While tourism is a major force for development it has a number of negative aspects:
• Tourism is a significant and growing contributor to climate change, currently accounting for around
5% of global CO2 emissions, mainly generated by transport but also by the operation of tourism
facilities such as accommodation.
• Local pollution of land and water from poor treatment of solid and liquid waste by tourism businesses
and from the activities of tourists can be a problem in some areas
• Accommodation businesses are often major users of non-renewable and precious resources, such as
land, energy and water. In some areas a resort may consume many times more water per person than
the local community with which it competes for supply.
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• Poorly sited tourism development and inappropriate activities can be very damaging to biodiversity in
sensitive areas. Negative impacts to cultural heritage sites can occur where there is poor visitor
management.
• Tourism can have negative impacts on local society, through restricting access to land and resources
and leading to an increase in crime, sexual exploitation and threats to social and cultural traditions and
values.
• While tourism is well placed to generate accessible jobs, poor working conditions are sometimes found
in the sector.
• The economic performance of the sector is susceptible to influences on source markets, such as
economic conditions, natural