The relationships are essentially two-way and can be either posi- tive or negative.
In terms of visitors, we are aware of the range of impacts that growing numbers of visitors and their growing demands have on the places and host communities where tourism opportunities exist,and we know that an increasing number of visitors are searching for higher quality and more satisfying experiences. These trends can bring positive results if there is appropriate and sustainable tourism development in order that the health and well-being of visitors and local residents is ensured, and so that communication, education, awareness, and under- standing grow from tourism opportunities provided by a community and its location. If tourism is poorly man- aged, negative results - such as scarred landscapes
from overuse, crowding, and traffic problems - will reduce the quality of the tourism experience and quite possibly lead to a hostile and/or exploitative host community.
In terms of place, we recognize that enormous variability exists between different places in their ability to absorb tourism without lasting damage. The positive impacts of sustainable tourism development can include tourism acting as a stimulus for historic preservation or new uses of historic buildings, improvement of (derelict) land, enhancing awareness of heritage and landscape, and strengthening the conservation lobby.