The Impact of Tourism on the Natural Environment
I spoke to you about responsible tourism in another article. Today, I am writing this article to warn you about tourists (or tourism) and the environment.
Mickaël’s comments on my last article taking advantage of the crisis to make a cheap trip made me think a lot. That is why I am writing this article.
The Impact of Tourism on the Natural Environment
I am in favor of responsible tourism, holiday club tourists, or mass tourism in certain circumstances. However, I am against tourists who do not respect the local environment and throw trash everywhere. I am also against the exploitation of people linked to tourism activities.
When I was in Indonesia on the Trawangan islands, we rented a boat to snorkel, and we arrived at a place where there were many plastic bottles (due to the tide) floating on the water. We stopped there because it is a good spot for diving, but we had to swim the other way to avoid the bottles. This sight really saddened me!
Another story, but in Bali, I arrived in Bali off-season (early April). The season starts at the end of April, at the end of the rainy seasons. I arrived at one of the island’s beaches, and I thought it was a trash beach. People do not take care of their beach. When tourists arrived three weeks later, they had removed everything and the beach looked quite good.
Here is a photo; it does not look anything like the photos you see on postcards!
This photo was taken in early April; fortunately, when I returned three weeks later, the beach was cleaner. However, I do not have a photo. This really shows the danger tourism can pose to the environment.
Acting or Participating for Responsible Tourism
I invite you to read my article about a type of fairer tourism, “ecotourism.” By doing ecotourism, you will be close to local populations and you will know that your money benefits locals rather than large multinationals that offer you an all-inclusive stay and employ locals for a miserable wage and do not respect minimum working conditions or provide poor working conditions.
I invite you starting today to think about environmental protection and performance when you travel, to be careful where you throw your trash, to respect the local environment, and not to pollute more than a local would have done. Think about the people who will come to visit the country in 20 years and who will also want to see these magnificent landscapes and beautiful beaches like you did before.
My opinion on the matter is mixed because it depends on the trip you want to take.
And you, are you ready to do ecotourism?
