It is important to acknowledge the environmental impact tourism has on nature, especially in cases when tourist numbers exceed the environment’s scarce capacities. The hospitality industry often exceeds the natural freshwater resources, creates pollution, causes deforestation and loss of biodiversity, as well as emitting light and noise disturbance on natural ecosystems. Therefore, it is crucial for businesses in the hospitality sector to conduct their activities with sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches. This will satisfy customers' who are eco-consciousness while benefitting companies' long-term profitability.
Southeast Asia is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. However, the attractive region faces difficult economic, socio-cultural, and environmental issues.
Boracay, Philippines
Colossal numbers of tourists create socio-cultural challenges on the island of Boracay, Philippines. The labor migration from other parts of the country triggered agitation between locals and emigrants. The investigation concluded that most of the profits ended up going to foreign investors and resort owners rather than to islanders. The mass tourism created economic inequality, exploitation of resources, and unregulated tourism development. In 2017 the island was swarmed with visitors causing local hotels and residences to discard sewage and waste into the sea. In response to catastrophic damages to the island of Boracay, the Philippine's government closed the island and enforced measures to build new sewage systems, constrain plastic use, and banned the use of personal watercrafts further than 100 meters. The government also limited the number of tourist arrivals on the island and only gave permission to stay in government accredited places.
Maya Bay, Thailand
After an explosion of tourists in Maya Bay, Thailand, marine experts reported damages to the island and coral reefs caused by boat anchors and snorkelers wearing chemical sunscreen. In 2019, the bay was forced to close causing a loss to the hospitality industry in the region. Also, popular elephant rides in Thailand are rife with animal cruelty and endangerment of the Asian elephant species. In 2019, the government officials in Thailand closed Maya Beach for a period to clean up the trash produced by tourists as well as rehabilitate and replant coral reefs damaged by local resorts.
Vietnam
An ancient UNESCO heritage town Hoi An, Vietnam is constantly crowded with buses full of tourists, which litter and damage the town and pollute the air. Similar issues appear in Ha Long Bay where busy cruise ships litter and dump waste in the water, spattering the local ecosystem in the region. The cruise ships and hotels, including resort and restaurant construction sites dwindled landscape and people’s culture in Sapa.
To address these issues the government officials, regional businesses, and international NGO’s in Vietnam try to improve damaged ecosystems by introducing waste disposal technologies. Other changes the government imposed were building sustainable tourism accommodations, promoting ecofriendly products, and fostering local community awareness. They have also focused on emphasizing the quality travelers rather than quantity.
Necessary Sustainability Measures
Hotel managers and owners in Southeast Asia need to implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) measures which will guide companies to be socially, environmentally, and economically accountable. The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach can be used to evaluate companies, societies, and environmental interests. Organizations also need to use environmental management systems, educate employees and customers, support local communities, and respect their culture. In addition, governments and NGO’s need to enact regulations for sustainable tourism, such as waste management, recycling, energy supervision, and reduction of transportation pollution. Moreover, sustainable tourism surveillance systems are necessary to monitor sustainable objectives. Regardless of shifting interests in preserving the environment and society in Southeast Asia, some companies still disregard responsible behaviors and harm the environment. Nevertheless, there are a solid number of hotel operators who meet efficient levels of sustainability. This helps the ecotourism and community-based tourism promotion, and cultivates sustainability development.
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