Tourism is one of the world's largest industries and one of its fastest growing economic sectors. In many countries, tourism is a main strategy for regional development, as it stimulates new economic activities. Tourism may have a positive economic impact on the balance of payments, on employment, and on gross income and production, but it may also have negative effects, particularly on the environment. However, unplanned and uncontrolled tourism growth can result in such deterioration of the environment that tourist growth can be compromised