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