How ‘trashy’ tourism threatens world-famous destinations

Summary

The script highlights the environmental impact of tourism, noting a surge in international arrivals to 1.4 billion annually, a stark contrast to 25 million seventy years ago. It discusses the challenges of waste management, especially at popular sites like Everest, where 4.8 million tons of trash are produced yearly. The script calls for increased tourist awareness, sustainable practices by lodges and restaurants, and the development of recycling technologies. It emphasizes the collective responsibility of the global community to address the growing trash problem at tourist destinations.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Tourism is a massive industry with approximately 1.4 billion international arrivals annually, a significant increase from 25 million 70 years ago.
• 💰 The growth of tourism can greatly benefit local economies but also leads to environmental issues, particularly waste management.
• 🗑️ Solid waste from tourists, which accounts for 14% of the 4.8 million tons of trash produced yearly, poses a significant problem for popular destinations.
• 🏔️ Iconic sites like Mount Everest, Machu Picchu, and Stonehenge are struggling with the increased trash left behind by visitors.
• 🏠 The concept of visiting someone else's home should encourage tourists to be mindful of their actions and treat the environment with respect.
• 🚫 Some sites, like Boracay Island in the Philippines and the Everest base camp, have had to close temporarily to address the trash accumulation.
• 🚀 The accessibility of tourism has increased dramatically over the past few decades, making it easier and more affordable for people to travel.
• 🌐 The rise in disposable society attitudes has contributed to the increase in trash, with items like water bottles being discarded carelessly.
• 🔄 There is a call for increased awareness among tourists and the development of sustainable waste management and recycling technologies.
• 🏨 The responsibility to address the issue of waste falls on all stakeholders, including tourists, lodges, restaurants, hotels, and tourist landmarks.
• ♻️ Implementing circular economy approaches is suggested to transform both consumption and production practices in the tourism industry.

Q & A

How many international arrivals are there per year according to the transcript?

There are about 1.4 billion international arrivals per year.

What was the number of international arrivals approximately seventy years ago compared to now?

The number was only twenty-five million less than it is today.

Why can tourism be problematic for local economies despite its benefits?

Tourism can leave behind a significant amount of trash and waste, which can be difficult for local economies to manage.

Who is Alton Byers, and what has he been doing for the past 40 years?

Alton Byers has been visiting Everest every year for the last 40 years and is working to develop waste management strategies in the villages near Everest.

How much trash do tourists produce per year, and what percentage of that is solid waste?

Tourists produce 4.8 million tons of trash per year, and 14 percent of that is solid waste.

Which famous sites are mentioned as struggling with an increase of trash left behind by tourists?

Mount Everest, Machu Picchu, and Stonehenge are mentioned as sites struggling with an increase of trash left behind by tourists.

Why have some tourist sites had to shut their doors to visitors?

Some sites have had to shut their doors to tourists to take care of the pile-up of trash that has accumulated.

What has made tourism more accessible today compared to 10, 20, or 30 years ago?

Tourism has become more accessible due to its affordability and ease of traveling, which was not as easy or affordable in the past.

What role does the disposable society approach play in the increase of trash at tourist sites?

The disposable society approach, where it's easy to get and discard items like water bottles, contributes to the increase of trash at tourist sites.

What actions are suggested to address the growing pile of trash at tourist sites?

The transcript suggests increasing tourists' awareness, developing recycling technologies, and adopting circular economy approaches that transform both consumption and production sides.

Who are the stakeholders that need to be involved in tackling the trash problem at tourist sites?

Stakeholders include tourists, tour companies, accommodation providers, restaurants, hotels, and tourist landmarks.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Impact of Tourism on Environment

The script discusses the significant growth of tourism, highlighting that there are now approximately 1.4 billion international arrivals annually, which is a stark increase from 25 million just seventy years ago. It emphasizes the economic benefits of tourism but also points out the environmental consequences, such as the production of 4.8 million tons of trash per year, with 14% being solid waste. The script mentions Alton Byers, who has been visiting Everest for 40 years and is now focusing on waste management strategies in nearby villages. It also notes that major tourist sites like Mount Everest, Machu Picchu, and Stonehenge are struggling with the trash left behind by visitors, leading to some sites temporarily closing to address the issue. The script calls for increased awareness among tourists, the development of sustainable waste management practices by lodges, and a collective effort to reduce trash at tourist sites.

Keywords

💡Tourism

Tourism is the activity of traveling to and staying in places outside one's usual environment for leisure, business, or other purposes. In the video's context, it is highlighted as a major industry with significant economic benefits but also a source of environmental issues such as waste management. The script mentions 'one point four billion international arrivals a year,' illustrating the scale of tourism's impact.

💡Local Economy

The local economy refers to the economic activity within a specific geographic area, including the businesses, consumers, and government within that area. The script points out that tourism can be 'great for a local economy,' suggesting the potential for economic growth through tourism but also implying the need to balance this with environmental sustainability.

💡Waste Management

Waste management involves the collection, transportation, disposal, or recycling of waste materials. The video emphasizes the challenges of waste management in tourist areas, with '4.8 million tons of trash per year' produced by tourists, highlighting the need for strategies to address this growing problem.

💡Solid Waste

Solid waste refers to non-liquid waste materials, which can include items like plastic bottles, food waste, and other refuse. The script specifies that '14 percent of that is solid waste,' indicating a significant portion of the total waste generated by tourism that requires specific handling and disposal methods.

💡Everest

Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain and a popular destination for climbers and tourists. The video uses Everest as an example of a 'big site with the biggest problems' of trash accumulation, showing the global reach of tourism's waste issues even in remote locations.

💡Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, known for its sophisticated dry-stone walls and extensive water systems. It is mentioned in the script as another example of a tourist site 'struggling with an increase of trash left behind,' indicating the widespread nature of waste problems at historical and cultural sites.

💡Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, consisting of a ring of standing stones. The script includes Stonehenge as one of the 'big sites' facing waste issues, illustrating that even ancient landmarks are not immune to the challenges of modern tourism.

💡Disposable Society

The term 'disposable society' refers to a culture that encourages the use of disposable or single-use items, which are intended to be used once and then thrown away. The script mentions this concept when discussing the ease of obtaining and discarding items like 'a water bottle,' contributing to the waste problem at tourist sites.

💡Recycling Technologies

Recycling technologies involve the processes and machinery used to convert waste materials into new products. The video suggests that 'developing recycling technologies' is part of the solution to the waste problem, indicating the need for innovative approaches to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste in tourism.

💡Circular Economy

A circular economy is an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources. It is mentioned in the script as a foundational approach to waste management, emphasizing the need to transform both consumption and production practices to create a more sustainable tourism industry.

💡Awareness

Awareness in the context of the video refers to the consciousness or perception of the environmental impact of tourism and the individual responsibility to mitigate it. The script calls for tourists to 'have their awareness increase,' suggesting that education and mindfulness are key to addressing the waste issue.

Highlights

Tourism has grown significantly, with 1.4 billion international arrivals annually, compared to 25 million 70 years ago.

Tourism can boost local economies but also leaves environmental issues such as waste management.

Alton Byers has been working on waste management strategies for Everest for 40 years.

Tourists produce 4.8 million tons of trash annually, with 14% being solid waste.

Major tourist sites like Mount Everest, Machu Picchu, and Stonehenge face trash accumulation problems.

The increase in tourism accessibility has led to a surge in waste left behind at tourist sites.

Disposable society approach contributes to the ease of littering during travel.

Some sites, like Boracay Island and Everest base camp, have closed temporarily to address waste issues.

The need for increased awareness among tourists regarding waste management.

Lodges and accommodations are recognizing the need for sustainable waste management practices.

Development of recycling technologies is crucial to address the waste problem at tourist sites.

All stakeholders, including restaurants, hotels, and tourist landmarks, must participate in waste reduction.

Circular economy approaches are being considered to transform both consumption and production sides.

The question of necessity for disposable items like plastic straws and cups in tourist areas is raised.

A collective effort is required to tackle the growing pile of trash at tourist sites globally.

Mindfulness and awareness raising are key to solving the waste problem in tourism.

Transcripts

tourism is big business if we take a

look at the numbers a lot more people

are traveling now there are about one

point four billion international

arrivals a year that number was only

twenty five million less than seventy

years ago

tourism can be great for a local economy

but what it leaves in its wake can be

well trashy no matter where you go where

no matter what remote area they have the

to the same problems what do you do with

human waste

what are you solidly Alton Byers has

been visiting Everest every year for the

last 40 years and is working to develop

waste management strategies in the

villages near Everest tourists end up

producing 4.8 million tons of trash per

year and 14 percent of that is solid

waste and it's the big sites with the

biggest problems Mount Everest

machupicchu Stonehenge are all

struggling with an increase of trash

left behind I think you have to think

about it as you're going to someone

else's home what would you do in your

own home and would you do the same thing

in someone else's home the island of

Bora cane in the Philippines the base

camp at Everest in China are some of the

sites that have had to shut their doors

to tourists to take care of the pile up

of trash but why is the pile up of trash

growing tourism is now super accessible

even 10 20 30 years ago wasn't

necessarily that easy or affordable to

just hop on a plane and go somewhere so

now suddenly everyone can and so I think

in addition to that when you have your

bit more of that disposable society

approach where it's just as easy to get

a water bottle and just toss it on the

side when you're done so what is being

done about the trash that continues to

pile up at tourist sites around the

world the tourist needs to have their

awareness increase and they need to do

their part okay lodges need to see that

this I think they know that this is a

unsustainable what's going on the

practice is not sustainable they need to

start developing recycling technologies

if they're real it realistically going

to address the problem so everybody is a

player in this that includes restaurants

and hotels a tourist landmarks

work a lot at the foundation on circular

economy approaches and part of that is

you know how do you not just transform

the consumption side but also the

production side so do we need to have

the plastic straws and the plastic cups

and the disposable everything in our

tourist areas in our hotels in our you

know visiting centers buyers and budva

boat tapped into a similar solution to

tackle the growing pile of trash at

tourist sites around the world and that

is to be more mindful raise our

awareness as tourists tour companies

accommodation providers and eliminate

trash together as a global community