Coastal tourism is the type of tourism that takes place on the coast or coastal area. Our case studies are drawn from coastal South Africa (Durban) and Kenya (Mombasa).
Durban in South Africa lies on the coast and it gets many tourists because of its beautiful coastal attractions. Mombasa is also a coastal town found in Kenya. Mombasa is also well known for its unique and attractive features.
The following are the advantages of coastal tourism
Major source of government revenue
Major source of government revenue which is earned through license, taxes or duties and other fees. Durban tourism contributes 2/3 of the Province GDP.
Source of foreign exchange.
Foreigners bring in the needed revenues which most countries use to pay for their imports. For example, in Botswana, we use the money for paying for food, clothing, machinery, medicine imports.
Promotion of local industry like crafts
Examples of such crafts include baskets, pottery, jewellery, leather works and paintings.
Promotes the growth of other economic sectors like Agriculture, Trade, Transport and Communication
These industries in turn provide the ed products and services to the tourism industry.
Source of employment
Durban tourism contributes 30% or 40% to the Province’s employment. As mentioned earlier in the previous topics, many people are employed in hotels, game parks and reserves, airports and so on.
Promotes development of infrastructure
This includes roads, railways, schools, health facilities, accommodation facilities.
Provides a market for locally made goods
Tourists buy locally made goods and some come and establish business relationships leading to the creation of a big market for our goods.
Coastal tourism is an important industry that brings many benefits to local communities, including jobs, income, and economic growth. It also provides opportunities for people to experience the beauty of coastal regions, and has the potential to promote sustainable development.
Coastal tourism can also have negative impacts on the environment, such as pollution and overcrowding. It is important for policymakers and tourism operators to manage the growth of coastal tourism in a sustainable way, to ensure that the benefits of coastal tourism are enjoyed by all. Overall, coastal tourism is a valuable industry that can bring many benefits to local communities and visitors alike, but it is important to be mindful of the potential negative impacts and strive to minimize them.
Coal is a type of organically formed sedimentary rock that is burnt to release energy. Coal comes from the remains of plants and animals that were buried for millions of years.
Thermal power is electricity that is generated from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal.
Despite global efforts to reduce the use of coal in the production of electricity, some countries still use coal as a source of electricity.
Countries that are still using coal to generate electricity include China, which produces 3785TWh, followed by India, Japan, and Germany.
ADVANTAGES OF COAL
More efficient in thermal generation of electricity than oil.
Most suitable in the smelting of iron.
The use of coal as fuel to generate electricity has a number of disadvantages as follows:
sulfur dioxide and heavy metals emitted by coal is harmful
Burning coal results in the release of sulfur dioxide and heavy metals into the atmosphere .
These compounds lead to many side effects, such as respiratory damage to humans.
Pollutants from the burning of fossil fuels have been linked to diseases like cancer and asthma in several scientific studies.
leads to formation of acid rain
The burning of coal also results in the release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere.
Sulfur dioxide is linked to acid rain, that is, when sulfur dioxide cools in the atmosphere it forms water droplets.
If the sulfur dioxide is in large quantities, the water droplets reach a saturation point resulting in precipitation.
The rain that falls is called acid rain.
This type of rainfall is very harmful to the environment and to people.
burning of coal contribute to global warming
The burning of coal is also linked to global warming. This is a situation whereby global temperatures go up.
Global warming also results in the rise of water in the sea, which might flood the settlements along the coast.
coal is non renewable resources
Another disadvantage of using coal as fuel to generate electricity is that coal is a non-renewable resource.
Even if coal did not pollute and contribute to global warming, we would not be able to rely on them forever.
This is because coal is non-renewable, meaning they do not naturally replenish fast enough for humans to use forever.
Therefore the use of coal as a source of fuel to generate electricity is unsustainable since the amount of coal available is diminishing every day.
Usage of coal has declined due to:
Discovery of other forms of energy such as petroleum.
Exhaustion of old accessible mines.
High cost of mining coal.
USES OF COAL
Fuel: for domestic heating
Source of power for driving steam engines in power stations to drive dynamos which produce thermal electricity.
Raw material: the two chief carbonation products are released in the process.
Coal far: used for making fuel, oils, disinfectants, antiseptics, air line dyes (plastic performs) etc
Benzole: used to make motor spirit, weed killers, aspirin, saccham and sulphonamide drugs
Sulphate: of ammonia: used to make fertilizers insecticides, soap, explosives and chemicals for use in refrigerators.
Coal is a widely available and relatively inexpensive source of energy that has been used for centuries. It has played a significant role in the development of many countries, providing jobs and income to local communities. However, the use of coal also has significant environmental impacts, including air pollution, water pollution, and climate change. The burning of coal releases greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming and climate change.
Additionally, the mining and transportation of coal can have negative impacts on local communities and the environment. As a result, many countries are now moving towards cleaner and renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. The use of coal as a source of energy is likely to decline in the future as the world moves towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. While it may be a significant source of energy for now, it is important to consider the long-term impacts of using coal and to develop plans for transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
sugarcane is any of the several species of tall perennial true grasses of the genus Saccharum, tribe andropogoneae and it belongs to the grass family called Poaceae.
the official classification of sugarcane is Saccharum officinarum.
it is common in tropical and subtropical countries throughout the world
several different horticultural varieties are known and they differ by their stem color and length
sugarcane is composed of six species of perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum L, in the tribe andropogoneae.
there are two wild species (s. spontaneum and s. robustum) and four cultivated species (s. officinarum, s.barberi, s.sinense and s.edule)
sugarcane is indigenous to tropical south and southeast asia
sugarcane has been cultivated since ancient times and it was one of the first cash crops of early colonial America
the countries that produce the largest amount of sugarcane are brazil, India, China, Mexico, Thailand, and Pakistan
sugarcane is the world’s largest crop by production quantity. sugar is produced in 120 countries. global production now exceeds 165 million tonnes a year.
approximately 80% of global sugar is produced from sugarcane while the remaining 20% is produced from sugar beet, which is grown mostly in temperate zones of the northern hemisphere
Brazil accounts for almost 25% of the world’s production of sugar and is the largest producer of sugarcane in the world
brazil uses sugarcane to produce sugar and ethanol for gasoline-ethanol blends (gasohol), a locally popular transportation fuel.
in India, sugarcane is used to produce sugar, jaggery, and alcoholic beverages.
The following are physical and climatic conditions which favour sugar cane growing:
temperature
High temperatures throughout the growing period, with mean monthly temperatures not falling much below 21ºC. sugarcane grows best in the warm, sunny, frost-free weather areas. it requires a tropical or subtropical climate with a minimum of 600mm of annual moisture.
however, it also grows well in subtropical climates
it can grow well where the temperature ranges from 20 to 350C.
the optimum temperature for germination of stem cutting is 32 to 38 degrees centigrade.
sugarcane responds to a long period of sunlight of about 12 to 14 hours.
high humidity (80-85%) favors rapid cane elongation during the main growth period
rainfall and requirement
Abundant moisture (rainfall) – Sugar cane grows best where annual rainfall is between 1100 mm to 1500 mm.
The rain should be well distributed throughout the growing season. However, drier weather is required when the cane has reached maturity or just before harvesting.
A period of dry sunny weather for ripening and harvesting is also important.
Abundant water supply for irrigation, particularly where rainfall is not evenly distributed throughout the growing season. Water for irrigation is obtained from both rivers and underground sources (boreholes).
soil requirement
sugarcane grows on almost all classes of soil, but it needs fertile, well-drained soil
humid soil from 100 to 150cm deep with good drainage are most suitable.
it grows well in deep, well-drained soils of medium fertility of sandy loan soil texture with a PH range from 6.0 to 7.7.
the optimum soil PH is about 6.5 but sugarcane can tolerate a considerable degree of soil acidity and alkalinity
waterlogged soils, which have no drainage, are not suitable.
uses of sugarcane
sugarcane is used for sugar production, as raw material in the human food industries, as a fertilizer, and as livestock fodder,
the primary use for sugarcane is to process sugar, which is then used in producing an infinite number of products.
the type of sugar produced by sugarcane is called sucrose.
sucrose is used as a sweetening agent for foods and in the manufacturing of cakes, candies, preservation, soft drinks, alcohol, and numerous other foods.
it adds taste, texture, and color to baked goods and provides energy for the yeast used in baking bread.
it adds body to yogurt and helps to balance acidity in tomato sauces and salad dressings.
sugar helps to preserve jams, cereals, cakes, candies, cookies, and drinks.
tender, moist cakes and the golden brown, crispy essence of biscuits are due to the presence of sugar in them
the pulp from the cane is recycled and used to make cardboard and other forms of sugar board that can be used as the ceiling tec.
recently sugarcane has also been used to manufacture biofuel, which serves as the replacement for oil-based fuel and related products.
the pulp of sugarcane can also be left aside in the sun to produce a fertilizer that is nourishing food for other plants and flowers.
Sugarcane is a crop that requires specific conditions to grow successfully. It thrives in warm climates, with high temperatures and high levels of humidity. It also requires fertile soil that is well-drained and rich in nutrients. Adequate water supply is also crucial for the growth of sugarcane. The crop also requires a specific PH range of the soil. These conditions make it ideal for cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions, such as the Caribbean, Brazil, and India. However, with the advent of technology and better irrigation, farmers are now able to cultivate sugarcane in other regions as well. It is important for farmers to understand the specific conditions required for growing sugarcane, and to take steps to provide those conditions in order to maximize yields and ensure the success of their crops.