Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts of Tourism in the Lake District

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Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts of Tourism in the Lake District

In the Lake District tourism is very important and has a significant

impact on the local economy.

But there is concern about the Lake District and how much more

development it can take from the tourism industry.

The Lake District remained relatively untouched until the 19th century

when railways allowed the large urban population of Northwest England

to visit the National Park. Tourism and trade rose in the 1940's and

it was realised that the park would need some special protection to

protect it against the dangers of becoming to built up and loosing its

natural attraction and appeal.

Over 12 million people visit the park with 89% coming by car. The Lake

District has 42,000 people living there.

In Cumbria the estimated amount of jobs that tourism supports is

42,000 or 17% I.E. hotels, catering and the distribution trade.

Tourism also supports local services that are an advantage to the

local's and well as tourists such as the busses and rail network and

village shops and pubs, these all serve the locals of the Lake

District as well as the tourists who visit.

People are however worried that, although tourism does allow for

better services that benefit the community, like busses and trains and

more jobs, the tourism industry may be ruining the local beauty of the

Lake District and that any more developments such as roads, car parks,

hotels etc may be adding to this problem. As well as building and

infrastructure developments another thing that may be ruining the

place is the erosion of footpaths, clearings being made in woodland

for picnic areas...

... middle of paper ...

... This example shows how there are two sides to the story and this can

be done for hotels, signs and advertisements and footpaths and

traffic.

The key is finding a balance between the conservation of both the

tourism industry and the countryside. Which these organisations hope

they are doing…

* Cumbria tourist board (encourages visitors to lake district,

provides framework for developments)

* The national trust (conserving the national park)

* Lake district national park authority, (traffic management,

footpath trust, development and planning.)

* British upland footpath trust (national trust, English nature and

the national park authority)

All the organisations are involved in some way in conserving the Lake

District. And at some point they all come together to help each other.

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