MODULE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 9
Tourism Impact Mitigation
Introduction
The tourism industry contributes to carbon emission, water and air, pollution and
generates solid water waste. This chapter discusses the various best practices and
technologies that could help addressing these issues and achieve sustainable
development.
Lesson Outcome
1. Explain the concept of mitigation and provide example
2. Explain the ways by which the tourism industry contributes to environment
degradation
3. Identify and explain best practice and technologies that could mitigate tourism’s
negative impact.
Definition of Mitigation
The USAID (2008) defined mitigation
as the “implementation of the measures
designed to reduce the undesirable effects
of a proposed action on the environment”.
USAID categories mitigation
measure into three: (1) Prevention and
control measure, (2) compensatory
measure and (3) remediation measure.
The aim of compensation is to offset
the adverse of one area with improvement
in another area.
. Page 1
MODULE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT
Minimizing Carbon Footprint
According to a study by the TUI group
(n.d.), the tourism industry contributes
about 5% of global carbon emissions. Half
of this footprint is caused by the aviation
sector. In this regard, aircraft manufacture,
such as Boing, has been experiencing
new technologies including a coasting
material that keep experimenting new
technologies including a coating materials
that keep insect form sticking to the wing
leading edge.
Air Pollution Mitigation
When a place succeed as a tourist
destination, it is inevitable that will be
increased vehicular traffic. Vehicles emit
air pollutant. Two ways to mitigate this
problem are (1) to set a far back facilities
away from the road and (2) to plant tree
which will serve as buffer between the tourism and the road. The trees will not block
away but noise.
. Page 2
MODULE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT
Wastewater-saving Technologies
Tourism is a water intensive
industry, particular in the
context of gold courses and
luxury hotels that have
bathtubs installed as
standard hotel amenities.
However, there are number
of technologies that help conserve this precious resource.
They include water-free urinals like the one installed at Mall; water recycling plant to
produce clean water from kitchen sewage.
Wastewater treatment could involve any of the following process(UNEP-GTZ 2013)
Process Application
Sedimentation Removal of particles from water larger
than 30 micrometers-typically used as a
primary treatment approach
Filtration Removal of particles from wastewater
larger than 3 micrometer-typically used
downstream of sedimentation
(conventional treatment) or following
coagulation/flocculation
Oil and grease removal Removal of oil and grease from
wastewater=flotation process may also be
used
. Page 3
MODULE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT
Biological Treatment
Process Application
Aerobic Removal of dissolved and suspended
organic matter from wastewater
Oxidation pond Reduction of suspended solids, BOD,
pathogenic bacteria,, and ammonia from
wastewater
nutrient removal Reduction of nutrient content of reclaimed
wastewater
Disinfection Protection of public health by removal of
pathogenic organisms
Advance Treatment
Process Application
Activated Carbon Removal of organic compounds
Air stripping Removal of ammonia nitrogen and some
volatile organic from wastewater
Chemical Coagulation and Precipitation
Process Application
Line treatment Use of line to precipitate cation and metal
from solution
Membrane filtration Removal of colloids and micro-suspended
impurities
Reverse osmosis Removal of dissolved salts and minerals
from water-as; effective from pathogen
. Page 4
MODULE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT
Solid Waste Reduction
According to the UNEP and GTX (2003),
accommodation establishments generate
these types of solid waste: newspapers
and magazines, cleansing agent
containers used by housekeeping and
laundry services, flowers in guestrooms
and public areas, plastic shampoo and
cosmetic soap bottle, old towels, lines bed
sheets, furniture, paint varnishes, used fitting, fixture and plumbing supplies, refrigerator
and other bulk.
Sustainable Building Design
Many of the aforementioned environmental
issue could be prevented by designed
building in a sustainable manner. The
whole building design by designing building
in a sustainable manner. The whole
building design guide(2014) mentioned six
fundamental principles in sustainable
building design.
1. Optimized site potential- proper site selection, orientation, and landscaping;
consideration of the reuse of rehabilitation of existing building and future
expansion. These decisions have implications of local ecosystems, transportation
methods, and energy use and physical security. A sustainable reduces controls
or treat storm water run-off, and use native flora and fauna for landscape.
2. Optimized energy use-to reduce energy load, increase efficiency and maximize
the use of renewable energy source to significantly reduce dependence of fossil
fuel-derived energy.
. Page 5
MODULE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT
3. Protection and conservation of water-to use water efficiently reduce, reduce,
reuse or recycle water for on-site use.
4. Optimized building space and materials use-the integrated and intelligent use
of materials to maximize their value, prevent upstream pollution and conserve
resources.
5. Enhanced indoor environment quality (IEQ)-impact occupant health, comfort
and productively. Enhanced IED involved maximized day lighting, appropriate
ventilation and moisture control, optimized acoustic performance, avoiding
materials with-VOC emissions, occupant control over light and temperature.
6. Optimized operational and maintenance practice-specifying materials and
system that simplify and reduce maintenance requirements
Mitigation Measure to Reduce Impact on Aesthetic, Visual Quality, and light and
Glare
According to USF(2008) another unwanted of consequence of tourism
development is glare.
Sometimes, the situation gets too bad to the point that stars are overcome by the
light is unhealthy for both human and animals alike because it affects our body clock
and natural processes, such as sleeping.
Light level in some cities could be hundreds and thousands of time higher than
natural night light. These light are also known as “glare bomb”.
Many gas stations and parking lots are lit more than ten times as brightly as they
were 20 years ago.
Mitigation Measure to Reduce Noise
According to the World Health
Organization, ambient sound level should
. Page 6
MODULE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT
not exceed 30 dBA for sound sleep. However, in place close to airport, the noise from
aircraft taking off and landing exceed 100dBA (decibels).
dB is a ratio of numbers, could be anything but usually relating to sound or power...
dBA is a particular measurement of sound that uses a certain filter when taking the
sound measurements. [Link]
and-db.1404210/
Noise is measured in units of sound
pressure levels called decibels, named after
Alexander Graham Bell, using A-weighted
sound levels (dBA). The A-weighted sound
levels closely match the perception of
loudness by the human ear. Decibels are
measured on a logarithmic scale which
means that a small change in the number of
decibels results in a huge change in the
amount of noise and the potential damage to
a person's hearing.
OSHA sets legal limits on noise
exposure in the workplace. These limits are based on a worker's time weighted average
over an 8 hour day. With noise, OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 90 dBA for
all workers for an 8 hour day. The OSHA standard uses a 5 dBA exchange rate. This
means that when the noise level is increased by 5 dBA, the amount of time a person
can be exposed to a certain noise level to receive the same dose is cut in half.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
has recommended that all worker exposures to noise should be controlled below a level
equivalent to 85 dBA for eight hours to minimize occupational noise induced hearing
loss. NIOSH has found that significant noise-induced hearing loss occurs at the
exposure levels equivalent to the OSHA PEL based on updated information obtained
. Page 7
MODULE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM & HOSPITALITY ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT
from literature reviews. NIOSH also recommends a 3 dBA exchange rate so that every
increase by 3 dBA doubles the amount of the noise and halves the recommended
amount of exposure time.
Here's an example: OSHA allows 8 hours of exposure to 90 dBA but only 2 hours
of exposure to 100 dBA sound levels. NIOSH would recommend limiting the 8 hour
exposure to less than 85 dBA. At 100 dBA, NIOSH recommends less than 15 minutes
of exposure per day. [Link]
Chapter 9 pp 179-188, Tourism Impact and Tourism Sustainability-Cruz, 1st edition, Rex Store
published 2016
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
. Page 8