Air pollution and tourism are an inseparable combination. With more people coming to a location, the number of pollutants is bound to increase; with higher air pollution, fewer people will visit. So, how much air pollution is caused by tourism, and how does poor air quality affect the number of visitors? Find out by reading this article.
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Air Pollution Caused by Tourism
The more people the more pollution – as simple as it is, with tourism it goes even further. Being on holidays, the visitors to your town or city are bound to opt for less sustainable options and therefore set an over-average number of pollutants into the air. Where exactly does air pollution caused by tourism come from?
- Car travel – Tourists strive for comfort, therefore, they search for the most convenient ways to travel. Whether it’s using taxis or arriving at the destination in their own car – they simply produce more greenhouse gases.
- Energy consumption – Many energy sources are still not sustainable. Yet, tourists actively use up more electricity than local citizens. This results in higher demand and thus more pollutants released into the atmosphere by the power plants.
However, the case is not black and white. As Jun Zhang and Yoyhai Lu proved in their research, initially, the growing number of tourists indeed induces air pollution. But, after reaching a certain point, further tourist development leads to an increase in air quality (2022), proving that conscious measures undertaken by local authorities are truly effective.
How Does Air Pollution Affect Tourism?
Having discussed how air quality changes over time in tourist destinations, we may proceed with the other perspective: air pollution and tourism from the visitor’s point of view.
As Bogalecka and Grobelna discovered in their research of the relationship between air pollution and tourism in the Polish region of Tri-City, nearly half of the respondents (students working in the tourism industry) reported that visitors actively ask about the air pollutants levels (2023). What is more, the research has also proven that the majority of the visitors came within the period of high air quality (ibid.). This research proves how air pollution affects tourism – if it’s low, it attracts visitors.
The Takeaway
Tourists often increase air pollution by choosing non-sustainable means of transportation and using up more energy. However, with proper solutions introduced, local governments are capable of battling this issue and, eventually, improving the air quality. This is crucial not only for the local citizens, but also for attracting visitors, who are becoming more aware of the issue and pay attention to the air they breathe in.
Do you seek ways to improve the air quality in your region? See our solutions for local governments and find out how we can help you!
Sources:
Zhang, J., & Lu, Y. (2022). Exploring the Effects of Tourism Development on Air Pollution: Evidence from the Panel Smooth Transition Regression Model. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(14), 8442. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148442
Bogalecka, M., & Grobelna, A. (2023). Air Pollution and Its Potential Consequences for Tourism and Career Development from Students’ Perspective: A Case Study of the Gdańsk Agglomeration in Poland. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(3), 2651. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032651