Essays UK

Environmental Impacts and the Hospitality
Industry
1565 words (6 pages) Essay in Tourism
04/10/17 Tourism Reference this
ABSTRACT:
The hospitality sector presents a variety of environmental aspects that, depending
on the activity, may have a significant impact on the environment. Its users are
consuming resources such as energy and water on a daily basis and generating a
great deal of solid waste and effluents. The hotel industry, banking sector and
hospitals are examples of some of the sectors that provide us with more information
on this issue. This work discusses the main environmental impacts generated by the
hospitality sector and highlights the possible environmental strategies that can lead
to improvements in environmental management in this particular activity.
INTRODUCTION:
Most people are aware that there is a need for all of us to take care of the
environment, if we are not to threaten the ability of the earth to support future
generation. Some aspects of the environment are very obvious from our day to day
lives, such as increasing traffic levels, together with the associated air pollution and
loss of green belt. Environmental issues, particularly the relationship between our
actions and the environmental impacts in terms of primary, secondary and tertiary
effects. ( Kirk 1996).
Environmental impacts is a study of all the factors which a land development or

construction project would have on the environment in the area, including
population, traffic, schools, fire protection, endangered species, archaeological
artefacts and community beauty. In another way possible adverse effect caused by
a development, industrial, or infrastructural project or by the release of a substance
in the environment. This also increases the need of sustainability development. It is
a development that meets present needs without endangering the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development is contrasted with
other modes of development that lead to social and ecological damage, at both the
local and global levels (Harris et al 2002). According to Jan Peter Bergkvist, Director
of Environmental Sustainability, Scandic xix. “There are three prime reasons for
putting effort into sustainability: first, it preserves our environment for future
generations; second, it adds that extra dimension to guest satisfaction, which in
turn makes us a more attractive company; and third, it saves costs and improves
profitability.”
AIM:
The aim of the position paper is to critically analyse and discuss the environmental
impacts and its effects on the hospitality industry. This position paper will also
explain the various positive and negative effects of environmental impacts of the
hospitality industry and the methods, strategies adopted to control them.
MAIN BODY:
TOURISM, HOSPITALITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT-
To say, an environmental impact is the negative aspect of human activity on the

biophysical environment. Increasingly consumer attitudes are favouring
environmentally responsible businesses. This has extended to travelling where
consumers are considering environmental issues when making travel plans and
purchases. A reflection of this is seen in the growth of ecotourism, which has grown
by 30% worldwide in recent years compared to 8% for traditional tourism. The
Conference Board of Canada’s long term forecast shows that the accommodation
industry will experience an annual growth of approximately 3% between now and
2015 (Eco efficiency centre). This arises sustainability development in the hospitality
industry also. The concept of sustainable development has been expanded to cover
seven key aspects. They are futurity, inter-generation equality, participation, the
balancing of economic and environmental factors, environmental capacities,
emphasis on quality as well as quantity and compatibility (David kirk).
Environmental pressures have affected a much wider range of industries. Initially
the concern was related only to the industries which caused direct pollution of the
environment. But now it has become a wider issue and relates not only to the
outputs but also to the whole operation. The hospitality industry also becomes a
core industry to be discussed in this issue of environmental factors, as it exposes
many of the conflicts which arise in implementing environmental policies. Many
hotels and restaurants are situated in the areas of outstanding natural beauty, in
historic cities and in regions with a delicate ecological balance. So there might be a
question whether this addition of new facilities will destroy the uniqueness or its
habitat which is already suffering from too much of development and tourism. But
the hospitality industry is linked with various other industry which cooperates
together to bring in a successful business which is mainly focused on profit. The
hospitality industry is also a major customer oriented industry. So we must also
consider customers, many of whom seek as part of the hospitality experience to be
pampered with lashing of hot water, high pressure showers, freshly laundered linen,
an ample supply of towels, copious supplies of food and drink, the availability of
swimming pools and saunas and the limousine to take them to the airport.
Whatever we do to reduce the environmental impact of hotels can only be either
with the consent of customers or taking the main consideration as customer
satisfaction. Many hospitality organisations are situated on a location were that is
suitable for the customer or according to the customer needs. And it is therefore not
situated in a place where there will be minimal effects from traffic, cooking smells
and the noise of the disco and other adverse outputs. This kind of local pollution is
not considered to be a big issue, but it does affect people’s attitudes towards the
industry (David kirk).
The hospitality industry does not cause gross environmental pollution nor it
consume vast amounts of non-renewable resources and therefore it may not be in
the front line of environmental concern. The industry is made of relatively large
number of small operations, each of which consumes relatively small amounts of
energy, water, food, paper and other resources, and which add only a small amount
of pollution to the environment in terms of smoke, smell, noise and chemical
pollutants. The industry employs 10% of the population and can have a major
impact in developing awareness and good practice (David kirk). According to
Goodno “the push of legislation and the pull of consumer pressure groups,
compounded by the cost savings which can result from reducing waste, many
companies are now taking environmental management seriously”.
The main environmental impacts due to the hospitality industry are CO2 emissions,
CFC emissions, noise, smoke, smells, health of staff, waste energy, waste water,
waste food, waste disposal, agricultural ecology, purchasing policies, transportation
policies, sale of souvenirs made from endangered species, location of hotels in
fragile locations. According to the Annual report of the world travel and tourism
environmental review “there is a recognition that environmental issues will become
much more prominent as a factor which influences consumers, regulators, pressure
groups and destinations and that the tourism industry will need to show increasing
concern for these issues. The WTTC have developed a strategy, known as the
“GREEN GLOBE”, in order to promote environmental management among hotel
and travel environment. These vary from waste management to the development of
eco-hotels and the classification of hotels on the basis of environmental impact
(David kirk).
Environmental impacts of the hospitality industries-

Positive impacts
 It sometimes educates the public about the local environment and the
importance of protecting the environment, eg the Great Barrier Reef.
 The tourism and hospitality industries often create employment and
business opportunities in an area, contributing to the local economy.
 Hospitality and tourism buildings and venues are being designed and/or
redesigned so that their impact on the environment is reduced and they
merge in with the local environment better.
 Many enterprises are now employing more sustainable practices in order to
promote a green image that appeals to consumers, eg using organic
products, recycling, using less toxic chemicals and using more energy and
water efficient fittings.
Negative impacts
 The presence of buildings and tourists may destroy the local environment
and habitat of native animals.
 The hospitality industry contribute to waste issues, eg food scraps, oil and
chemical disposal.
 Many hospitality venues are noisy.
 The hospitality and tourism industries consume a lot of energy and water, eg
electricity for air conditioning, refrigeration (www.hsc.csu.edu.au).
The environmental impact is broadly classified as:
 ASETHETIC IMPACT
 CULTURAL IMPACT
 ECOLOGICAL IMPACT
 SOCIAL IMPACT
 POLITICAL IMPACT
Aesthetic impact means causing destructive image of a surrounding by various

factors such as development etc. The image of a destination possesses importance
from a practical marketing perspective for many reasons.
Often hospitality industry fails to integrate its structures with the natural features
and indigenous architectural of the destination. Large, dominating resorts of
different design can look out of place in any natural environment and may clash
with the indigenous structural design. A lack of land-use planning and building
regulations in many destinations has facilitated sprawling developments along
coastlines, valleys and scenic routes. The sprawl includes tourism facilities
themselves and supporting infrastructure such as roads, employee housing, parking,
service areas, and waste disposal (www.gdrc.org). Examples include lakes around
Rotorua, New Zealand, that have suffered from blue-green algae and, on occasion,
have been closed for recreational activities (Journal of sustainable tourism).

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Environmental Impacts and the Hospitality

04/10/17 Tourism Reference this

Environmental impacts is a study of all the factors which a land development or

To say, an environmental impact is the negative aspect of human activity on the

Environmental impacts of the hospitality industries-

The environmental impact is broadly classified as:

Aesthetic impact means causing destructive image of a surrounding by various

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