ENS 301.01 #22
How tourism impacts environmental policy in Saugatuck, Michigan
How tourism impacts environmental policy in Saugatuck, Michigan
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Introduction
The balance between tourism and sustainability is a pressing issue for communities striving to protect their environment while encouraging economic growth. Tourism has surged within Saugatuck, Michigan, bringing both economic benefits and environmental challenges. As visitor numbers rise, so does the need for effective environmental policies to manage tourism's impact. This research explores how tourism has influenced policy development in Saugatuck, highlighting the delicate relationship between economic interests and environmental protection and offering insights for other tourism-dependent towns facing similar sustainability challenges.
Background
Tourism's impact on environmental policies has been a hot topic in recent years, particularly around sustainability. While economic growth has traditionally taken priority in tourism, there's a growing shift towards balancing profits with environmental responsibility. In Michigan, for instance, efforts to adopt green practices in the tourism sector reveal both progress and challenges. Nicholls and Kang (2012) found some sustainability initiatives in Michigan's lodging sector, but regulatory and economic barriers remain. Similarly, Chatterly (2020) highlights the need for sustainable tourism planning across the state to reduce its environmental impact.
Environmental Policy Integration (EPI) aims to embed sustainability into tourism policies but faces hurdles like policy fragmentation. In Saugatuck, the rise of short-term rentals adds complexity, straining ecosystems and challenging local governements (Gartner, 1987). Research by Beaumont and Dredge (2010) suggests alternative governance structures could improve community engagement in sustainable tourism planning, with participant-led models showing more success.
Community-Based Tourism (CBT) emphasizes involving residents in tourism decisions, ensuring local voices are heard (Blackstock, 2005). Yet, this approach often overlooks long-term environmental impacts, focusing on economic gains. Additionally, social trends like "instagrammable tourism" drive demand but can harm fragile ecosystems (Utari et al., 2021). While eco-marketing can boost green practices and customer satisfaction, financial constraints limit smaller business (Alreahi et al., 2023).
To promote sustainable tourism, frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer guidelines for aligning tourism with environmental goals. Combined with local stakeholder engagement and regular evalutations, these approaches can guide regions like Southweat Michigan towards a more sustainable future (Chatterly, 2020).
Theoretical Framework: Political Economy
This research uses the Political Economy framework to examine how tourism influences environmental policy in Saugatuck, Michigan. By focusing on key constructs like stakeholders, interests, laws and regulations, political processes, and power dynamics, this approach highlights the interactions between political, economic, and social forces. Stakeholders include local businesses, government, environmental groups, and residents, each with different motivations and levels of influences. For example, businesses may advocate for tourism-friendly policies that boost profits, while environmental groups and residents might push for stricter protections of natural resources. Understanding these competing interests helps reveal how policy decisions are shaped by the diverse goals of these groups.
The Political Economy framework also considers how formal and informal rules evolve in response to tourism pressures. For instance, regulations may be enacted to preserve landscapes for tourism's appeal, or, alternatively, loosened to prioritize economic growth. The political process, including city council decisions, shows how toursim-driven discourse shapes policy, balancing economic pressures with ecological concerns. Additionally, the framework examines power dynamics, where businesses and tourism-motivated government entities often hold more influence than environmental advocates. This analysis provides insights into whether Saugatuck's environmental policies lean toward short-term economic growth or long-term sustainability.
How has tourism influenced the development and implementation of environmental policies in Saugatuck, Michigan?
Tourism drives economic growth in Saugatuck, Michigan, a town known for its natural beauty and lively downtown. However, the influx of visitors has increasingly disrupted the local environment, creating a need for policies that balance economic interests with environmental protection. This research investigates how Saugatuck's policies have evolved to address both tourism and environmental concerns. By examining local governance, policy changes, community perspectives, and Saugatuck's overall appeal, this study aims to uncover strategies for sustainable growth that protect the environmental while supporting the town's economy.
References
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Alreahi, Bujdos, Lakner, et al. (2023). Sustainable Tourism in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Investigating the Effect of Green Practices on Hotels Attributes and Customer Preferences in Budapest, Hungary. Sustainability, 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511859
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Nicholls, Sarah and Kang, Sanghoon. (2012). Going green: the adoptions of environmental initiatives in Michigan’s lodging sector. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20. pp. 953-974. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2011.645577
Utari, Widiyanti, and Cahyadin. (2021). Instagrammable tourism: local government policies in sustainable environmental management. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 905(1).
https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/905/1/012110