Mega resorts are anti-environment, says lobby group Tourism Concern

A new report by environmental activist lobby group Tourism Concern claims that “mega resorts” are environmentally unsustainable, leading often times to the alienation of people in developing countries while stealing funds from the local economy.

Lobbyist group Tourism Concern is raising questions over “mega resorts”, claiming that the huge vacation destinations are destroying communities and are environmentally unsustainable, leading to widespread displacement of people from their land. The group’s report states that poor communities in developing countries, depending heavily upon their natural resources for their livelihoods, are the hardest hit; huge tracts of public and privately owned land are being acquired, often illegally, and sold off to real estate developers by governments looking to expand tourism in pursuit of economic growth.

Yet the truth, according to Tourism Concern, is that little-to-no profit from these mega resorts actually stays in the local economy.

“The development of mega resorts and all the social and environmental problems that go with them is an issue facing communities from Scotland to Bulgaria, from Spain to the Bahamas, and from India to Thailand,” according to Patricia Barnett, Director of Tourism Concern. “Tourism has to be developed in a more sustainable, transparent and democratic way. That means listening to the needs of local people and the environment, and demands an abandonment of the ‘economic growth at all costs’ attitude that is seeing communities dispossessed of their homes and their means of earning a living the world over.”

Tourism Concern addresses the point that the distribution of funds to those who have been displaced by the mega resort developments is minimal, particularly in the face of rising living costs associated with an influx of tourists and owners of expensive second homes. Cheap migrant labor is often drafted in from abroad to work on the developments, while opportunities for employment in the exclusive five-star resorts are limited to the most menial, poorly paid roles.

Tourism Concern has joined with campaigning groups from all over the world to call for a moratorium on the construction of mega-resorts and supports the “Declaration of Belém.” Issued at the World Social Forum in Belém do Pará, Brazil, the Declaration presents an alternative vision of the future of global tourism, and urges for more just and sustainable practices on the part of industry and governments.

As an example, despite public opposition the development of the mega resort “Bimini Bay Resort” on the tiny island of North Bimini in the Bahamas has caused irreparable damage to the marine ecosystem, which local people depend upon for their livelihoods.

“The needs and rights of local communities are being pitched directly against those of mega-resorts, with the resorts winning out almost every time,” Barnett continues.” Golf courses, landscaped gardens, swimming pools and showers all consume vast quantities of water, much more than the local communities, whose members often have to walk a considerable distance to fetch water that is barely drinkable.”

Destinations such as the island of Grenada have also seen its government sell off state land for a luxury development spanning 400 acres and including 170 private villas, a private island, a golf course and marina. The planned mega resort will also incorporate part of the Mount Hartman National Park, despite it being a protected area and the last remaining habitat of the rare Grenada dove. Local people are angry about the lack of public consultation and say that no compensation has been paid to the rightful owners of the land.

Tourism Concern works to expose governments and developers that espouse “responsible tourism” policies, covering issues such as sustainability, community participation and damage to the environment.

For more information, visit Tourism Concern online.

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