Hello and welcome back to the second installment of our series on light and noise pollution in tourism! In our previous post, we laid down the general main causes and concerns of both light and noise pollution. In this post, we will have a closer look at how light pollution from the tourism industry, specifically in Hong Kong, can have detrimental effects to the environment and human health.
Symphony or Tyranny?
Hong Kong, a bustling metropolis and tourism hub like Singapore, is known to have the most serious light pollution in the world. The main sources of light pollution in the city are big neon signs, flashing LED screens and advertisements with spotlights. A particular point of contention from environmentalists was that excessive lighting from spotlights continue unnecessarily beyond business hours. The excess artificial light not only becomes a form of annoyance to people but also contributes greatly to energy and electricity wastage. This would in turn put a strain on energy resources and carbon emissions from excessive energy consumption negatively impacts the environment as well.
One specific source of light pollution in Hong Kong’s tourism is A Symphony of Lights, a nightly laser lights and music show that is a famous tourist attraction along the Victoria Harbour. 44 skyscrapers and landmarks along the harbour contribute interactive lights and music, and the show holds the World Record as the largest light and music show in the world. The bright lights illuminating the night sky is a huge attraction for tourists and some might even say that it is an iconic feature in Hong Kong’s tourism. Thus, reducing the light intensity or switching off the lights may attract fewer tourists and the attraction’s prominence in general, which could translate into lower tourist revenue as well.
So what is the problem?
Apart from the environmental impacts light pollution has, effects on human health are also present. As mentioned in our previous post, light pollution can cause disruptions in the circadian rhythm of the human body, contributing to a loss in metabolism and weight gain. Light pollution also causes the body to produce less melatonin which is important to have a good night’s rest. Hence, this can cause insomnia. Melatonin is a hormone that can also reduce the risk of cancer, so a lower production of this hormone can increase the risk and occurrence of cancer, such as breast, intestine or rectal cancers. Also, the glare from light pollution can cause a strain to peoples’ eyesight.
Humans are not the only living things affected by this light pollution. It can also be detrimental to the lives and survival of animals and wildlife, such as fireflies that depend on light signals from each other for mating, which is disrupted by light pollution.
Given the harm light pollution has on the environment, biodiversity and human health, there is a need to strike a balance to minimise these harms while ensuring the attractiveness of these attractions is not diminished. This is likely to be a very difficult and seemingly impossible feat to achieve but there is no benefit in not trying to do better. Particularly, for Hong Kong where the night view is a huge draw for tourists.
Furthermore, light pollution from tourism is not just specific to Hong Kong as many other tourist destinations such as New York (with attractions like Times Square) and Singapore. Like Hong Kong, Singapore also has a light and music show with green laser lights coming from the Marina Bay Sands towers, which we [Emily] can often see from a distance while at home. Therefore, tourism operators and governing bodies at destinations that rely on bright, glamorous lights to attract tourists need to be aware of the insidious harms it can bring to tourists and locals alike, as well as the environment.
References
Lau, S.Y, Ng, K.L, Tsang, H.T, Vong, Y.C.C 2014, Light pollution in Hong Kong, Outstanding Academic Papers by Students (OAPS), http://lbms03.cityu.edu.hk/oaps/ef2014-1205-lsy694.pdf
Hong Kong Tourism Board, online image, https://www.discoverhongkong.com/in/explore/attractions/choreographing-the-symphony-of-lights.html
Grimm, M 2017, ‘The Brilliant Simplicity of New York’s Time Square’, WIRED, online image, viewed on 25 October 2020, https://www.wired.com/2017/04/brilliant-simplicity-new-yorks-new-times-square/
‘Marina Bay Sands Light Show – The Best Gift of Singapore’, 2017, Asia Marvels, online image, viewed on 25 October 2020, https://asiamarvels.com/marina-bay-sands-light-show/