Previously on the blog, I talked about how to achieve an outdoorsy lifestyle and how it can benefit us both physically and mentally. While short-term travel through nature can be advantageous to our well-being, the overall impact of tourism isn’t always so positive.
Impact on Local Communities
Traveling to a new location is extremely exciting as it opens us up to new experiences. The downfall is the negative consequences on local communities which are still apparent long after our departure. I saw the first-hand effects of this myself while backpacking this summer. Hidden gems are suddenly ‘rediscovered’ by hordes of backpackers and tourists, leading to over-tourism of communities.
With these locations incapable of supporting the high volume of tourists, the locals are left to pick up the pieces. Tourist hubs, like the island of Boracay, began temporary closures in the hopes of recovering from an overload of travelers.
While planning your next trip, keep in mind the carrying capacity of where you’re going. Think about whether your enjoyment is worth the impact on the people who actually live there.
Impact on Ecosystems
Your travel doesn’t just impact the people who live there, it also affects the ecosystem and environment itself. When we tour somewhere new, we are just one in a million who have visited that location this year alone. The numbers add up and the impact can be disastrous.
On my trip to Thailand last year, I experienced the negative influences on the ecosystem brought on by tourism. Riding on a boat around the Phi Phi Islands, I was unable to visit one island due to closures.
According to the Guardian, Maya Bay has closed indefinitely to tourists to allow the ecosystem to recover. The impact has caused the destruction of over 80% of the coral in the area, prompting an environmental emergency. The sad part? Local officials aren’t sure the bay will ever fully recover.
Impact on Your Health and Wellbeing
On the surface, those full-time travelers seem as if their lives are super glamorous. The reality is that traveling can impact your health in many unintentional ways. Researchers from the University of Surrey and Lund University found that the image of frequent, long-distance travel in media doesn’t take into account the possible negative effects on health and wellbeing. Traveling long-term can break down family relationships, increase stress, lead to long-term health problems and loneliness.
Read More Travel Posts HereTo help lower your impact on the environment, check out the “Leave No Trace” principles.
Read More: Leave No Trace: The 7 Rules of the Backcountry
Learn more about Leave No Trace on their website here.
Like This Post? Pin It!
