Experts drawing attention to the increasing environmental pollution in holiday regions emphasize the need to spread environmental awareness.
Lecturer Dr. İnci Karakaş, evaluating the short and long-term effects of increasing environmental pollution during holiday periods on local ecosystems and society, said, “The damage occurring in the environment can, in the long term, cause tourism activities to falter again.”
Lecturer Dr. İnci Karakaş, Deputy Director of the Institute of Health Sciences, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Vocational School of Health Services (SHMYO), evaluated the issue of increasing environmental pollution and environmental sensitivity during holiday periods.
More waste than usual is generated on coasts and open areas
Pointing to the main reasons for the increase in environmental pollution during holiday periods, Lecturer Dr. İnci Karakaş said, “There is more intensity than usual in certain cities for holidays. Due to the increased number of people, the occupancy rate on beaches increases, and activities like picnics held outdoors also increase. With the extended time spent on coasts and open areas, more waste than usual is generated. As a result of the generated intensity, in addition to the increase in solid waste, water and soil pollution can also occur. Increased vehicle traffic can also lead to carbon dioxide emissions causing air pollution.”
Uncontrolled waste leads to an increase in flies
Lecturer Dr. İnci Karakaş stated that due to the intensity in Bodrum during the last Eid holiday, the amount of waste in open areas and on beaches increased by 33 percent, causing visual pollution and increasing the risk of diseases in the region, adding, “Uncontrolled waste can lead to an increase in flies. Uncovered waste can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and leachate from waste can pollute the soil and water resources. Various infectious diseases can be observed due to waste and waste leachate, and diseases like malaria can also occur.”
Waste should not be left next to full containers
Stating that waste should be collected in strong plastic bags, Lecturer Dr. İnci Karakaş made suggestions: “Due to the intensity, waste should not be left next to full containers, and it should be ensured that waste is taken to empty containers. Waste should be collected in strong plastic bags, and the mouths of the bags should be tightly closed. The quantity and volume of waste should be reduced. Food items that generate less waste should be chosen, the amount of organic waste should be reduced, and waste should be compressed before being put into bags to reduce its volume. To implement these measures, environmental awareness should be widespread among individuals, and information should be provided regarding the negative consequences that may arise from environmental pollution. Especially in holiday resorts, warning signs and notices about the environment should be increased, and people's attention should be drawn to this direction.”
Leachate damages soil structure
Evaluating the short and long-term effects of increasing environmental pollution during holiday periods on local ecosystems and society, Lecturer Dr. İnci Karakaş said, “The natural and artificial environment is one of the primary complementary factors required for tourism activities to continue healthily. Damage occurring in the natural and artificial environment can, in the long term, cause tourism activities to falter again. Water pollution occurs due to leachate from randomly discarded waste reaching the ecosystem. Pollution in water, in turn, threatens living organisms. When leachate reaches the soil, it can degrade the soil's structure, reduce its fertility, damage vegetation, and cause soil contamination. With the increase in tourism activities in certain cities and periods, air quality can decrease, and as a result of all this increasing environmental pollution, the health of people living in the region can be negatively affected.”
Treatment plants are insufficient for increasing wastewater amounts
Lecturer Dr. İnci Karakaş also noted that while tourism activities are responsible for only a portion of increasing carbon dioxide emissions, they can lead to negative consequences such as ozone layer depletion, increased greenhouse effect, and global warming, and provided information: “With regional concentration in summer months, treatment plants can become insufficient for increasing wastewater amounts. Wastewater treatment is necessary to protect the environment and human health. In regions where natural water resources are limited, there is also a risk of depletion of wetlands due to the use of groundwater.”
What does sustainable tourism aim for?
Stating that sustainable tourism aims to prevent environmental degradation and protect the quality of natural resources, Lecturer Dr. İnci Karakaş said, “With sustainable tourism, biodiversity is protected, water consumption and waste production are reduced, and efficient energy use is ensured by adopting public transport or eco-friendly transportation methods.”
Local residents and tourists should be informed about the environment
Emphasizing that local residents and tourists should be informed about the environment, Lecturer Dr. İnci Karakaş concluded by saying, “By paying attention to the spread of tourism activities across different regions and times, possible negative impacts should be minimized. Furthermore, excessive consumption and waste generation should be prevented, thereby avoiding costs that may arise from potential environmental damage. Plastic waste on beaches can also be transformed into healthy and durable textile products through recycling. For sustainable tourism, individually, using beach towels made from recycled materials is one of the measures that can reduce waste production. For holidays, eco-friendly hotels and institutions with sustainability awareness can be preferred.”