Problem1: “Ocean and coastal tourism is extensively regarded as one of the highest growing areas of contemporary tourism. While tourism development has been spatially focused on beach for much of the past fifty years, as witnessed for illustration, the slogan of the four ‘S’ of tourism – sun, surf, sand and sex – the ocean and the marine environment as a whole has become one of the new frontiers and longest growing areas of the world’s tourism industry............. But, due to the highly dynamic nature of the coastal environment any development that interferes with the natural ecosystem might have severe consequences for long-term sustainability of environment” (Hall 2001: 601-602).
a) Describe the concept of coastal and marine tourism using relevant examples to demonstrate your answer.
b) In the light of above statement and using proper evidence to support your arguments, critically discuss the various impacts of tourism on the marine and coastal environment.
Problem2. Environmental quality of the destination is a prevailing issue in making travel-related decisions; it is a competitiveness factor between various tourist destinations with varying environmental quality.
Problem3. Critically discuss and analyse the various aspects of the environmental management required at a destination to ensure its sustainable maintain and growth its competitiveness on tourist market.
Problem4. The hotel industry, due to the nature of its functions, services and characteristics, consumes substantial quantities of energy, non-durable products, and water resulting in environmental impacts.
Problem3. Critically discuss and analyze suitable resource management and waste minimization methods which hotel operators should adopt to mitigate the pressure on environment from the consumption of resources and disposal of waste.
Problem4. Ortolano and Shepherd (1995) argued that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the planning tool used to alleviate the likely negative impacts of developmental projects on the surrounding environment of proposed development site.
a) Using examples to point up your arguments, critically analyze the principles and method of the EIA procedure and discuss how far such a tool can be reliable in Mauritian context.