Tourism and the Ardeche• Thousands of tourists and explorers head to the Ardeche every summer season to explore what the

region has to offer. • From canoeing and kayaking down the river to exploring ancient caves, the Ardeshe provides countless

opportunities for a good time.• The Ardeche region, much like the rest of the south of france, now relies on the summer season to keep

it running throughout the year. • Tourism, though a source of income for the Ardeche, can also be seen to have a number of negative

impacts.

The Effects of Tourism on the Ardeche• The impact of ‘the plastic wave’. • During the peak period of the summer season, thousands of tourists will make their way down the

ardeche on canoes and kayaks. At peak hours the river is full of boats in what can be described as ‘the plastic wave’. This large number of people in a concentrated place is bound to have negative impacts. People drop litter, are unsafe on the water and are self concerned. This damages the local environment and makes for a less enjoyable experience.

• Losing it’s beauty.• It can also be argued that tourism has caused the Ardeche to lose some of it’s beauty. At some parts of

the river, on every turn theirs a campsite or a canoe/kayak hire place. These take place of the nature of the region and the reason for why people come to the ardeche.

• Generates Money • However, it can also be said that, above all, the region wouldn’t run without tourism. We probably

wouldn’t of been able to go on the trip and the Ardeche wouldn’t be the same as it is today. Tourism allows people to see the beauty of the Ardeche, something which shouldn’t be held back from people.

Our ViewOur view is that we understand that tourism is necessary for the Ardeche but we feel that stricter regulations may make for a better experience and help protect the region. After seeing ‘the plastic wave’ first hand and he implications it brings, we feel the government has to intervene to ensure the future of the region is a good one. There should be limits on how many hire company's there are along the river and how many boats the companies let in the water at a single time. These rules should have a big, positive impact on the region.