ABSTRACT
In recent years, studies on the effects of tourism have become more prevalent in tourism literature. Thus far, extant studies have revealed that the tourism industry creates employment opportunities, income for locals and tax revenues, and improves infrastructure and quality of life of many local communities around the globe. However, the tourism industry may have negative effects on the environment, and these can be classified as the pollution of natural resources and ecosystems and destruction of cultural and historical remains. In this study, the environmental impacts of tourism are inspected with a conceptual background of the relationship between tourism and the environment, and also some current trends and issues in relation to the protection of the environment are analyzed in the context of the tourism industry, such as ecolabelling, eco-friendly accommodation facilities, eco-gastronomy and eco-friendly applications in destination marketing.
