The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines over-tourism as “the impact of tourism on a destination, or parts thereof, that excessively influences perceived quality of life of citizens and/or quality of visitor experiences in a negative way”.
Over-tourism
Will the global travel industry ever be the same again?
By Ken Hickson
The world is enduring its biggest ever lockdown in history. We’re seeing airlines, airports, hotels, cruise companies and tour businesses – and even destinations, which are over-reliant on tourism for their economy – run out of steam and go broke.
What future is there for anyone involved in what’s described as the world’s biggest industry?
Of course, there will be bailouts. Of course, some operators will survive and many will thrive. But can – or should – the tourist industry return to its “good old days”?
This the biggest wake-up call there could ever be for an industry that puts people in jet aircraft, cruise ships, trains and buses, dropping them off on islands and to quaint villages, at the same time, doing untold long term damage to distant cultures.
I hate to say it, but the old adage “you have to be cruel to be kind” applies here. This coronavirus outbreak is like an any major unexpected action – even “an inconvenient truth” – which seems harsh, but will ultimately be of benefit to the industry and the world.
Change had to come to tourism as it was in the process of ruining the environment and cultures in many places.
Look at Venice, where tourism has driven people out of their own homes to
seek a better life, as the historic place is sinking from the weight of tourism and the onslaught of rising sea levels from climate change.
Look at Vanuatu – as I write this, besieged by Cyclone Harold – as it tries to adapt to the surge of climate change, along with the severe cultural and economic disruptions of tourism – mainly from far too many cruise ships disgorging “big spending” passengers onto its fragile shores.
Look at Antarctica – where hundreds of cruises, large and small, visit annually and “besides visiting scientists and native wildlife”, they see that “Antarctica is uninhabited and undeveloped”. However, according to one observer “visiting Antarctica offers cruisers some incredibly unique opportunities like mingling with penguins, taking a polar plunge into sub-zero waters, tent camping on the ice, and whale- and bird-watching.”
I worry greatly about the damage to the environment from over-tourism, particularly in fragile places like the Antarctic, which I was privileged to visit with a TV crew 37 years ago to report on the work of scientists.
Even then I could see the potential for environment degradation, not from tourists but from the pressure of international expeditions and research, often supported by the military with troops and transport.
The Americans had set up a nuclear power station at McMurdo Sound – the radioactive warning signs said it all – and I had the obligation to “advise” one US helicopter crew member not to throw a cigarette butt onto a pristine dry lake bed.
Look at Bhutan in the Himalayas, which is doing what many other tourist destinations should think seriously about. Limit the onslaught of mass tourism, along with the cultural and economic damage it brings.
The Kingdom of Bhutan, seeking to become a high-value destination, imposes a daily fee of US$250 on tourists, that includes touring and hotel accommodation. At last count, the industry there employs 21,000 people and accounts for 1.8% of GDP.
Is this the way to manage tourism? American tour operator, Gabriel Cubbage, thinks so when we met last year in Singapore. He set up Gray Langur as a specialist tour company to cater for those committed to visit Bhutan, as this is one place that values the environment, its forests and its unique culture more than anything else.
I’m impressed too with the work of Singaporean Junxiu Lu – or simply Jin, as she’s widely known – and Chicken Feet Travels, which concentrates on tailor-made tours to out-of-the-way places in Southeast Asia.
“We have carefully vetted and hand-picked accommodation, guides and trip providers that are affordable, reliable, friendly, fun and adopt sustainable and eco-friendly practices”, she says. If customers want luxury that can be arranged, but “we make sure that it is unique, eco-friendly, sustainable and supports the local community.”
Not sure how the global industry is going to set matters right, but it has been talking for a long while about “responsible tourism”. By definition, it’s tourism that minimises negative social, economic and environmental impacts and generates greater economic benefits for local people.
We’re seen little sign that international airlines, aircraft manufacturers, airport operators and cruise companies have been bearing this in mind over the last twenty-odd years.
I think cruise companies are faced with the biggest problem of all. The number of cases of cruise ship passengers falling sick and dying of coronavirus all over the world has been hogging the headlines.
Not only is the cruise business suffering but so is the reputation of leading operators for the poor ship-board management displayed and even lack of proper health servces on board.
What to do with the massive cruise ships built to accommodate 5000 passengers or more?
If they intend to continue to ply their trade and generate business responsibly, they need to do a few things better.
How about drastically reducing the number of passengers and devoting most of the saved space for other essential purposes?
It’s been apparent during this virus outbreak that many of the vessels were not equipped with sufficient hospital beds, medical and health care services. That must be fixed.
We can also suggest that every cruise operator provides many more cultural/ educational programmes and facilities on board and on shore.
They should also limit the number of passengers going ashore at any one location to minimise local disruption and damage. And cruise destinations should also fix a set charge/tax on the number coming ashore, with the funds to be dedicated to local cultural, artistic or educational causes.
When MICE events get back on track, the whole travel industry – including its government backers – needs to assess the serious global problem of over-tourism and come up with definite changes to make the business more sustainable and responsible.
It won’t happen overnight, but this pandemic – and its economic impact – has shown up the major weaknesses in the travel industry and exposed the real situation: that over-tourism is not good for anyone.
As the global travel industry tries to get back on its feet and win back the confidence of everyone – its customers, its employees, its stakeholders – it would be wise to commit to a new charter: commit overcome the negatives associated with mass tourism and take definite steps to introduce responsible and sustainable practices.
Ken Hickson is a sustainability and communication consultant based in Singapore, where he has been an advisor to Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board, along many other airlines, airports and National Tourist Organisations. Originally a newspaper journalist in New Zealand, he has also worked in radio, television and magazines. Currently, he’s the Managing Editor of two online magazines, ABC Carbon Express and The Art of Travel, which has as its theme TREAD-ability: Travel Responsibly for the Environment, Arts and Dreams. He is also the author of six books, including “Flight 901 to Erebus” – a documentary account of an Antarctic commercial airline disaster – and “Race for Sustainability”, which includes a chapter on sustainable events.