Syfujjaman Tarafder1 & Swati Biswas2
Abstract
Tourism and
environment related in three ways - first, environmental attributes and
components are used as attraction to explore the tourism potentialities;
second, the area experiences tourism activity suffer from various environmental
problems and lastly deterioration of aesthetic beauty of environment discourage
tourists to visit any area which leads to decline the tourism activity as well
as the economy of the area. This is the point of concern from which the
concepts of eco tourism, sustainable tourism, alternative tourism etc. emerge.
The present paper aims to highlight the second and third component of above
relationship along with a management perspective in the Murshidabad Municipal
Area, a potential tourist destination in West Bengal. The methodology applied
is empirical and based on field level survey. The perception survey of tourists
and the service providers are conducted to unfold the reality and it is found
that Murshidabad is already facing the different kind of pollution of physical
environment.
Introduction
“The
environment, be it predominantly natural or largely human-made is one of the
most basic resources for tourism and a core elements of tourism products” (Wall
and Mathieson, 2006). It is crucial to determine the attractiveness of most
destination areas and forms an essential ‘backdrop’ for the majority of tourist
activities (Farrell and Runyan, 1991). Page and Dowling (2002) suggest that the
relationship between the tourism and the environment might initially be
characterized as one of coexistence’.
By the 1970s, though, the expansion of mass forms of international tourism had
raised growing level of awareness of the role of tourism in promoting
environmental change and its considerable capacity to destroy the resources
upon which it depends (Williams, 2009).
___________________________________________________________________________
1. Syfujjaman Tarafder: Research Scholar, The University of Burdwan, W.B.
Email: soheltfd@gmail.com
2. Swati Biswas: Assistant Teacher, Anantapur High School, Nabagram,
Murshidabad, W.B. Email: swatibsw@gmail.com
Under these
conditions the relationship between tourism and environment has often evolved
from one of coexistence to one of ‘conflict’
(Page and Dowling, 2002). Butler (1991) reminds us that, tourism is not a
homogeneous activity, and different types of visitors create contrasting
demands and impacts upon resources and areas. Moreover, because the places that
tourists visit are themselves highly variable in their capacity to withstand
use, the character of the relationship between tourism and environment is
seldom consistent from place to place (Wall and Mathieson, 2006). This has
encouraged recognition of a third form of relationship between tourism and
environment – one of ‘symbiosis’ – in which mutual benefits for both
tourism and the environment are derived from the relationship (Romeril, 1985).
Objectives
The present
paper has the following objectives:
1. Understanding
the theoretical bases on the relationship between tourism development and
environment.
2. Environmental
impacts of tourism activity in Murshidabad Municipal Area.
3. Impacts of
environmental degradation on tourism activity in the area.
4. Managing the
environmental degradation towards better tourism development in the area.
Database and
Methodology
This is
basically a primary data based study with an intensive field work in the study
area. A number of books concerning tourism and environments have been consulted
for the development of the theoretical ideas. Questionnaire based survey has
been conducted both for the local residents as well as tourists to create
necessary database for the study. Both open and closed ended questions are used
in the questionnaire respondents are surveyed on a random basis and sample size
chosen as 120. Statistical techniques are used to represent the data. Some photographs also used as reference of
the findings.
About the study area
The town
Murshidabad situated in Lalbag sub-division of Murshidabad district (Fig. 1).
It is situated on the eastern bank of river Bhagirathi and the geographical
extension is 2409/28// N to 24013/17//
N and 88015/35// E to 88018/25//
E. The town is 197 km away from Kolkata and 11 km from the district headquarter
Berhampore. The town is connected with Kolkata and Berhampore by rail and road.
This district is the part of flat alluvial plain with Tropical monsoon climate
of Bengal. There are sixteen wards in the Murshidabad Municipality and the
total area of the town is 12.95 sq.km. Total population is 36894 as per 2001
census (Tarafder and Biswas, 2011).
Fig. 1: Study
Area
Environmental perspective of tourism industry
Environment in
relation to Tourism activity is not only fundamental but also complex. The
relationship is either of damages of the local environment or to deliver some
benefits to tourism. Because of this relationship the environmental concern in
tourism industry has now been given importance to maintain the ecological and
sociological balance with the pace of tourism development in any area. This is
possible only with the active participation of locals as well as the tourists
towards preservation of environmental quality as well as the tourism activity
in the area. That is the background of the relationship from where the mass
tourism concept has been criticized. The fact is, mass tourism means
development of tourism within a region owing to its non-local orientations and
the fact is very little involvement of local people within the destination is
noticed. This paradigm of tourism approach has now been shifted towards
‘Alternative Tourism’ where importance has been given to local culture, food,
handicrafts, etc. and it emphasizes on the demand of an unspoiled environment
with relatively small scale tourism development that never cross the carrying
capacity and remains under populated by the tourists throughout the year
(Mondal, 2012). Alternative Tourism is a term which included a whole range of
environmental friendly approach of tourism, like ‘appropriate’, ‘eco’, ‘soft’, ‘responsible’, ‘people to
people’, ‘controlled’, ‘small-scale’, ‘cottage’, ‘green’, and ‘sustainable’, ‘adventure’, ‘wild life’,
‘ethno’ tourism.
It is important
to take account of the temporal dimensions. In many parts of the world, tourism
is a seasonal activity that exerts pressures on the environment for part of the
year but allows fallow periods in which recovery is possible (Williams, 2009).
Historic sites,
in particular, may be adversely affected by tourist presence and in recent
years attractions such as Stonehenge in England, the Parthenon in Greece and
the tomb of Tutankhamen in Egypt have all been subjected to partial or total
closure to visitors because of negative environmental effects (Williams, 2009).
Different forms
of Tourism based on Environmental Perspective
•
Sustainable tourism
•
Eco tourism
•
Alternative tourism
•
Responsible tourism
The sustainable
form of tourism development should have to consider ecological integrity and
diversity; to meet basic human needs; to keep options open for future
generations; to reduce injustice; to increase self-determination.
Ecotourism is
defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the
environment and improves the well-being of local people." (TIES, 1990).
The principles of Eco-tourism emphasize on minimizing the impact of
environmental degradation; building environmental and cultural awareness;
providing financial benefits and empowerments for local people (Williams,
2009).
The
environmental impacts of tourism development may be diversified depending on
its location, types of tourism and nature of intensity of tourism activity. The
Environment (may be physical, economic, or social) is usually a complex system
in which there are interrelationships between different components and tourism
activity make changes to it. First,
there are different forms and types of tourists who probably create different
level of environmental problems. Second,
the temporal dimension of tourism exerts pressures on local environment for the
tourist season which can be the whole or part of the year. So there must be
both short-term effects (like air pollution, sound pollution) and long-term
effects (like land pollution, degradation of bio diversity, etc.) are noticed. Third, variety of impacts also depends
on nature of destination. Some environments (like urban resorts) where the
authorities are conscious about the esthetic beauty of nature, the tourist also
behave positively (Williams, 2009). On the other hand, other places which are
required much care, but unfortunately less control is noticed, a great deal of
tourists’ activity made fragile them. Not only coast, mountain environment
which are environmentally vulnerable but also the historic buildings,
sculptures may also be adversely affected by the presence of tourists.
So, it is
obvious that development of tourism should be sustainable and eco-friendly as
it is an industry depending upon ‘environments’ as a basic element of development. Alternative tourism needs therefore to
develop in ways which recognizes and values the aesthetic appeal of
environments; follows ethical principles that respect local cultures,
livelihoods and customs; involves and consults local people in development
processes. The tourism development should have to approach towards local
development from environmental perspectives. Otherwise the phrase ‘Tourism kills Tourism’ will be
applicable with the advancement of
time.
Level of tourism development in Murshidabad
Municipal Area
To know the
environmental impacts of tourism in any area it is necessary to know the level
of tourism development in the area. As we know environmental degradation
associated with tourism in any area is haphazard and uncontrolled growth of
mass form of tourism. The present paper will thus also justify this
relationship in the study area. Most of the visitors come to Murshidabad town
for the attraction of Hazarduari Palace Museum, its architecture and the
historical preservations ((Tarafder and Biswas, 2011).
The trend of
arrival of visitors in the municipal area is though increasing, but the arrival
of foreign tourist is very little in number as compared to domestic. So, in
this paper emphasis has been given to the visitors of national origin who are
actually the excursionists ((Tarafder and Biswas, 2011).
There is a
gradual increase of visitors travel in Murshidabad Municipal Area (fig.2). Most
of them visit Murshidabad in winter season i.e. December to February (Tarafder
and Biswas, 2011). One thing should be stated here that maximum visitors flow
in Murshidabad Municipal Area found in several days i.e. 25th
December, 31st December, 1st January, 23rd
January, and 26th January. Even several thousand visitors gathered in these
days for picnicking (plate.1).
Accommodation
The level of
tourism development also means the growth of hotels and lodges. In Murshidabad
Municipal Area growth of private lodges is noticed (Tarafder and Biswas, 2011).
Unplanned growth of hotels/lodges as well as lack of control on it leads to
various environmental problems.
The above figure
clearly shows that tourism in Murshidabad Municipal Area is suffering from the
questions of both sustainability as well as survivability (Mondal, 2012).
The
response of the respondents also shows the same as 92% of the total respondents
have positively accepted tourism business with its negative environmental
influences within the study area. Some just don’t care about the tourism
business in the area as they have their own business or professions other than
that related to tourism. They think it as nuisance for their city life as large
number of people gathered during season which create traffic congestion,
environmental problems, etc.
Types of environmental degradation due to tourism
activity
According to the
survey result, most of the environmental degradation occurred due to land
pollution (fig.5). Regarding land
pollution/degradation the respondents said that heaps of garbage here and
there; misuse of polythene and plastics, tea cups, plates and dishes used for
foods; horses’ stool creating land pollution. Regarding sound pollution the
respondents said that use of loud speakers by the picnic parties, sound and
horn of vehicles mostly causes sound pollution during peak tourist season.
Regarding air pollution they said smoke from vehicles, dust created by the
stools of the horses create air pollution. Regarding the loss of aesthetic
beauty they said, heaps of garbage here and there, plastics and polythenes,
horse stools, causing loss of the aesthetic beauty.
Pollutants causing environmental pollution
As respondents
said most important types of pollutants are polythene and plastics, horse
stools and heaps of garbage here and there. 55% of the respondents says stool
of horses that draw the Tangas are most violent pollutant (plate.3). Horse
stools creating locality dirty as well as air pollution by the dust of stools
which cause the environment unhygienic. In the days of maximum visitors flow as
mentioned earlier the roads are almost covered by the horse stools and
plastics, polythenes, and the cups and dishes of the picnic parties. 53% of the
respondents says that polythene and plastics cause land pollution as well as
loss of aesthetic beauty in the area. Heaps of garbage of used goods also
create environmental problem and aesthetic beauty is totally lost (fig.6).
Fig. 5: Types of
Environmental Degradation
Source: Field
Survey, December 2011
Who is responsible for the sources of garbage?
When questions
are thrown to the local respondents that who is/are responsible for making the
place dirty as well as the heaps of garbage here and there, they says that
visitors, local residents as well as municipality equally responsible. When
question raised that why is the municipality, they says municipality does not
collect or clean the locality on a regular basis.
Places where local residence dispose their home
garbage
Local
people say that municipality is irregular in collecting home garbage and
cleaning the dustbins. The low percentage in the role of municipality to
collect the garbage represents the voice of locals in taking responsibility of
garbage here and there in the Municipal area. 
Plate.3: Pollution of road by horse stool beside Hazarduari
and Imambara Plate.4: Plastic and polythene causing land pollution in
tourist bus stand behind Hazarduari
Environmental degradation and tourism development
There is a
negative relationship between level of environmental degradation and tourism
growth and instances are available throughout
the world. Degraded environment of a tourist place may kill a tourist
destination permanently. The unexpected death may also come to Murshidabad
before taking the taste of flourishing tourism development if immediate steps
are not taken to control the alarming
environmental pollution in the area. Study on tourists’ perception already
reveals some concerns in this regard (Tarafder and Jana, 2012).
Management of environmental pollutions in the area
Visitor Management
The most
important thing regarding the reduction of environmental pollution and
degradation visitors’ management is most important as the visitors are the sole
important polluter in any tourist destination. There is now a lengthy history
of visitor management in tourism and an established repertoire of management
techniques that can help to deliver sustainable forms of tourism through the
regulation of the visitors. These include:
·
Spatial zoning;
·
Spatial
concentration or dispersal of tourists;
·
Restrictive
entry or pricing (Williams, 2009)
For Murshidabad,
the above three management techniques are very relevant and should be
incorporated in the planning and management strategies of the municipal
authorities. Besides, the authors also tried to propose some suggestions
mentioned below:
1.
Affix selected
areas for picnicking.
2.
Setting enough
number of dustbins in the picnic spots.
3.
River bank
should have to be selected as ‘ecologically protected’ areas to maintain
ecological integrity and diversity.
4.
Establishment of
public toilets in some important nodal points.
5.
Ban on the use
of polythene and plastic carries.
6.
Regular
collection of garbage by the municipality.
7.
Put dust beans
on important places like tourist destinations, bus stand, picking spots.
8.
Regular clearing
of roads, drains, and bank of Bhagirathi.
9.
Control on the
pollution created by the horsed that draw the Tangas.
10.
Training for the
Tanga drivers regarding better
management of pollution created by the stools of horses.
11.
Training of the
guides regarding environmental cleanness.
12.
Increase self
determination among locals as well as tourists to spread the consciousness
about environmental cleanness and protection.
13.
Way towards
sustainable development helps to preseve economically viable and
environmentally sensitive culture.
Concluding remarks
Murshidabad is a potential tourist destination in
West Bengal and is growing day by day, but one thing should be remembered that
this growth is exclusively for domestic visitors and still little percentage of
visitors stay more than one day here (Tarafder et al, 2011). Another concern is
the visitors use this place for picnicking (Tarafder et al, 2012) and huge mass
flow noticed during the holidays in December and January (Mondal, 2012).
Infrastructure and service availability to cope with this visitors gathering is
also a matter of concern. Local authority should be more thoughtful and carey
and truely serious about this issue and try to overcome it through proper
management initiatives mentioned above to make the tourism sustainable.
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