The Effects Mass Tourism has had on Developing Countries

Overcrowding, misuse of natural resources, the construction of buildings and infrastructure, and other activities associated with tourism, produce impacts on the environment. These impacts may not only be physical, but also cultural.  In general, impacts of tourism vary according to the number and nature of tourists that travel to any given site.  The individual tourist normally has a relatively small impact but when it is in a place where natural resources are extremely scarce it can begin to have an effect.  Problems may also arise when large groups of tourists travel to a specific area at any given time which puts a huge stress on the natural resources of that area.  Tourism impacts on protected areas can be classified in two categories: direct and indirect. Direct impact is caused by the presence of tourists in an area, indirect impacts of tourism is caused by the construction of building and infrastructure created in connection with tourism activities.  Some examples of direct tourism impacts on the environment are impacts on soils, water resources, vegetation, animal life, sanitation and the impact on the cultural environment. 

One example I am going to look at is the environmental impact of tourism on protected areas in Bahia, Brazil.  In Brazil tourism is believed to be the fourth largest single source of income and the third in the state of Bahia.  It is estimated that tourism revenues amounts to approximately $90 million USD and provides jobs for up to 15,000 people.  Figures from 1985 to 1990 show that there has been a 12% depletion of certain animal species. This is mostly a consequence of the trade in animal skins but some of the consequences are caused because of the high demand for exotic meals sought for by tourists.  Hunting is a popular tourist activity within this area and will commonly occur in protected areas due to the demand of high paying tourists from many of the wealthy nations in order to be guaranteed the catch of a rare species.

This is one example of some illegal hunting going on in un-developed nations which do not have the power, resources or money to control and stop this from happening.

                It is not only animals that suffer from the pressure of high maintenance tourists and large visitor numbers but the depletion of populations of some protected plant species is also occurring within this area.   This is due to large numbers of visitors driving personal vehicles through protected areas and loading their vehicle up with flowers and ornamental plants.  Since Bahia is a very large state, effective monitoring and surveillance of illegal picking and illegal hunting are very difficult.  In protected areas it is a very common site to see personal vehicles loaded up with many of the orchid species found in Diamantina National Park in order to be later traded.