Negative effects of tourism in economics

Tourism has been a major contribution to economic growth of different developing countries. This is because it has been a major foreign exchange earner for many countries and thus forming an essential component of balance of payments for many developing countries.  The tourism sector has also played a critical role in improving the livelihoods of the locals through provision of employment thus improving their living standards. However the tourism sector is faced with numerous challenges that make the business not to be as smooth as many countries would wish as it is experienced in Dubai and Egypt.

For instance, Dubai has failed in actualizing a diversified economy after depending heavily in the tourism sector as the major foreign earner in the country. Too much concentration in promoting the tourism sector has made the country to forget other economic generating projects such as oil and transport sector. Lack of diversification of economy can be very detrimental to any developing country especially in times of financial crisis or adverse travel advisory from the source countries (Jones, 2006).

Negative effects in environmental

Tourism has also paused great challenges as far as environmental conditions are concerned. Even though, the sector is a major participant towards the overall development  of a country’s GDP,  it is crystal clear that environmental degradation as a result of tourism is a common occurrence in developing countries like Egypt an Dubai.

For instance, air pollution has been of major concern as far as the tourism sector is concerned. Most of the tourists visiting Dubai use Emirates airlines to get to different destinations. The use of these aviation services have contributed immensely to air pollution. The use of other locomotives in the transport sector has also been actively involved in air pollution as there are large amounts of carbon oxide emitted.

The tourism sector has also been actively involved in construction of hotels, state of the art malls and buildings with an intention of attracting and accommodating more tourists. In Dubai for instance, have been adopting this to act in accordance with “rapid tourism focused development” that intends to increase tourism activities as well as increased foreign investments. Too much construction have adverse environmental impacts as evidenced in the palm shaped island called The Palm Jumeirah where there is a lot of dredging and re-depositing thus resulting in water pollution. A lot of these constructions also lead to destruction of trees and other environment friendly organisms necessary for overall welfare of the environment.

The construction of palm shaped islands in Dubai in an attempt to increase tourists has also resulted to destruction of marine life which is very essential for the environment. Some even are involved in construction in the sea which has resulted to constant disruption of wave currents which is against the natural environmental conditions. It is for this reason that several beaches of Dubai have since been eroded. It is for this reason that some quarters argue that tourism has in one way or the other started diminishing the reasons for which it exists.

Negative impacts of tourism in socio cultural

Though tourism has for long time been thought to contribute immensely to the overall welfare of the society, it is important to understand that at times tourism has had very adverse effects to socio cultural practices. To start with, tourism is defined as the movement of people to different geographical locations thus establishing social relations between people of different cultures and beliefs (Jones, 2006). For instance, tourism in Egypt and Dubai has resulted to interactions between people of different background in terms of religion, ethnicity, values, languages and lifestyles just to mention a few. As result of these, cultural clashes are common occurrence in tourism rich countries.

Tourism has also led to increase in immorality in the society that depriving it of it expected levels of morality.  For instance, the levels of crime in Egypt have significantly increased as the tourism sector thrives. This is because the increase in mass tourism is often associated with urbanization which provides a good environment for crime to thrive. For instance, tourists in the Gulf   of Eden are at the risk of being pick-pocketed by the poor urban dwellers in these regions.

Another social cultural vice associated with tourism is increased sexuality and prostitution. Some of the tourists visiting the developing countries can take advantage of the poor population living in these countries and lure them to commercial sex. In extreme cases, use of children in this vice has also been reported as levels of sex tourism are advanced to higher level.  Other social cultural negative impacts associated with tourism are child labor social conflicts orchestrated by the selfish tourists in developing countries.

References

Jones, Rhys. “Viva Dubai?” Middle East  371 (2006) : 46-47.

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