Business and the Environment Clash in Saint Tropez

Felicia Jenkins
9/3/10
8:53AM

Business and the Environment Clash in Saint Tropez

Along the French Rivera in Saint Tropez many hotels and resorts and restaurants off private beaches and services such as cocktails, a light lunch and lounge chairs with umbrellas for about $255 a day. Normally this would not be a concern but the increased foot traffic has put the dune in danger. The dune is experience a loss of underwater plant life as well as beach erosion. It is also planned to have “commercial beach services” stopped on September 1, a month earlier than normal.

However despite these pressing issues most local business are not in favor of the Mayor’s proposal to cut back the amount of land for private beach us. The small businesses argue that with a decrease in rich culture of Saint Tropez as well as the Mayor has agreements with large companies that will come to take over the beaches. Another argument of the local people is that these new limits will hurt the economy because less rich tourists will become to the area during the summer. There is still much controversy over the government’s decision.
Personally I can understand both sides of the argument. It is very important to preserve our natural resources. We have learned that the more extensive the damage is to natural plant life the longer it takes for it to rejuvenate itself back to the previous standards. To me it is also clear that these native plants are most likely unable to grow in other parts of the world because of the very specific conditions Saint Tropez.

On the other hand I like beaches and relaxing vacations just as much as the next person. And I understand the impact of thousands of tourists daily flocking to the beaches. So what does this mean? Should we all just not go to the beach anymore in fear of destroying the wonderful nature in front of us? Or should we change how we think about vacations and what we do? It’s the age old question of how we live and enjoy ourselves as people without cause irreversible damage to our planet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/16/business/global/16iht-beach.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=environment