People, Work & Development

Impact of economic activity on the environment

Tourism on the Norfolk Broads

Background

The Broads is Britain's finest wetland. It covers an area of of 303km2 and is located in the East Anglia. Each year it attracts 2 million visitors.

Tourism on the Norfolk Broads

Tourism plays a vital part in the economy of the region. The industry provided approximately 1200 jobs in 1991, an increase of 900 from 1951. Tourism is also important as the number of jobs available in traditional economic activities such as agriculture, is falling. The majority of people who visit the area for the day are attracted by the wide range of things to do. Whilst 17% of those who visited for a longer period sited the scenery and landscape as the thing that attracted them the most.

The amount of money spent in the area has also increased. In 1996, approximately £380 miilion was spent by tourists. However, by 2000 this amount had increased to £620 million.

Impact on the environment

• Damage caused by the increasing number of boats using the waterways. In 1995 there were 6492 boats using the area, this increase from 4789 in 1975.
• Waves from passing boats have eroded the banks. As a result, erosion has taken place.
• Steel bank protection failed to allow vegetation to grow.
• New buildings such as cafes and kiosks made the area look unsightly.
• Fuel from boats reduced the water quality. Consequently, reeds and other vegetation were weakened. As a result, erosion rates increased.

Sustainable solutions

• Speed limit imposed on the waterways to try to reduce the size of waves created by passing boats
• New matting on the banks used to allow vegetation to grow through and stabilize the soil. This will also help the energy of the waves to be dissipated.
• Development of new hull designs to try to reduce the size of waves created by the pleasure craft.
• Development of sustainable tourism eg cycle hire
• Tree screening of car parks to reduce visual impact
• Electric boat hire

D.Drake 2010