Tourism Industry in the United Kingdom - Essay Example

Tourism Impacts and Sustainability Tourism industry in the United Kingdom has been flourishing for a long time. Europe is prime and a destination for many visitors in the United Kingdom. This is because the United Kingdom offers a strong historical and cultural heritage. It has well-preserved cities, culture, landscapes, food, and diversity of peoples and languages. The management in the tourism and travel industry has put sound measures in place to ensure full enjoyment of tourists, both local and international. These are geared towards making the United Kingdom a very competitive tourists’ destination in the world (Hamblin, 2001:7). According to the journal Tourism by Tourism Alliance, the impacts of tourism activities are innumerable. The effects of tourism comprises of the social, cultural, political, and economic. The United Kingdom has put prudent strategies to address the possible adverse impacts of tourism. This is in the light that tourism can disrupt environment, culture, and economy in the regions of its occurrence. The principal aim of sustainable tourism is to maximise the positive development and experience of the people where it takes place. To achieve tourism sustainability, this calls for managers and all the stakeholders to cooperate. The result is to streamline the tourism industry for maximum benefit of tourism industry (Tourism Alliance, 2010:3). This paper will endeavour to examine the impact of tourism and its sustainability. The paper will achieve this objective through looking at a number of studies in academic journals. According to ADAS report, tourism contributes to the growth of economy of the United Kingdom. The department for environment, Food, and Rural Affairs in conjunction with Tourism Company and ADAS did a research on the trends of tourism in the year 2007. The research was seeking to find evidence, trends, and performance in the tourism industry. The findings indicate that tourism in the United Kingdom contributes to about 32.8 billion pounds per year. In addition, the report further points out that tourism create many jobs to the citizens of the United Kingdom. For instance, the report reveals that tourists’ activities generated 1.4 million jobs in the region in the year 2005. Moreover, the report portrays that the United Kingdom spends many funds on global tourism (Defra, 2007:5). The ADAS research further reveals that the ever-growing air transport has facilitated the growth of tourism. The findings allude that in the United Kingdom is one of the biggest earners from the international tourism. The report shows that in the year 2005, the United Kingdom ranked fifth in the rank of the largest nation with highest incomes from tourism. On the aspect of adverse effects of tourism on environment, the ADAS research does not find any connection to link tourism with ecological degradation. This is an allusion that tourists’ activities do not have any adverse effects on the environment (Defra 2007:8). Haley, Snaith, and Miller’s research presented in their journal asserts that a smooth interaction of tourists and local communities is important for sustainable tourism. This is from their case study at Bath in the United Kingdom in 2004. The main intention of the study was determine the perception of the people of Bath towards tourism. Using a sample of people and longitudinal and comparative data collection, the report indicates that people support tourism development in Bath. The findings of this research demonstrate that tourism does not have any adverse effects to the social settings in the United Kingdom. There research highlights that the residents of Bath embrace tourists’ activities and development. According to the research, some of the factors that accounts for the support of Bath for tourists destination include low incomes. The people of Bath encourage tourists’ activities as a source of income. This is because of the benefits they obtain from tourists activities. Much of the findings in this study indicate that tourism does not have adverse effects in the society rather it creates both full and part-time employment for people in Bath (Haley et al, 2004:20). The article in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism reveals that profitable tourism prevails in the United Kingdom. The article notes that tourism industries value sustainability in the United Kingdom. The article reflects a survey of consumers of tourism from the Destinations Travel Show in the United Kingdom. According to this article, consumers are the principal determinants towards better tourism sustainability. This because consumers act as a strong foundation for change that apparently is absent in the traditional arrangement, organisation, and regulatory techniques (Miller, 2003:26). The findings of the research point that consumer’s participation in making of sound decisions that touches environmental, economic, and social aspects is crucial. The article indicates that consumers are ready to buy tourism products to support the development of the industry in the United Kingdom. The article allude that there is expanded use of the tourism products thereby promoting increased tourism destinations in the United Kingdom. The article infers that the tourism industry should take advantage the increased demand of consumer product to forge towards great leaps of continuity of the tourism industry. This is a way to maximise profits from this lucrative industry in the United Kingdom (Miller, 2003:30). The report by Southern Tourist Board Winchester District in the United Kingdom points out that tourism contributes heavily to economy of the country. This report indicates that Winchester District attracts an estimate of four million strips in a year. This big volume of tourists creates jobs in this district either directly or indirectly. The research notes that tourists spend about 48.3 million pounds on the catering services. The study shows that the spending on accommodation, retail buying, and transport amounts to 72.1 pounds. In addition, the report reveals that tourist activities in this region supports and creates about 2,060 full time jobs. This list of job opportunities does not encompass the government employees in the tourism sector. Further, the report alludes that the combination of full time and part-time jobs accounts for the 3,037 jobs in the Winchester District. Domestic tourists are the biggest contributors of revenues from tourism activities. The overall effect of tourism activities in Winchester District is the growth of local economy. This is because tourism strengthens other sectors of economy. It therefore means that has the cascading effects of tourism to the other sectors of economy jumpstarting their growth (Southern Tourist Board, 2001:6). The report from Winchester District indicates that tourism creates many jobs that lead to expansion of economic activities such as businesses and services industries. These industries have an indirect or direct link with the tourism industry. The research reveals that local people spend the money that they earn from tourism thereby contributing to the growth of the economy of the local people. According to the report this report, tourism has a multiplying effect. This is because it induces the creation of jobs. The research concludes that tourism activities have positive impacts to the economy of Winchester District and the United Kingdom at large (Southern Tourist Board, 2001:31). The United Kingdom has put necessary mechanism in place for sustainable tourism. This is according to the report of Tourism Sustainable Group in the UK. The research provides the crucial steps that the government should take to strengthen sustainability in the tourism sector. According to the research, some of the strategies that the United Kingdom should employ include formulating long-term policies, encompassing all the stakeholders, and employment of expertise from different sources. Tourism Sustainability Group suggests that proper monitoring of the tourism activities eliminates the negative impacts of tourism. The report notes that streamlining the tourism sector in the United Kingdom will reduce challenges that tourism sector experience. The limitations of tourism in the United Kingdom comprise of seasonal tourists’ activities, poor mode of transport, eradication of cultural and natural heritage, and improper management of resources. The Tourism Sustainable Group points out that the UK is an important destination for tourists. However, the group asserts that the sector is destined to fail if there is no coordination of different stakeholders in the industry. The group proposes that stakeholders should embrace formulation of sustainability policies that have clear framework to direct tourism industry. The group encourages researches that are relevant to tourism industry in the United Kingdom (Tourism Sustainability Group, 2007:4). Further, report alludes that sound practices in the tourism industry will help to develop and regenerate economic development in the United Kingdom. On top of this, the report notes that proper implementation of the policies improves the living styles of tourists and the host communities. This is because policies set the right balance and interaction between the wellbeing of tourists, environment, and the host communities. The report depicts that a smooth interaction between tourists and communities reduces unwarranted tensions thereby achieving mutual dependency (Tourism Sustainability Group, 2007:6). The Journal of Tourism Geographies reveals that there are conflicting views on the issue of sustainable tourism in the United Kingdom. According to this journal, some people feel that any tourist activity has its impacts on the host communities. Some scholars argue that the United Kingdom cannot sustain tourism of large numbers of tourists. These scholars point out that non-sustainable tourism does not uphold development. The critics of mass holidaymakers hold that alternative forms of tourism can achieve development. The proponents of mass tourism state that all forms of tourists’ activities have impacts on the environment they occur. The journal warns that this controversy derails development of sustainable tourism in the United Kingdom. According to the article, alternative forms of tourism and mass tourism cannot be uniform. This is because some of the alternative forms of sightseeing such as ecotourism occur in susceptible environments that have little on infrastructure or development (Butler, 1999:10). The article warns the critics of mass tourism that there is no enough backing of their arguments. This is because there is no tangible evidence to link group sightseeing with unsustainable development in the United Kingdom. This controversy has necessitated researchers to devise viable mechanisms to maximise the benefits from mass tourism. The goal of the researchers in the tourism sector is make it more protractible. This is in spite of the voices of critics that advocate for small scale, culturally, and environmentally compliant types of tourism (Butler, 1999:12). The report by the Centre for Response Tourism, Overseas Development Institute and International Institute for Environment and Development reveal that tourists’ activities come with a number of benefits. According to this report, tourism can influence cultural and social setting of communities in a positive way. Some of the benefits of tourism comprises of an increase in access to social services such as quality health care and education for the communities. This is in addition to preservation of cultures of the local cultures. Furthermore, the research asserts that tourism reinforces the identity of communities and creates awareness of human rights to the host environment. Moreover, the sightseeing activities increase realization of the significance of the environment and local ecologies. The report reveals that the United Kingdom has put relevant mechanism to caution the people from cultural collapse of tourism activities. It further indicates that tourism sector has sound mechanisms to protect the cultural and social heritage of the United Kingdom. The smooth interaction of the tourists and host communities enable them to obtain the maximum benefits from the tourists’ activities. The study indicates tourism activities enrich the culture of local communities (Ashley et al, 2001:25). Tourism Alliance reveals that the United Kingdom has put sound mechanism to maximise the positive impacts of tourism and sustainability. These are efforts to unlock the potential of tourism to benefit fully from the sector. Tourism Alliance in the UK reveals that the region has eliminated the barriers of domestic trade. This is an attempt to make the United Kingdom to compete well with other nations in the tourism sector. The Alliance shows that there is increased production of Visa and reduction of Air Passenger duty charges. This seeks to increase the tourists’ entry and trips in the country. The Tourism Alliance suggests that the United Kingdom should increase the carrying capacity of aviation. This is a strategy to keep the United Kingdom in the frontline of the most favoured destination for the tourists’ activities. According to the Tourism Alliance, the tourism sector should tighten their controls a long the borders to prevent unwarranted entry of intruders. This is to ensure security for the tourists in the UK. Tourism Alliance notes that security increases the volumes of the visitors and destinations in the country. The Alliance points out that for sustainable developments and tourism activities, the United Kingdom should enact legislations in the tourism sector for maximum benefit (Tourism Alliance. 2010:6). A United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization research on the impact of sustainable tourism and cultural heritage puts the United Kingdom in the lists of the nations that preserves cultural heritage. This is in the light of possible adverse effects of tourism that can disrupt culture. The report reveals the sustainable tourism activities provide funds that preserves cultural heritage in the country. The report reveals that the society that hosts tourism activities benefits directly from tourists’ funds. This has made the community members support the activities of tourism thereby leading to their economic growth. The report indicates that British development cooperation agency concentrates on a pro-poor strategy as part of its participation in tourism. These are the efforts to cushion the culture of Britain and to achieve sustainable developments. The report indicates that several governments neglect tourism sector, which is very important in generation of employment opportunities. The employed individuals contribute positively to the growth of economy of the United Kingdom. To preserve the UK culture, Britain embraces consultations with people that have expertise on tourism industry. The report alludes that Britain incorporates the views of academicians, Non-governmental Organizations, and the tourism sector. This increases information exchange and implementation of sustainable projects in the tourism sector. The result of these efforts is the maintenance of uniqueness and identity of the culture of people of the United Kingdom. The report points out that the involvement of the UK is important in attaining national pride (Endresen, 1999:41). The report by Macaulay, presented in White’s article, Institute on indicators of sustainable tourism, indicates that the United Kingdom continues to foster sustainable development of tourism industry. The report notes that there has been political will since the adoption of Agenda 21 in the United Kingdom. The report reveals that the country gives a sober approach to tourism industry, which is ever changing. The government realises that for tourism activities to flourish it should consider the quality of tourism services, host location, and the community. This is because tourism can jeopardise the natural coexistence without monitoring mechanisms. The report indicates that the government of the United Kingdom has put mechanism that absorbs the right number of tourists without disrupting the social settings of host communities (White, 2006:3). Other steps that the government of the United Kingdom has taken concentrate on psychological and physical aspects of tourism activities to the local communities. Physical considerations seek to prevent possible environmental effects that may arise because of tourism activities. These strategies have ensured maximum benefit of tourism activities in the UK (White, 2006:4). It is evident from the discussion above that the United Kingdom is the biggest destination of tourists’ activities. The studies highlighted in the essay confirm that the country has sound mechanism in place to promote sustainable tourism and development. Although there are divisions on whether mass tourism has adverse effects on the host communities, the UK concentrates on streamlining the tourism sector. The government achieves this through embracing consultations of different stakeholders in the sightseeing industry. This is unlike other governments that the tourism sector to manage tourists issues. The government will has enabled United Kingdom to reap big while preserving its cultural heritage. The case of the United Kingdom calls for nations to encompass all the stakeholders and participants in the tourism sector to embrace sharing of ideas. This is the only way for nations to get the maximum benefits from tourism sector and minimise potential harm to their culture. Bibliography Ashley, A., et al., 2001. Pro-Poor Tourism Strategies: Making Tourism Work For The Poor. 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