Comments on: Is tourism a ‘planet-threatening plague’? http://www.vagablogging.net/is-tourism-a-planet-threatening-plague.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:14:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: recovering travler http://www.vagablogging.net/is-tourism-a-planet-threatening-plague.html/comment-page-1#comment-61943 recovering travler Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:15:25 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=1840#comment-61943 travelling even the most careful is destroying the planet. Think of how you are getting there? Unless you are walking, riding a bike or taking a sailboat, you are helping to destroy the planet and the worst offender of all air travel is the most damaging. I came to my senses a few years back, it was really hard at first and went agaisnt the grain of everything I felt, but I have managed to not leave a 50 mile radius for the last year. It was tough but I have gotten used to it, what has helped sustain me is the knowledge, that my selfish desires are not helping to destroy the planet further. travelling even the most careful is destroying the planet. Think of how you are getting there? Unless you are walking, riding a bike or taking a sailboat, you are helping to destroy the planet and the worst offender of all air travel is the most damaging. I came to my senses a few years back, it was really hard at first and went agaisnt the grain of everything I felt, but I have managed to not leave a 50 mile radius for the last year. It was tough but I have gotten used to it, what has helped sustain me is the knowledge, that my selfish desires are not helping to destroy the planet further.

]]> By: » Could Iraq reinvent itself as a tourist haven? :: Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog http://www.vagablogging.net/is-tourism-a-planet-threatening-plague.html/comment-page-1#comment-8772 » Could Iraq reinvent itself as a tourist haven? :: Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:40:47 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=1840#comment-8772 [...] is of course the counterargument that tourism also puts undue strain on a country as well, but in the case of Iraq it seems unlikely that even the thickest of tourist hordes could [...] [...] is of course the counterargument that tourism also puts undue strain on a country as well, but in the case of Iraq it seems unlikely that even the thickest of tourist hordes could [...]

]]> By: Robin Noelle http://www.vagablogging.net/is-tourism-a-planet-threatening-plague.html/comment-page-1#comment-2379 Robin Noelle Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:26:02 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=1840#comment-2379 I disagree that this type of travel will end. It makes little difference to many travelers whether or not the exotic destination they are traveling to has any culture or ecology left. I live in one of the top tourist destinations in Mexico and out of our millions of visitors each year, I bet that 50% could care less about the negative effects of tourism. They tromp over to Wal-Mart to get their souvenirs and check prices against their hometown Wal-Mart, then they go to Carlos O'Briens or Sr. Frog's for overpriced hamburgers and margaritas, then it's back to hotel for the poolside bar. Sleep. Repeat. Beaches can be man-made (and some day, sadly, they probably all will be) and sustained. Giant mega-resorts with infinity swimming pools, "authentic" Mexican fiesta shows, and all-inclusive packages will be all that is left. Do you think that will stop tourism? They will do what developers are already planning to do on the Nayarit coast, build replicas of the villages that their very developments have destroyed. The "Disneyland" tourism market is only just beginning. I disagree that this type of travel will end. It makes little difference to many travelers whether or not the exotic destination they are traveling to has any culture or ecology left. I live in one of the top tourist destinations in Mexico and out of our millions of visitors each year, I bet that 50% could care less about the negative effects of tourism. They tromp over to Wal-Mart to get their souvenirs and check prices against their hometown Wal-Mart, then they go to Carlos O’Briens or Sr. Frog’s for overpriced hamburgers and margaritas, then it’s back to hotel for the poolside bar. Sleep. Repeat.

Beaches can be man-made (and some day, sadly, they probably all will be) and sustained. Giant mega-resorts with infinity swimming pools, “authentic” Mexican fiesta shows, and all-inclusive packages will be all that is left. Do you think that will stop tourism? They will do what developers are already planning to do on the Nayarit coast, build replicas of the villages that their very developments have destroyed. The “Disneyland” tourism market is only just beginning.

]]> By: Scott Gilbertson http://www.vagablogging.net/is-tourism-a-planet-threatening-plague.html/comment-page-1#comment-2344 Scott Gilbertson Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:05:45 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=1840#comment-2344 @Lee- True, but I think that's sort of the point, we're shifting the burden from our own countries (which are generally better equipped to handle those burdens) to places that may have much more limited or fragile water supplies. And that's just water; there are countless other environment and economical impacts as well. The one that bothers me is plastic bottles (i.e. potable water)... Plastic is a huge scourge everywhere and I hate contributing to it, but I've tried filters and whatnot and they just aren't practical (unless you're camping out). The impact of tourism is definitely a real problem, which is why I'm not defensive about Becker's piece. But I do wish she had more in the way of solutions, or possible solutions (other than, don't travel). @Lee-

True, but I think that’s sort of the point, we’re shifting the burden from our own countries (which are generally better equipped to handle those burdens) to places that may have much more limited or fragile water supplies. And that’s just water; there are countless other environment and economical impacts as well.

The one that bothers me is plastic bottles (i.e. potable water)… Plastic is a huge scourge everywhere and I hate contributing to it, but I’ve tried filters and whatnot and they just aren’t practical (unless you’re camping out).

The impact of tourism is definitely a real problem, which is why I’m not defensive about Becker’s piece. But I do wish she had more in the way of solutions, or possible solutions (other than, don’t travel).

]]> By: Lee http://www.vagablogging.net/is-tourism-a-planet-threatening-plague.html/comment-page-1#comment-2338 Lee Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:53:08 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=1840#comment-2338 This is not as facitious as it sounds, but when people travel to an area and flush toilets and take showers, they aren't doing it in their own community, so when you look at the forest rather than trees, isn't that a wash (no pun intended) anyway? However, I do understand the point that you are making and it is well-taken. When looking at how Tourism affects areas, I tend to look more at the development around pristine forests, lakes, beaches and other natural resources, added energy waste because of the travel/transportation itself, and extra waste because of consumption patterns while traveling/vacationing (for instance - purchasing single packaged foods rather than bulk or larger packages as you would at home). Shaula - thanks for the link, I have bookmarked it and I am going to link to it from our own website. This is not as facitious as it sounds, but when people travel to an area and flush toilets and take showers, they aren’t doing it in their own community, so when you look at the forest rather than trees, isn’t that a wash (no pun intended) anyway? However, I do understand the point that you are making and it is well-taken.

When looking at how Tourism affects areas, I tend to look more at the development around pristine forests, lakes, beaches and other natural resources, added energy waste because of the travel/transportation itself, and extra waste because of consumption patterns while traveling/vacationing (for instance – purchasing single packaged foods rather than bulk or larger packages as you would at home).

Shaula – thanks for the link, I have bookmarked it and I am going to link to it from our own website.

]]> By: Shaula http://www.vagablogging.net/is-tourism-a-planet-threatening-plague.html/comment-page-1#comment-2331 Shaula Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:50:16 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=1840#comment-2331 Scott, I'm impressed that you managed to write such a thoughtful post /without/ getting defensive. Bravo. <a href="http://gogreentravelgreen.com/" rel="nofollow">Go Green Travel Green</a> is one of my favourite travel blogs; Elizabeth and Kimberly write about how to make green choices to reduce the environmental impact of your travels. I recommend their site as a good start. Scott, I’m impressed that you managed to write such a thoughtful post /without/ getting defensive. Bravo.

Go Green Travel Green is one of my favourite travel blogs; Elizabeth and Kimberly write about how to make green choices to reduce the environmental impact of your travels. I recommend their site as a good start.

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