively impact the local economy (Sustainable Arctic Tourism Association, 2016). The tourists can play their role by purchasing local products and services. The foreign companies can also help local companies by selecting them as their subcontractors. The government and concerned authorities should impose heavy taxes, fee and other charges on the tour operators, tourists, hotels, and other organizations. The government can utilize this fund for the protection of wildlife, pollution, and waste removal, and for the betterment of the local community.
The environmental concerns caused by the polar tourism should be removed or minimize, the appropriate environmental plans and policies should be developed and utilized for that purpose. The old policies should be updated according to the current environmental challenges. The waste products should be collected, disposed, and recycled according to the prescribed environmental policies. The tourist activities should be managed in an appropriate manner, and they should not be harmful to the wildlife and environment. The access should be restricted or reduced to the areas that contain the endangered or rare species of plants and animals. The ban and fine should also be imposed on the hunting of these animals. The tourists should not misuse the polar resources, and the authorities and local community should also take necessary steps to preserve the resources. The education and awareness should be provided to the tourists about the culture and history of the area. The cost of tourism should be kept high so the generated revenue can also spend on the safety and betterment of environment (Swarbrooke, 1999).
Conclusion
The Polar Regions consists of beautiful and amazing places that are the home of natural beauty, wildlife, and adventurous places. They consist of places and environment that attracts any tourist to explore the nature and to perform adventurous activities. The increasing number of tourists is providing the benefits to the local and international economy, but it is also creating the negative social, cultural, political and environmental impacts.
The rising number of tourists may cause the development of more hotels, buildings, and other structures in Polar Regions. The construction of newly built structures can cause the depletion of natural resources and the inappropriate acquiring of land. The people can also migrate from their countries toward the Polar Regions, and that could increase the population in the area. The wildlife and colonies of animals can also be damaged with the rising of commercial and tourism activities in the area.
References
Adventure Travel Trade Association. (2013). ATTA Values Statement. Seattle: Adventure Travel Trade Association.
Ben-Eli, M. (2006). Sustainability: The Five Core Principles. New York: The Cybertec Consulting Group, Inc.
Buckley, R. (2006). Adventure Tourism. Wallingford: CABI.
International Institue for Sustainable Development. (2016). Sustainable Development | IISD. Retrieved 2016, from IISD Website: http://www.iisd.org/topic/sustainable-development
Snyder, J., UNEP, & TIES. (2007). Tourism in the Polar Regions: The sustainability challenge. Hertfordshire: Earthprint.
South Australian Tourism Commission. (2016). sustainable_tourism_principles.pdf. Retrieved 2016, from SATIC Website.
Sustainable Arctic Tourism Association. (2016). Sustainable Arctic Tourism - only the best for People and Nature. Retrieved from http://www.arctictourism.net/principles_economy.htm
Swarbrooke, J. (1999). Sustainable Tourism Management. Wallingford: CABI.
