Impact Of Tourism In Mauritius

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Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean situated in the African continent. The population of Mauritius is around 1.3 million, with an approximate area size of 2,040 sq.km (MTPA tourism, 2013). In 1968, Mauritius was a place of low-income and an agriculturally based economy, however it has now evolved into a middle-income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial and tourist sectors (MTPA tourism, 2013).
The impact global mobility has had on tourism is ever increasing; the growth of tourism presents many difficulties to a country's environment. As the development of tourism become more extensive, negative changes in the environment began to show (Husband & Harrison, 1996), the capability to absorb large numbers of people are constantly being challenged (WTO, 1990) and environmental problems tend to rise. In relation to the case study, over the past two decades tourist arrivals onto the island of Mauritius have increased at an approximate annual rate of 9 % with an equivalent increase of approximately 21% in tourism proceeds. The tourist arrivals are constantly increasing, thus rising from 103,000 in 1977 to a significant 656,450 in 2001, this shows more than a 600% increase (WTO, 1990). These figures are substantial and could be the reason to why recently due to the development in global mobility; Mauritius has been facing some considerable negative environmental impacts from the tourist industry.
Mauritius is well recognised for its tranquillity, exceptional beauty and tropical biodiversity. However due to its delicate nature reserve and over population pressures for the small island, it starts to present a vast amount of challenges for the conservation of biological diversity (UNDP, Global Environment facil...

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...nt and storage of solid and liquid and waste caused by tourists within the damaged regions. Secondly, the natural resources and marine environments need to be managed more efficiently in order to reduce the environmental impacts on the coral reefs and other threatened natural habitats. This can, be done through creating a conservation area and the government implementing stricter guidelines and laws which are related to the misuse of such resources. Finally, it could be recommended that mechanisms could be put into place to deal with unnecessary pollution. Also, the harvesting and cutting of wood which contributes to the increased land run-off, thus coastal erosion should be prevented and controlled and where feasible. Another crucial aspect that needs to be addressed is the issue of rehabilitation of damaged habitats such as the mangrove forests and coral reefs.

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