Environmental Impact of Tourism: Not as Green as You May Think
Instead of making carburetors, semiconductors or other mass-produced components, Xanterra manufactures memorable experiences for guests. In the process of creating these memories, the company consumes resources. Xanterra’s business operations are relatively non-polluting when compared to many other industries, but, just like any other business, the tourism industry has an impact on the natural environment.
Accommodations, scenic tours, restaurants, conference services, retail outlets and transportation systems use energy of all types, including fossil fuels. Housekeepers and maintenance workers use chemicals to clean facilities. Golf courses and swimming pools consume gallon after gallon of water. And nearly all of these operations generate solid waste, even some hazardous waste.
Additionally, the company’s consumption of these resources results in emissions of pollutants into the air, including greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide), nitrogen and sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
This report examines not only environmental impacts that Xanterra can manage directly (on-site), but also impacts indirectly (off-site). For example, electricity used to power Xanterra operations results in fossil fuel generated emissions at off-site public power plants that can be located many miles away. In fact, more than 70 percent of all emissions mentioned in this report are indirect emissions released off-site at public power plants, not inside a national or state park.
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