PAPER AND PROCEEDINGS OF A SEMINAR ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM, COMPRISING AN INDEPENDENT PAPER BY MICHAEL BURNS AND ASSOCIATES, THE FLINDERS UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEMINAR

This report addresses environmental matters that arise in the context of travel and tourism. Following some preliminary definitions and discussion, broad-ranging evidence is presented regarding the ecological, social and cultural impacts of tourism. The perspective provided of the different forms of congestion, pollution and social stress prevalent in areas where tourism development has occurred point to the ease with which such development can go sadly wrong. Building on this descriptive base, a framework is set up yielding working definitions of the concept of "inappropriate development" and leads to formal explanations of why this inappropriate development, or market failure, is likely to occur. Not surprisingly, it is confirmed that the single most compelling reason for market failure, in environmental matters or elsewhere, is that decision-makers (private or public) are not liable (rewarded) for the full extent of the costs (benefits) that their actions impose upon others. The fundamental question is raised as to how one might measure the costs and benefits of the various forms of environmental impact. It is impossible to design sensible environmental policies, or even say whether such policies are necessary, without this kind of information. The important matter of how the future environment should be valued is among the issues discussed. A summary of the existing environmental legislation, together with interesting examples of the varying interpretations and applications of this legislation, is presented. While a reading of this material, taken together with the earlier insights offered in respect of market failure, makes it all too easy to understand why inappropriate development has occurred, it is a much more difficult task to define a satisfactory solution. Difficulties with alternative environmental management strategies are discussed and some tentative suggestions made as to how superior environmental outcomes might be achieved. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0644096004
• Corporate Authors:

  Australian Government Publishing Service

  P.O. Box 84
  Canberra, A.C.T. 2600,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • Burns, M
  • Damania, D
  • Heathcote, R L
  • Hudson, M
  • Moore, G
• Publication Date: 1989-3

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 79 p.
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefits; Conferences; Costs; Economics; Environmental impacts; Legislation; Management; Methodology; Recreation; Tourism; Travel
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 8006: Australia; 8525: Conference; 255: Economics; 2455: Environment; 1556: Legislation; 9102: Method; 9142: Recreation; 5471: Shock; 9143: Tourism
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Environment; Finance; Highways; Law;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00620294
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 0-644-09600-4
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 31 1992 12:00AM