Tourism is one of the major economic activities in many countries of the world, and Scotland is not an exemption. The industry involves having visitors going to the country that has attractive physical and natural features, and paying visits to those sites. They may be local residents or international tourism, visiting to see features like mountains, natural beaches, and wildlife. The industry is big enough in Scotland, with visitors finding the country for its unspoilt natural sceneries and numerous historical sites surrounding the sceneries (Hagglund, 2009). They have a long history concerning them, thus, the tourist find them exclusively attractive. One of the factors that attract numerous people is the culture of Scottish people. The reason is that their cultural historical features such as museums are so attractive such that tourists will
...ever visit them.
This industry is, and continues to be a source of employment for the Scottish people and the world at large. As many as close to two hundred thousand people, get their employment in the industry’s service sector alone (Hagglund, 2009). This implies that the other sectors of the same employ more people, thus making this industry a source of livelihood for many people. This phenomenon has facilitation from the fact that most of the visitors are from overseas countries such as United States of America, Germany, France, and other countries. The visitors need to be taken care of, thus creating jobs to the service providers. The months between April and October are the peak seasons for the industry. Most of the tourists visit Scotland to find out their ancestral roots, and it continues to increase with time. The country has pu
in place ways of boosting the industry, such as advertisements that have seen a steady growth over time.
The transport system, especially air transport, plays a crucial role in the industry(Burns & Novelli, 2007). There are major trips made to various destinations from Scotland capital, through the available regional airports. Tourists now find it easy to travel to their desired destinations, where there are direct flights from the country to other major cities such as New York in the United States. Its urban tourism is centered in its capital city, which is its major urban tourism site. Features like the castle zoo and royal mile are some of the tourist attraction sites found in the city. More to that, it has a university that also attracts many foreign tourists. Other cities contributing to urban tourism are Glasgow, Stirling, Aberdeen and Ayrshire. Further, cultural events and festivals are another source of tourist attraction sites, where many of them go to witness and enjoy the rich cultural diversity of the Scottish people. In fact, cultural activities are very attractive to many people as it is very attractive and therefore, lovers of cultural events will ever flood the venues at different times.
Environment is the most important of tourism, and as such, the country has done what is at its stake to prevent the destruction of its beautiful environment (Burns & Novelli, 2007). By so doing, they are assured that the numerous sites available in the environment remain intact at all times, with no chances of being eroded by environmental degradation. The country accepts the fact that without a conducive environment, the tourism sector will suffer a big blow. Therefore,
the environmental protection is an idea that has to be upheld at all times.
Mass tourism fashion
Mass tourism refers to large scale tourism to a region. Scotland has not been a destination for mass tourism over the years like many other European countries. Scottish people started embracing holidays away from UK like the Mediterranean and the country was left without the benefits of mass tourism. In the recent years, the country has seen an increase in mass tourism and which has been considered unsustainable for the country. This new fashion of mass tourism has been regarded unsustainable due to the disadvantages that result and impact the environment and the sector at large. Mass tourism comes with various benefits to the economy although the environment is destroyed at the time when no one thought it could bring problems (McLellan, 1998).
Economically, mass tourism has its advantages including foreign exchange earnings. When tourists visit the country in large numbers they increase the earnings by large margins. This brings revenue to the Scottish government and as other European countries, the country is able to improve on developments for the citizens (McLella, 1998). Domestic economy is also increased by mass tourism where many tourists arrive at their destinations and create growth through transactions. Tourists are charged to visit sites in the tourist destinations where they choose to visit. As much as foreign exchange is increased, the domestic economy is increased through the small payments that are made at tourist sites. Service jobs also increase especially on the side of hospitality because tourists will require hotels to spend nights and to have their meals. This creates growth of hospitality industry in the
country and more people are employed in the sector. Jobs are also increased where tourists require various services such as transport, tour guiding and photography (Mass Tourism, 2016).
The government is able to improve the infrastructure of the country in reference to catering for the large number of tourists. This benefits the locals through tourism. Expansion of airports, rail, roads and electricity are beneficial to the local although they are expanded to ensure that tourists are comfortable. Unsustainability is experienced where a lot of funds are used to cater for the tourists and the locals’ needs are overlooked (Sampson, 2016). This means that the income from tourism is pumped back into the industry to provide better services for the tourists. Income may not benefit other sectors such as education and health in the country. As much as this is beneficial to the economy, the tourism board did not oversee the environmental destruction that mass tourism would cause.
Building of hotels, airports and expanding roads leads to destruction of habitat (Mass Tourism, 2016). These are habitats which could be tourist attraction sites on their own and be homes for various wild animals and plants. Massive destruction of the habitats causes loss of aesthetic beauty that comes from environment and the surroundings. The species present in the habitat cannot be supported anymore including plants, birds and other animals. These organisms are destroyed or displaced to other places where they compete for food and survival. This reduces biodiversity in the region which in turn contributes to the issue of global warming. Loss of habitat has been cited as the main contributor to global warming worldwide. Creation of these spaces for
construction of hotels and airports in Scotland is not sustainable environmentally (Simpson, 2016).
Pollution is also increased by mass tourism (Mass Tourism, 2016). Many people are found at the same place at the same time in the name of site seeing which may not be healthy for the locals. Increase in motor transport would result to increased air pollution from the hydro carbonated gases released into the air. This is a main cause for respiratory disease to both the tourists and the locals. Loss of vegetation through construction also contributes to the highly polluted air. Many industries are set up to meet the tourists’ demands leading to release of gases that could be toxic to both plants and animals. Presence of many people and vehicles contributes to sound pollutions which takes away the peace and quiet of the country. The locals no longer experience the peaceful and quiet life they have been used. Sustainability of mass tourism becomes difficult for the Scottish government not only economically but environmentally.
Mass tourism leads to mass travel which has a great effect on the environment and the culture of the locals (Mass Tourism, 2016). Some favorite destinations are popularized to attract as many people to the sites. Special rates may be offered by the travel agencies, airlines and companies. This kind of strategy may lead to loss of the cultural identities that are unique to the locals as they take care of the many tourists flocking the areas. As the culture that attracted tourists fade, they begin to feel cheated by the authentic experiences they find in the areas. The attraction sites are also over-visited leading to degradation of the
effect of enjoying the site. Destruction of the attraction site and the ecosystems that could be fragile may also be evident with mass tourism.
Mass tourism also contributes to local issues such as erosion of footpaths (Sampson, 2016). This is due to the number of people using the footpaths and they are present all year round. Scotland is a country where tourists are attracted by various aspects such as the culture, snow and the natural beautiful vegetation. Erosion of footpaths requires construction of new footpaths from time to time. This is expensive for any economy even if it is a developed one. The funds use may not be sustainable through the taxpayers’ money as a developed country has more serious issues to deal with. For this kind of tourism to be sustainable in Scotland, various factors need to be considered including the people who work in the sector, academics and increased government concern.
Academics would help in creating sustainability for tourism. The education sector should develop programs that enhance sustainability courses and awareness. Student in the tourism courses should learn what is sustainable and what is not. They should be encouraged to support tourism that only brings positive impacts to the country. The people who work in the sector should also ensure that destruction and degradation are not experienced for tourists to have the fun they wish for. Government also needs to increase the concern on sustainability by ensuring the issues addressed not only benefit tourists but also the locals even more.
Definition of Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable tourism is a kind of tourism that is committed to generate low impacts on surrounding environment as well as community through acting
responsibly when generating income and the employment opportunities and aiding in social cohesion (Weeden & Boluk, 2014) The main goal of sustainable tourism is to see it that the economic development that result from tourism brings about positive experience to all individuals that are concerned such as visitors ,tourism businesses as well as local community.
In practice, the sustainable tourism encompasses a number of activities that ensure minimal negative impacts are generated and resources are utilized optimally for generation of income. Greener transport is the first activity and it ensures that minimal negative impacts result from the tourism activities ((Weeden & Boluk, 2014). The main goal of greener transport is to encourage tourists to use the public means of transport when visiting different sites in the country. This will play a greater role in reducing the carbon emissions that are attributed to the burning of fossil fuels which in return increases the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere thereby causing global warming (In Moscardo & In Benckendorff, 2015). In order to significantly reduce the carbon emissions, there is need for more cleaners form of transported to be innovated. The other sustainable activity that ensures that the resources are optimally utilized is the evenly spreading of the visitors in order to reduce pressure on the natural as well as built environment and on the communities at the same time maximizing the economic benefits (Lakshmi, 2004). There has been marketing campaigns such as those that are conducted by the Visit Scotland that encourage the visitors to evenly distributed all year through as well as around the country. This will ensure that the resources in a particular location
are not overwhelmed by the increased pressure, thereby resulting to their sustainable use (Weeden & Boluk, 2014).
Another important aspect of sustainable tourism in Scotland is the measurement of the social and environmental impacts of the tourism with an intention of ensuring the tourist development brings the positive experiences to the local people, tourists themselves and tourist companies (Weeden & Boluk, 2014). Through accurate measurement of the environmental as well as social impact that tourism that result from tourism activities, effective and sound policies will be formulated in order to ensure positive changes are brought about and the right remedial action is taken in case of the problem (Hall, 2015). The other activity that is encompassed on the sustainable tourism is the greener accommodation which ensures that the accommodation providers minimize their waste, water use and energy. For instance, Green Tourism Scheme ensures that the businesses reduce their environmental impacts in the country.
Environment Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable tourism undertakes activities that ensures the that environment is protected from the practices that aim at optimizing revenues that is generated from tourism. As a result minimal adverse effects are generated while at the same natural resources are optimally utilized with an intention of maximizing resources (Hall, 2015). Some of the major activities that are undertaken in order to protect the environment include advocating for the greener transport which reduces carbon emission; encouraging people o adopt greener accommodation by minimizing the use of water, energy and reducing the resources that are generated . The environment is also protected by sustainable tourism through ensuring there is even distribution of visitors in order to reduce pressure on specific resources (Weeden & Boluk, 2014).
All these activities ensure the resources are optimally utilized but minimal impacts that can adversely the environment are generated.
Cultural Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable tourism also helps in protecting the cultural site and local community’s traditional values that act as the tourist destination in the country. The cultural heritage of the local people in the country attract tourist and if it is well harnessed the communities can generate income from tourism activities (Weeden & Boluk, 2014). Sustainable tourism ensures that the cultural heritage is preserved and maximum revenue is generated from it.
Social Sustainable Tourism
Social sustainable tourism refers to the activities that are conducted in order to respect the host community’s authenticity and involve them in the tourist activities. For instance, the local communities are allowed to benefit from the tourism activities with an intention of bringing them together and ensure social cohesion (Weeden & Boluk, 2014). Sustainable tourism can only prevail where peace prevails and the local communities take part in conserving the sites that attract tourists.
Tourism Policy in Scotland
The tourism policies in Scotland gears towards sustainable economic growth by maximizing the operational efficiency as well as environmental performance and at the same time minimizing the impacts on local environment and ensure the local communities are connected for real benefits to be achieved (In Moscardo & In Benckendorff, 2015). For instance, the Scottish Tourism Alliance Council formulated a policy in 2013 whose objectives was to capitalize on growing opportunities; reduce impact of tourism transport; minimize tourism resource use as well as waste production; protect natural and cultural heritage and support the adaptation to the climate change in tourism sectors (Weeden & Boluk, 2014). Fife is a tourism destination
and it focuses on promoting sustainable tourism by engaging in activities that maximize revenues and minimal adverse effects are generated. This is evidenced by measures taken by Fife in order to ensure the negative impacts are significantly reduced by ensuring the visitors are evenly distributed to other sites pressure on certain sites especially on the coast.
Therefore, as much as tourism plays a major role in the economy of Scotland, the country can boost the same by establishing other areas that may be attractive to tourists. For instance, developing the hiking activities can be an important sporting activity not yet explored. Once established, the areas will need to be developed to good standards. More emphasis need to be put on quality services in the new areas, so that they attract the interests of the tourists. By so doing, the country will enable this industry to grow to higher levels in the years to come. More people will be employed in this sector.
References
- MacLellan, R. (1998). Tourism in Scotland. London u.a.: Internat. Thomson Business Press.
- Mass tourism. (2016). Geographylwc.org.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2016,fromhttp://www.geographylwc.org.uk/GCSE/Year5/tourism/masstour.html
- Sampson, J. (2016). The Effects Mass Tourism Has Had on Developing Countries.Responsibletravelreport.com. Retrieved 18 March 2016, from http://www.responsibletravelreport.com/component/content/article/2642-mass-tourism-effects
- In Moscardo, G., & In Benckendorff, P. (2015). Education for sustainability in tourism: A handbook of processes, resources, and strategies.
- Hall, C.M. (2015). The Routledge Handbook of Tourism and Sustainability. Routledge.
- Weeden, C. & Boluk, K. (2014). Managing Ethical Consumption in Tourism. Routledge.
- Hagglund, B. (2009). Tourists and travellers: Women's non-fictional writing about Scotland, 1770-1830. Bristol, UK: Channel View.
- Burns, P. M., & Novelli, M. (2007). Tourism and politics: Global frameworks and local realities. Amsterdam u.a.:
Elsevier.
