NAMIYA NASEER

TAYLORS UNIVERSITY ID: 0317541

HOW THE HOSPITALITY, TOURISM AND CULINARY ARTS INDUSTRY HAS

CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAUSE OF POLLUTION.

Pollution has become an alarming reality today, linked significantly to the Hospitality,
Tourism, and Culinary Arts industry, which represented about 9.5% of the total global Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) in 2013. (Is sustainable tourism achievable? n.d.) As the industry
develops and expands rapidly across the world, its impact is felt deep as evidenced by the
increase in various types pollution.
The rapid increase in the number of tourists travelling by various modes and in this case,
especially air, contributes much towards air pollution as the industry accounts for 60% of the air
travel. Furthermore, transport emissions have been linked to environmental impacts such as
global warming and acid rain. These pollutants, especially from Carbon dioxide emissions
related to transportation energy use (Tourism's Three Main Impact Areas, n.d.), the industry is
responsible for much of the air pollution there is today.
Looking at land pollution, in areas of high tourism in natural destinations waste disposal
is a serious concern where improper waste disposal can have a detrimental effect on the
surrounding natural environment. According to the United Nations Environment Programme,
(Tourism's Three Main Impact Areas, n.d.) cruise ships in the Caribbean are estimated to
produce more than 70,000 tons of waste a year. Wastage of such magnitude can have a negative
effect on the economy and tourism of the area decreasing property value, in addition to the
negative effects on the marine life with its water pollution.
With the industry expanding rapidly, construction of hotels, and other related facilities
and businesses increased sewage pollution. Wastewater pollutes seas, lakes and surrounding
tourist attractions (Tourism's Three Main Impact Areas, n.d.) which can have a negative effect on
the tourism of the area. Furthermore, it can affect the coral reefs and animals living in that area
which can have an even more negative effect on the tourism of that area and the economy. The
health of the humans in that area can be just as severe.

NAMIYA NASEER
TAYLORS UNIVERSITY ID: 0317541

To conclude, as the industry is vast and every growing, it would be wise for the industry
to gear up and take preventive measures to reduce pollution. Not only would it benefit the
industry and the destination in the long run by preserving the area and reducing the cost in trying
to repair the damage done by the pollution, it is the responsibility that comes with the degree of
influence which the industry now has as evidenced by almost a tenth of the global GDP in 2013.

References
Is sustainable tourism achievable? (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2014, from:
http://www.sustainabletourism.net

Tourism's Three Main Impact Areas. (n.d.). United Nations Environment Programme.
Retrieved April 18, 2014, from
http://www.unep.org/resourceefficiency/business/sectoralactivities/tourism/factsandfigure
sabouttourism/impactsoftourism/environmentalimpacts/tourismsthreemainimpactareas/ta
bid/78776/default.aspx