RR Tourism by Cheryl Teo

I agree with the writer's view that mass tourism threatens to destroy a country's environment. Mass tourism often leads to the destruction of the environment, as the government has to make more space for infrastructure development and modernization brought about by tourism. As mentioned in the article, when coastal areas are converted into beach resorts, mangrove areas and corals that serve as fish sanctuaries are damaged or even completely removed. Carbon emissions and air pollution also significantly increase, as more air and land-based vehicles are needed to transport tourists from one destination to another. Not only that, mass tourism also affects Singapore's environment. Singapore has lost 90 per cent of its forest, 67 per cent of its birds, 40 per cent of its mammals and 5 per cent of its amphibians and reptiles. Of the original mangroves, less than 5 per cent is left. 39 per cent of all native coastal plants are extinct. A large proportion of the remaining species are endangered and their habitats are threatened by urban development and land reclamation. Thus I agree with the author as this shows that urban development for mass tourism threatens to destroy a country's environment.