GeoResources - Geography website

'AS'
and
'A2'
Level

Decision Making Exercise - Tourism in the National Parks

The aim of this exercise is twofold. Firstly, you can learn about the advantages and disadvantages of encouraging tourism in the National Parks. Secondly, you can get some idea of how difficult it is to make planning decisions concerning the National Parks. Read through the information about the problems and benefits associated with tourism and then try the Decision Making Exercise.

Choose the section that you want by clicking on the headings below:

Problems caused by tourism

Benefits of tourism

Decision Making Exercise

Problems caused by tourism
The main problems caused by the increasing numbers of visitors to National Parks are listed below:

'Honeypot' sites - too many people in the nicest, most accessible places - result severe congestion!
Footpath erosion - thousands of feet killing the plants and eroding the soil.
Disturbance to wildlife in their natural habitat - caused by walkers, mountain bikers, etc.
Litter - large numbers of people inevitable means large amounts of litter.
Damage to farmland - trampling of crops, gates left open, dogs not under control.
Loss of services - more and more shops are catering to tourists rather than local people.

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Benefits of tourism
The main benefits brought by the increasing numbers of visitors to National Parks are listed below:

Employment - almost six thousand jobs, half of them full-time, depend on the National Parks
Money - millions of people spend an average Ł10 per visit.
Diversification - farmers need new ways to make money as traditional farming declines.
Supporting local services - in the villages, shops and services would disappear without the tourists.
Preservation of historic buildings - many historic sites have been renovated and opened for tourists.
Preservation of local traditions - traditional crafts and local rituals are encouraged by tourism.

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