Tourism and biological exchange and invasions: a missing dimension in sustainable tourism?

Abstract

A highly significant though often unrecognized dimension of globalization is the movement of plant and animal species around the world. The increase in the movement of alien species is directly related to the growth in international trade and tourism and human mobility. However, the ecological, economic and social implications of such species transfer is little recognized in the tourism literature and, surprisingly, in discussions of sustainable tourism and tourism's contribution to conservation. This is remarkable, given the scale of impacts that invasive species and diseases can have, along with the measures put in place to prevent them. If a quarantine is applied, then by definition mobility, and hence tourism, is prevented. Drawing on a range of sources, the paper provides an analysis of the relationship between tourism and biological exchange as well as the biosecurity methods that are put in place to prevent exchange and its impacts. The paper highlights the difficulties in applying some of these measures. The paper concludes by noting the possible implications of forecast growth in international tourism for biological exchange, including potential health and environmental concerns.