The relationship between tourism and the environment in Florida, USA: A media content analysis

• Published in: Annals of tourism research empirical insights 2023-05, Vol.4 (1), p.100092, Article 100092
• Main Authors: Macdonald, Catherine, Turffs, Dylann, McEntee, Kela, Elliot, Jessica, Wester, Julia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coastal; Discourse; Environment; Media
• ISSN: 2666-9579; 2666-9579
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annale.2023.100092

The existence of trade-offs between continued tourism growth and environmental protection are apparent in Florida, where tourism-dependent economies are reliant on natural resources as key attractions. We analyze Florida newspaper articles covering tourism to determine how tourism issues are framed in public discourse, including discussion of tourism's drivers, effects and outcomes. We examine how complex trade-offs are (or are not) acknowledged. The overarching discourse frame describes a tourism-based economy reliant on environmental quality, which is threatened by other industries. Tourism is presented as providing economic incentives for environmental protection, with minimal discussion of tourism's potential environmental costs. Results reveal a simplistic discourse failing to acknowledge management challenges facing the state or meaningfully assess tourism's role in environmental protection or degradation. •Tourism industry mostly cited as an economic argument for environmental protection.•A natural/pristine environment was discussed as important to successful tourism.•Development, agriculture, and climate change were commonly cited drivers of degradation.•Negative effects, trade-offs of tourism for environment were discussed rarely.•Media narratives lacked nuance/complexity needed to address State's future.