TOURISM AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: A PERCEPTION STUDY ON WEST BENGAL COASTAL AREA

The present study discusses about the impact of tourism on physical environment of the West Bengal coastal stretch, as coastal areas consists valuable and fragile environments. Therefore balancing both growth and development at the same time is very difficult. The term ‘environment' is considered as a key element in tourism as it has both positive and negative environmental impacts. The negative impacts which are frequently highlighted include littering, overcrowding, traffic congestion as well as pollution of, water and soil along with the deterioration of natural resources as a result of the constructions of tourism services, especially erection of hotels pose an adverse impact on the health of the coastal zones. The present study discusses about the impact of tourism on physical environment of the study area, where some environmental factors such as Forest clearance and loss of sand dunes, Air and noise pollution, impact of tourism on red crabs and small fishes, Beach litter, Water quality and Beach accommodation have been considered. Perceptions of both tourists and local communities have been considered. The impact is very significant and reflects a spatial and temporal variation among the tourist destinations.