Sustainable Tourism in the Yorkshire DalesEvery visitor to the Yorkshire Dales is a also tourist, but visitors who stay overnight contribute more the local economy by spending money on overnight accommodation, food, refreshment and ancillaries. All tourism has an impact on the environment and on local communities. The impact is based on the kind of activity and the scale of that activity. Large numbers of people make a greater impact than lower numbers or individuals, and the form of travel they use also is a factor. Tourists create traffic and congestion. The leading Swiss tourist expert Jos Krippendorf has coined the term "hard tourism" for mass, car-based tourism activity which causes maximum impact on the environment, but "gentle" or "soft" tourism for activities which cause least impact and deliver most benefit in terms of economic spend with local businesses. Travel choice determines both the quality of the experience and the global and local impact on the environment. The greatest appreciation of the special qualities of the landscape and its wildlife is generally enjoyed by people who walk, cycle or take public transport to the Dales ("Dark Green" visitors), who also cause least environmental impact. Greater impact is caused by those who drive to the area but cycle and walk when they arrive ("Pale Green" visitors) whilst those who drive to and through the area, perhaps spending nothing in the local economy, contribute least to that economy but make the greatest negative impact in terms of noise, air pollution, traffic danger, visual impact and congestion. The YDS therefore seeks to encourage the National Park to promote soft or more environmentally sustainable forms of tourism. Deep Green Visitors, because they walk or cycle into the area, are more dependent on local services, and therefore are more likely to stay longer and spend more on food, drink and overnight accommodation. Long distance walking, horse riding or cycling, staying at local accommodation, using local facilities and services, also delivers considerable economic benefit to rural communities, money which is more likely to stay in the area and help local businesses. The Yorkshire Dales Society organises its own events, including walks, around public transport, promoting use of the Settle-Carlisle railway and Dales Bus services to encourage and educate its own members to travel in car-free ways. We also work with organisation such as the YHA and the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Group to promote short stay holidays in the Dales based on walking, cycling and public transport, and with the Dales Way association to promote the Dales Way long distance trail, as well as other walking and cycling routes. What do we do? |
