The Built Environment And Tourism

The Built Environment And touristrytourism has been one of the economic success stories of the go away 40 years. It has grown into a major component of the world economy and one of the most highly developed and dynamic industries with an important contribution to incomes and employment. Tourism has been rapidly growing sector and a wide-sweeping socioeconomic phenomenon with broad economic, social, cultural and environmental consequences. It is deally that touristry leave behind continue to dominate the international photo for many years to come. (Sharma, 2011)The environment is perhaps one of the most significant contributors to the popularity and attractiveness of a destination. Sceneries, pleasant climates and unique landscape features have an imperative find out in touristry development and the spatial distribution of tourist movements. Apart from environment, the other important tourist puller is culture in all its miscellany across continents. Cultural tourism has long existed, but recent demographic, social, and cultural careens in the main source countries have take to an increasing number of vernal niche markets in destination countries, including culture-oriented holidays.However, like other forms of development, tourism has also contributed to its share of problems, such as social interruption, loss of cultural heritage, economic colony and environmental adulteration. (UNEP, WTO, 2005). Learning about the brunt of tourism has led many tourists to seek more conscientious holidays. These incorporate various forms of sustainable tourism such as nature-based tourism, ecotourism and cultural tourism. The major problems arise because the environment (at least in the short term) is a zero priced public good and as with any zero-priced good, is subject to tautologic demand and over-utilization. This over-utilization of the rude(a) resources and exploitation of cultural heritage especially during the peak periods of tourist activity as well as often ill plotted tourism development, have provided a number of examples where tourism is in conflict with the environment (Coccossis, Parpairis, 1995). Not only that, as a result of environmental consciousness, a great number of alternative forms of tourism been developed in the last decade. Sustainable Tourism promotes limited-scale, low-impact, community-based activities. It may be delimitate as tourism that gives sample to the contact and understanding between the hosts and the tourist, as well as the surroundings (Smith Eadington, 1992) or as tourism consistent with the natural, social and community values and that allows a constructive relationship among locals and tourists. (Wearing Neil, 1999).Sustainable environment requires sustainable design. Architecture and design can preserve the memorable and old monuments while it can also execute new and attractive qualities in which people can use and enjoy. Architecture has the talent of defining spaces and therefore has a powerful influence on the human beings behaviour and understanding and this is exactly what is always taken into account in sustainability, maximizing economic benefit and preserving the ecosystem. But what should be the approach to this design to earn all goals of sustainable tourism or rather what are the tools and principles of architecture that need to be adopted to embrace sustainable tourism need to be developed. Thus the question to be answered isWhat should be the architectural approach for sustainable tourism?Defining Sustainable TourismSustainable tourism is often considered to be a special kind of tourism that appeals to a particular market niche that is sensitive to environmental and social impacts. This is a narrow view as sustainable tourism is much more than a discreet or special form of tourism. The term sustainable tourism refers to a primary fair game to make all tourism more sustainable. It is a continual process of improvement, one which applies equally to tourism in cities, resorts, rural and coastal areas, hills and protected areas. It should be thought of as a division of tourism, not a type of tourism. Sustainable tourism is based on the three pillars of sustainability (economic, social and environmental) and is simply defined by the World Tourism Organization as Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities. (WTO, 2005),Sustainability is a process and not an end state.The built environment and TourismTourism has an adverse effect on built environment. It could be on architectural faade, transform of landuse, overburdening of radical etc. Large scale verbalism of tourist facilities and other infrastructure tends to change the land use of an area and also disturb the natural ecological harmony of a destination.Also tourism brings changes to the vernacular technology and sometimes the tradi tional constructions simply vanish giving way to modern construction which is most of the time not following and principles of sustainability. Instead they create harm to the destination, eventually losing the character, being environmentally disturbing and not suited to the needs asunder from commercial aspect.Some of the other impacts of tourism on built environment and architecture of a place are over-intensive urbanization, illegal constructions, pollution, negative aesthetic changes, degradation of quality etc.Need IdentificationTourism now accounts for 10% of the worlds economic activity but at the same time it has major impacts on the natural and built environments and as well as on well being and cultures of host population. Ecological, social and economic sustainability are intertwined. Tourism and architecture may be connected to the benefit of the two and ultimately to the benefit of the people. There has been only a very little research on the division of architecture and the approach that should be followed when targeting sustainable tourism.Since building activities like construction of hotels, guest houses, tourist centres, commercial centers etc dominate the development of tourism at any place, there is a need to develop an approach and policy on architectural developments as part of sustainable tourism. This problem is of fundamental importance as it has led to the absence of an adequate theoretical foundation for understanding the dynamics of alternative tourism and the social activities it involves and responding to it accordingly. Sustainable design and planning do not imperil the economical benefits that a healthy tourism industry can bring on the contrary, they can enhance local peculiarities and make use of traditional acquaintance and expertise. Where sustainable methods and materials are employed, buildings can be both ecologically and economically profitable, thanks to their lower construction and life cycle costs.This dissertation will be a small effort in the same direction.ScopeSustainability does not require a diminished quality of life, but it does require a change in mindset and values toward a less consumptive lifestyle. These changes must embrace overall interdependence, ecological stewardship, social responsibility and economic feasibility.Various presidency bodies, international organizations and conventions have stated the importance of tourism and its sustainability. Many countries as well wish to or have already initiated the pursuit to policies of sustainable tourism. In fact one of the most important issues in sustainable development of tourism resources is the consideration and expansion of design and construction standards in order to produce an optimum use of energy, water and land resources.The scope of the study will be to understand sustainable tourism and its forms keeping in mind the beautiful destinations specially, be it in terms of their ecosystem, cultural heritage or economic st ability and state principles that should govern the architectural design and planning of the tourism infrastructure keeping in mind sustainability as defined above.To lay down the architectural ethics in planning and designing of tourist needs like hotels, guest houses , activity centres etc suitable to the ecosystem ,society and economy. The study will concentrate on the fragile destinations since there is more need there but the applications will be in general universal. The scope of research is in guidelines published by international bodies keeping in mind Indian destinations.LimitationsThe slip-up studies where sustainable tourism developments have been implemented will not be accessible physically and the research will have to depend on secondary sources of data.The primary case study will be covering a destination which is fragile ecologically, culturally and economically. It might not be possible to make multiple visits and at the same time while doing the survey the lack o f academic knowledge regarding the subject amongst hosts could claim it directionless.None of the tourist destinations in India has adopted sustainable tourism as a whole. Few resorts, localities etc have adopted sustainability within them.Sustainable tourism is a relatively new term the research on it will be limited to data over the past 3o years only.Since the scope has to be limited the research will concentrate particularly on role of architecture in sustainable tourism and not other means of achieving it.When formulating the survey questionnaire, the lack of knowledge about sustainable tourism might lead to indirect framing of questions. Also people will have to be relied upon for being honest which might not be the case for all.1.7 References and BibliographyReferencesKhaksar,A., Tahmouri,A., Hoseinrazavi,S., 2001, The Reciprocal effectuate Of Architecture And Tourism The Sustainability Approach, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, IranSharma,K., 2011, Sustainable Tourism Development Through Sustainable Architecture A Projected Case Study of Coxs Bazaar, Bangladesh. Masters thesis, University of HuddersfieldUNEP and WTO, 2005, Making Tourism More sustainable A guide for policy makers