European Tourism effects on the Environment Essay

European Tourism effects on the Environment - Essay Example The UK for example has been a leading tourist destination for the past years and this trend never seems to wane. Although much of its natural, cultural sites suffered at first the UK has started various policies regarding the preservation of nature and in doing so, tourists help maintain their tourist spots indirectly. Other EU member country worth noting in terms of tourism is Italy and France which are located conveniently along the coasts of the Mediterranean. These two countries and others have accommodated millions of tourists annually, and some of the repercussions of these enterprises are evident right now. These areas are currently experiencing the drawbacks of past tourism ventures and are now seeking to rehabilitate their tourist spots which are situated near the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean itself is a prime tourist destination, but due to its peculiar characteristics, it been a victim of reckless, abusive tourism. Much of its marine life is suffering the effects of eu thropication and unmanaged solid and liquid wastes being dumped to it. When this carelessness continues, the Mediterranean will cease to be and there is a possibility that this unfortunate situation will also occur to other tourist spots. Tourism has not only made it big in Europe but also the rest of the world. ... In today's modern lifestyle, a vacation is viewed as a necessity rather than a luxury, as many international companies offer tourism packages to their employees as part of their wok benefits. Also, tourism has been more accessible today to the lower economic classes more than ever (Council of Europe, 2004). Tourism and the state of a nation's environment have a delicate relationship with each other. Sure tourism brings in a lot of revenues from tourists, but without an efficient means of environmental preservation the country's ecology and natural resources will suffer. The issue as to whether tourism affects the environment positively or negatively is put to debate recently (Kozyr, 2000). An excellent tourism program depends mainly on the soundness of a country's environment. There are guidelines set upon by the Fifth Programme as to what transport means, water supply, waste management practices etc. are to be taken up to by a tourism delegated area so that damage to the environment would be decreased (European Commission, 2005). Tourism is given special attention by the European Union for its future expansion and worker status. The E.U. has about 8 million people working on various sectors of tourism, a decent 5% of the whole workforce and GDP and an estimated 30% outside service trade. Cumulatively, if the transport and trade sectors are taken in consideration, tourism accounts for about 12% of GDP. The Tourism Unit of Directorate General Enterprise stresses the significance of tourism in Europe's economic success and it aims at tourist satisfaction, employee status, care for the environment and many more. The unit works closely with an Advisory Committee made up o f representatives from the various Member States and other associations such as