Fieldtrip Report
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Fieldtrip Report
Introduction
Tourism and hospitality products are the physical and psychological characteristics that provide satisfaction to the tourists who travel the tourist destination. Any tourist product can focus on implementing facilities that are designed to meet the needs of the customers. In this case, Elizabeth Quay provides the customers with products such as Trans Perth ferry, Island Elizabeth Quay, Wild West Charters and others that meet the requirements of the clients (Elizabeth Quay, n.d). This report aims to discuss environmental, socio-cultural and economic concerns in the community. The essay will also relate these socio-cultural, ecological and economic aspects as associated to Elizabeth Quay tourism and hospitality facility. The report discusses the lasting sustainability of Elizabeth Quay and suggestions for the future growth of the company.
Environmental Effects
Environmental impacts of tourism are related to the building of infrastructure, tourism amenities such as hotels, shops and results and these impacts can be positive or adverse. The positive environmental impact of tourism is that it can be used as a channel to raise awareness to the community on the ecological values and how to conserve the environment (UNEP, 2001). The negative impacts are categorized into three major areas which include the natural resources such as water resources since the tourism industry is said to misuse water for the golf courses, swimming pools and also for the hotels. Land degradation and wastage of resources such as food and energy are also associated with tourism. Another impact associated with tourism is pollution in various forms that include noise, air, water pollution and emission of chemicals. Other effects are physical such as riversides, sandy beaches and mountain tops that are associated with the degradation of the ecosystems.
Economic Impacts
Tourism has become the most critical sector that has contributed significantly to the economic growth of many countries in the world. Many countries in the globe depend on the tourism sector for the gross product and tourism has positive and adverse consequences on the country. One of the positive consequences of tourism is that it results in the increase of national income and currency earning hence economic growth (Kumar, et al., 2015). Another positive impact includes the increased rate of employment in the community of tourist destination and also improved infrastructure such as roads. One of the identified adverse results of tourism is that it leads to the loss of traditional jobs since individuals would abandon other jobs in mining, farming, and forestry to join tourism services (Stynes, 1997). Seasonal employment is another issue that is as a result of tourism destinations since the work profoundly depends on the availability of tourists and this affects the economy of the community.
Social Cultural Consequences
The social-cultural consequences of tourism are based on the changes in customs, rituals, artifacts, and architecture of society due to the development of a tourism facility. The effects are related to the direct and indirect effects on the host communities. The effects may be direct with relations to the tourists that visit the sites or interaction with the tourism industry (Ratz, 2000). These consequences may be positive or negative depending on how the community is influenced by tourism. A positive socio-cultural result of tourism is a decrease in prejudices and increase in tolerance since there are interactions between different groups of individuals. Another positive consequence is the pride of the residents in their settlement because of interacting with tourists who result in the growth of the community. The growth of the community may be based on the development of infrastructure and improvement of the image of the destination (Ratz, 2000). One of the adverse consequences of tourism industry on social culture is identified once there is a loss of values or indigenous identity which can be lost through commodification. Transformation of the value systems in the community is also an impact of tourism on the culture of the community. Tourism may result in increased criminality which threatens the security of society which is a social-cultural effect of tourism.
Effects on Elizabeth Quay
Environmental Impacts
As mentioned in the essay tourists’ destination has environmental impacts, and Elizabeth Quay is not exceptional. The identified environmental impact is that the construction resulted in the degradation of land to build the project. According to the article by Narelle Towie, the project requires ten hectares of land in the riverfront that exists between William and Barrack Streets in which a recreational, housing and corporate city hub would be created to enhance tourist attraction (Towie, 2013). Land degradation is, therefore, one of the environmental impacts of the constructions of Elizabeth Quay. Also, pollution is identified as the impact of Elizabeth Quay through the sediment from construction that will destroy the marine habitat and fauna. However, the management of the company promised to ensure that management strategies are implemented to mitigate the risks of pollution. According to this article, environmental degradation due to the constructions of Elizabeth Quay will put the health of the population to risk because of the contaminants that are released to the Swan River.
Economic Impacts
The significant economic effect of Elizabeth Quay in Perth is the increment of the income into the city and the country. According to the information in the “Media Statements” article, this tourist destination would bring two point nine billion dollars that would boost the economy directly since data shows that more than six point six million people visit the destination since it was established (Media Statements, 2017). Also, the article states that the business has helped in the creation of jobs which record at five hundred and forty-three jobs each year. Another economic impact of Elizabeth Quay in Perth is the development of infrastructure which includes Max Light rail, pipeline (Property Council of Australia, 2016) and this infrastructure have increased rates of employment in the town hence improving the living standards of the community in William and Barrack Streets. Improved infrastructure has contributed to the improved living standards of the community in Perth due to the establishment of Elizabeth Quay.
Social-Cultural Impacts
The socio-cultural impact of Elizabeth Quay is the improvement of the sports activities in the community around this tourist attraction. Major annual events are held in Scarborough Beach that supports sporting, cultural activities, and international arts. An example of the socio-cultural event is the 2015 Perth International Arts Festival, and the vent attracted one point four million spectators. These spectators involved forty million for Perth retail, tourism operators and Perth hospitality (Liberal, 2012). The sporting event is held annually, and interaction through the sporting has changed the prejudices. Through Elizabeth Quay existence, the values of the community surrounding Elizabeth Quay are changed due to large numbers of spectators from all over the world. For example, in 2017, the event attracted about seven hundred and fifty thousand individuals (Liberal, 2012). Elizabeth Quay is enhancing the pride of the residents of the surrounding when they become hosts of many tourists. According to the article, many tourists have made Elizabeth Quay their destination, and hence the host community is proud since it results in social and economic growth.
Sustainability of Elizabeth Quay
One of the sustainability features of Elizabeth Quay is the financial plan which has focused on the management of resources and ensures sustainability. The objectives of the financial project are steady cash flow that will ensure that the operations of the company run smoothly, ability to meet the financial commitments and management of debts (Global Economy and Sustainability, February 1, 2018). Long term sustainability of the organization also relies on the infrastructure that focuses on the “green” building in Perth that show environment sustainability. The infrastructure is user-friendly and focusing on developing the city. The buildings are built in a manner that water conservation and energy usage are considered hence enhancing sustainability.
Recommendations
One of the proposals for Elizabeth Quay is that emissions and wastes to be handled carefully to ensure a safe environment for the customers and the surrounding community which highly contributes to the growth of the community. Also, changes of the climate in the world have resulted in the scarcity of resources, and hence the departments should ensure that the resources are used appropriately and conserved for the future growth of the industry. The future of the business profoundly depends on the leadership of the organization, and therefore the management should ensure that departmental and team leadership is focused on the goals of the company.
Conclusion
Tourism is an essential sector in the growth of the economy of any country, and society can work to ensure that the positive impact overweighs the negative ones. The essay has discussed the socio-economic, economic and environmental effects of the tourism industry in general. These impacts are related Elizabeth Quay in Perth has also been addressed. The sustainability of the Elizabeth Quay tourist attraction has been discussed and also the recommendation on how the region can be better in the future. The management of tourist destination should ensure that the customers’ get the satisfaction of services they need from the organization and at the same time enhance sustainability and conservation of the environment.
References
Elizabeth Quay, (n.d). Attractions. Retrieved from: https://www.mra.wa.gov.au/projects-and-places/elizabeth-quay/see-do/attractions
Global Economy and Sustainability, (February 1, 2018). The “Green”Buildings of Perth: ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS AND INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S CAPITAL. Retrieved from: https://www.webuildvalue.com/en/global-economy-sustainability/the-green-buildings-of-perth.html
Kumar, J., Hussain, K., & Kannan, S. (2015). Positive Vs Negative Economic Impacts Of Tourism Development: A Review Of Economic Impact Studies. In DEVELOPMENTS OF THE NEW TOURISM PARADIGM IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION. CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS.
Liberal, (2012). Tourism: Perth and SurroundsThe Gateway to WA. Retrieved from: https://www.waliberal.org.au/assets/PartyDocuments/perth-tourism.pdf
Media Statements, (Sunday 22, 2017). Elizabeth Quay a boost to State economy. Retrieved from: https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2017/01/Elizabeth-Quay-a-boost-to-State-economy.aspx
Narelle Towie, (2013). Elizabeth Quay dredge could unearth cocktail of toxins into the Swan River. Retrieved from: https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/elizabeth-quay-dredge-could-unearth-cocktail-of-toxins-into-the-swan-river-20130820-2s894.html
Property Council of Australia, (Feb 10, 2016). Elizabeth Quay and Perth’s Infrastructure Future. retrieved from: https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/Web/Content/Media_Release/WA/2016/ELIZABETH_QUAY_AND_PERTH_S_INFRASTRUCTURE_FUTURE.aspx
Stynes, D. J. (1997). Economic impacts of tourism. Illinois Bureau of Tourism, Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.
Tamara Ratz, (2000). The Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism: The Case of Lake Balaton. Retrieved from: https://www.academia.edu/2660161/The_Socio-Cultural_Impacts_of_Tourism_The_Case_of_Lake_Balaton\
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), (2001). Environmental Impacts of Tourism. Retrieved from: http://www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/envi/index.html
