Does Tourism Foster the Introduction of Invasive Species?

A simple, straightforward answer would be yes about Invasive Species in the Tourism Sector. Tourism does act as an agent to transfer exotic species of one region into another. If you are asking why and how it happens, well, Tourism is a robust Industry with people travelling internationally every day. Since it is very beneficial for the national economies everywhere, even being solely significant income of some countries, Tourism is encouraged through travel packages with discounts.

However, Tourism does not just contribute to a country’s GDP, but it also aids the introductionof Invasive Species, mainly weed seeds or insect pests, across the lands. Such species can be harmful to the new environment and may even cause not just environmental damage but also social and economic damage.

Invasive Species are those organisms that are not native to a particular region. They can outcompete the native organisms of the areas and also cause substantial damage to the environment and, at times, to human health.

Some Common Examples of Invasive Species:

The common Goldfish or CarassiusAuratus is essentially a freshwater fish native to East Asia but now it can be found anywhere in the world. People often keep in their fish tanks at home. Whether the Goldfish, be it in a fish tank or a water body, is known to become dominant and hinder the growth of other fishes or other organisms.
Kudzu, a climber plant from Japan, was first introduced in the US to grow fast and be economically viable. But soon took over the other species and became dominant, making it near impossible to grow other plants.
Other invasive species include English Ivy, the European Rabbit, Andean Pampas Grass, Yellow Starthistle, Domestic Cat, New Zealand Mud Snail and others.

How Does Tourism Come into All This?

Tourism is nothing but people congregating with their vehicles in places from other parts of the world. People often want to travel to places deemed beautiful for natural attributes. It could be beaches, mountains, forests or any site that offers relaxation amid nature. It is reported that most often travel, in any part of the world, is in or around areas protected for wildlife. These areas are equally susceptible to Invasive Species as well.

Travel causes the movement of species from one region to another. With flights that get cheaper by the day and the ease of travelling nowadays, people can travel to any part of the world at ease. Unwitting travellers could go to a place and come back with or even take microorganisms, weeds, and so on to the regions, they will damage badly. It was published in a global research report that non–native species are often found in areas that are the usual travel hotspots. It means that Tourism and exchange of Invasive Species go hand in hand—and it is an undeniable fact in the current context.

A study done in the United Kingdom found that recreational activities like boating, shellfish harvesting, horse riding, visiting national parks, yachting and hiking were the primary reasons for the transfer of Invasive Species. Thus, several other known and unknown factors are taken into consideration.
Why Should We Worry at All About Invasive Species?

Invasive Species cause monetary damage of hundreds of billions of dollars worldwide. The United States of America alone bear such damages that amount to almost 120 billion dollars a year and, to this day, have lost more than 100 million acres of land to Invasive Species. Likewise, the United Kingdom loses 1.7 billion euros to Invasive Species.

Much of these losses can be attributed to the deliberate introduction of ornamental plants or international trade and tourism. A 2011 study in New Zealand discovered that aircraft passengers have about 2.5 plant seeds, 0.004 insects or mites and 41 roundworms, along with other microorganisms such as fungi, for every gram of soil found on their footwear. Most of these were considered biothreats and were bound to disrupt the ecosystem of New Zealand.

Another study showed that the number of threatening foreign microorganisms had increased in the hotel rooms used by the travellers during the seasons while travelling began growing.

What Can Be Done to Reduce the Risk of Invasive Species?

Tourism is not the only pathway that introduces Invasive Species in a particular region. Sea freight like cargo ships is among other ways that Invasive Species find an entry into a specific area. However, certain measures by the tourists can go a long way in reducing the risk of Invasive Species. A few of these measures are mentioned below:

Ensure that the hiking and fishing gear is clean, including the boots. In the case of anglers, the use of rubber waders is better because the common felt-soled waders harbour Invasive Species.
Large scale removal efforts that involve the entire community in the process is ideal for eliminating Invasive Species in a particular region. Community members can also be encouraged to report to the local authorities if they see any Invasive Species.
Awareness programs can also be encouraged so that people can learn about the most dangerous Invasive Species in their specific area and do not unwittingly plant them in their yards.

Conclusion

The above mentioned are ways that tourists, local authorities and communities can come together to protect their regions from Invasive Species. These are important to take up because there is a consistent increase in travel to nature and recreational activities worldwide. Invasive Species can be catastrophic to vulnerable ecosystems.

Tourism plays such a vital role in the spread of Invasive Species that non–native species are found in some of the remotest parts of the world, like the two poles and oceanic islands. For example, Poaannua, which is usually found in gardens, is seen growing aggressively on the trekking and hiking routes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Therefore, there is an urgent need to initiate effective and long–term biosecurity interventions to, at least, make sure that the damage is limited.