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Impacts of tourism

Threatening the viability of the industry

Beaches, mountains, rivers, forests and biodiversity are basic resources upon which the tourism industry depends. Threats to the environment therefore threaten the viability of the industry. In addition, tourism can contribute to environmental protection by encouraging the safeguarding of resources for economic as well as aesthetic reasons. Recreational activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling and sport fishing lead to damage to coral reefs and subsequent impacts on coastal protection and fisheries.

Species suffer because of disruption of their habitats. Increased pressure on endangered species often results due to trade for creatures such as sharks and turtles. Even nature tourism, if not properly planned and managed, threatens the world's most ecologically fragile areas such as wetlands, mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds. Tourism development can be intensive on coastal fringes and has caused major damage to coastal ecosystems. For example, three-quarters of the sand dunes on the Mediterranean coastline from Spain to Sicily have disappeared mainly as a result of urbanization linked to tourism development. Development of new berths for cruise ships can destroy valuable coastal habitats. Their massive anchors and chains have, for instance, gouged large chasms three to nine metres deep in parts of the Caribbean.