Role of tourism to achieve environmental sustainability in coastal areas : a case of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Abstract

Tourism is acquiring the attention worldwide especially in the developing countries (Akpabio et al. 2006). In the case of coastal areas, tourism is more sensitive to environmental degradation compared to other economic activities because the environment is its primary resource. With the help of efficient planning and proper management of natural resources, tourism can significantly contribute to environmental conservation and to achieve environmental sustainability in coastal areas (Orhon et al. 2011).

The main purposes of this study are to explore the tourism development trend in coastal areas of Cox’s Bazar, to analyse existing environmental conditions of Cox’s Bazar coastal area, to examine the importance of environmental sustainability at coastal region. More positively, the study shows environmental sustainability can be achieved through more eco-friendly planning of installations in tourism hubs like Cox’s Bazar.

The main methods of conducting this study were desktop research; data collection through questionnaire survey and expert interview; data input in SPSS, processing and analysis; evaluation of policies, strategies and institutional framework. To formulate study goal and objectives, a comprehensive literature review has been conducted to understand about tourism, tourism development, sustainability, sustainable development by reviewing relevant reports, journals, and international cases which has helped to develop the conceptual framework of the study. After extensive literature review and formulation of goal and objectives, the conceptual framework of the study data collection instruments such as questionnaire has been prepared to collect data from the field. The study is largely based on the primary data collected through field visit, interviews to the experts on tourism and environment, and questionnaire survey at the study area, Cox’s Bazar. In this study, the statistical data on the study area has been collected from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). Apart from this, information has also been collected from various sources e.g. journals, projects, periodicals, and the daily newspapers, archives of both home and abroad. From the analysis, it found that Cox’s Bazar sea beach is a good place for tourism development, and it is also found that the level of tourism is improving gradually. Tourism in Cox’s Bazar mainly depends on natural beauty and environment of the coastal area. Tourism is producing long term negative effects on the coastal environment. If the environmental systems degrade tourism will not sustain any more. However, tourism can provide incentive for the conservation and restoration of the natural environment. Nearly half of the respondents stated that because of tourism, natural environment is in better condition in Cox’s Bazar and tourism provides incentive for the conservation and restoration of the natural environment. The analysis also identifies that policies and strategies play a big role to the conservation of natural environment and resources, and the implementation of principles of sustainable development. Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has been formulated some policies and strategies related to tourism development, sustainable development and coastal zone management, but most of the policies and strategies are not implemented properly because of institutional conflicts.

In the light of the data analysis, discussion and findings, some recommendations are suggested here to help and guide future decisions regarding tourism development, conservation of the environment, sustainable development and sustainability at coastal areas in Bangladesh.