Relationship between Tourism and the Environment The fact that the impacts of global warming due to accumulation of CO 2 in the atmosphere are becoming more severe is not in question. The issues that arise in regards to this situation relate to finding and agreeing on the most effective ways of dealing with climate change. The most difficult decisions that governments and stakeholder need to make when it comes to climate change management relate to the economic impact of these decisions. This is why it is important to consider the impact of tourism on climate change. Tourism is a very lucrative industry and accounts for significant amounts of foreign exchange in non-industrialized countries. In order to address the impacts of tourism on the environment, there is need to discuss how to replace the income that may be lost by implementing these measures. This paper takes a broad view of the term environment. Environment includes not just the flora and fauna found in a region, but also the social, economic, and political expressions of the people living in a given place. Interaction between Tourism and the Environment Tourism has a very intimate relationship with the environment. The primary attraction of tourists is natural formations. There is usually a unique element in the natural environment of a particular place that makes it attractive for tourists. Tourists enjoy seeing natural features such as rivers, springs, mountain ranges, desert formation, and forests. Apart from nature-oriented tourists, there are tourists who are interested in the sociological aspects of a particular place. Some tourists go after unique cultural elements of a region such as the forest tribes of the Amazon and the Congo. They also travel to experience the lifestyles of people in unique places around the world, such as the monks in Tibet. These unique cultures developed because of the natural environment of the people living in them. Tourism is a weather-dependent economic activity. This predisposes it to climate change in riskier terms compared to other sectors. Sightseeing requires good weather for effectiveness. In addition, visiting game parks, marine parks or participating in winter activities all depends on the weather. Therefore, tourism not only exists because of natural environments, but it also thrives because of the climate of a region. Benefits of Tourism to the Environment Several benefits accrue to the environment because of tourism. First, tourism encourages locals to conserve the environment and to preserve their local culture. Since tourists pay to come see these elements, most local communities see the link between tourism and their incomes. Some of them make crafts which tourist buy, while others participate in local cultural events, which tourists pay to attend. Some locals also find direct employment in the tourism industry. The locals work as tour guides, and business professionals in the tourism industry. In this sense, the local communities see direct benefits from tourism. This encourages them to conserve the environment. Secondly, the tourism sector in any country usually finds itself in the forefront of conservation efforts. Stakeholders in the tourism industry work hard to promote environmental conservation