We are working hard in order to afford going on holidays. As soon as we are on holidays it is like
an escape from our daily life, isn't it? For a period of time we say goodbye to our hometown,
change our surroundings and get to know a different lifestyle.
We learn new things about another culture, taste new food, take pictures of beautiful moments,
make beautiful moments, moments which will last forever.
I want to add a quote I once heard: „Traveling is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer“
I think that is very well said. In the end of the day material things last for a certain period of time,
but spending money on traveling, automatically comes with a lifelong memory.
First of all, lets talk about Mass tourism is about a mass of people visiting one destination.
Therefore, it is not uncommon, that during the high season you are going to find more tourists
than local people. Lets take as an example Venice
Venice hosts more than 33 Million!! tourists yearly.
Firstly, I want to clarify that mass tourism may also have positive effects. Surely the government
as well as the local people earn money from the tourists, and from the jobs the tourism sector
creates. However, beyond that, mass tourism also has numerous downside:
-Increasing CO2 emissions from environmentally harmful transports:
One of the main problems of mass tourism is the choice of a environmentally harmful means of
transport, such as airplanes or cruise ships. They generate a high proportion of CO2, which drives
climate change
-Insufficient sewage and garbage disposal: The infrastructure of many tourist places are not
designed for such a large number of people. This can lead to excess garbage or sewage being
discharged into the sea and then this way widespread pollution of the worlds oceans is caused.
-Rent increases and the lack of living space in metropolitan areas:
The existing hotels and holiday homes cannot cope with the excessive tourist crowds. That is
why more and more holiday-makers are also booking accommodations that are actually intended
for the locals. This means that, on the one hand, living space is becoming scarce and, on the
other hand, rents are rising rapidly.
Destruction of landscapes and habitats for animals and plants:
The expansion of the infrastructure necessary for mass tourism not only destroys natural areas,
but also the habitats of animals and plants and thus contributes to the extinction of species.
Now the essential question is what we can do in order to prevent mass tourism: Sustainable
Tourism!
Here are my top four tricks for your next vacation:
N° 1 Travel in the low season if possible:
Especially during high season, families with children and teachers fill the areas. Therefore it is not
only more affordable but also more sustainable, because you avoid the big streams of tourists.
N° 2 Vacation nearby:
You don't have to go far to go on great adventures. Sometimes it is the smaller and initially
inconspicuous places that surprise you in particular.
N° 3 Support local providers:
Often the locals suffer primarily from mass tourism. If you go to eat in local restaurants or buy in
regional shops, you support the locals and relieve them financially.
N° 4 Look for more sustainable means of transport:
Traveling by plane, cruise ship or your own car cause extremely high CO2 emissions, which has a
negative impact on climate change. You can counteract this by taking public transport, such as
the train or bus, on vacation.
N° 5 Do not forget your water bottle:
A reusable drinking bottle, for example made of glass or stainless steel, should definitely not be
missing on your packing list. So you can save a lot of plastic waste in the form of 0.5 liter plastic
bottles on site. In countries with drinking water quality, you can fill the water directly from the tap
Maybe after reading the tips, it sometimes feels like sustainable tourism was created to reduce
the fun of traveling. However the list of tips for sustainable travel is just an inspiration on how you
can make your vacation more environmentally conscious, eventful and sustainable with little
things. Use the tips for your next hopefully sustainable trip and reconsider each of your trips
before you book them.
an escape from our daily life, isn't it? For a period of time we say goodbye to our hometown,
change our surroundings and get to know a different lifestyle.
We learn new things about another culture, taste new food, take pictures of beautiful moments,
make beautiful moments, moments which will last forever.
I want to add a quote I once heard: „Traveling is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer“
I think that is very well said. In the end of the day material things last for a certain period of time,
but spending money on traveling, automatically comes with a lifelong memory.
First of all, lets talk about Mass tourism is about a mass of people visiting one destination.
Therefore, it is not uncommon, that during the high season you are going to find more tourists
than local people. Lets take as an example Venice
Venice hosts more than 33 Million!! tourists yearly.
Firstly, I want to clarify that mass tourism may also have positive effects. Surely the government
as well as the local people earn money from the tourists, and from the jobs the tourism sector
creates. However, beyond that, mass tourism also has numerous downside:
-Increasing CO2 emissions from environmentally harmful transports:
One of the main problems of mass tourism is the choice of a environmentally harmful means of
transport, such as airplanes or cruise ships. They generate a high proportion of CO2, which drives
climate change
-Insufficient sewage and garbage disposal: The infrastructure of many tourist places are not
designed for such a large number of people. This can lead to excess garbage or sewage being
discharged into the sea and then this way widespread pollution of the worlds oceans is caused.
-Rent increases and the lack of living space in metropolitan areas:
The existing hotels and holiday homes cannot cope with the excessive tourist crowds. That is
why more and more holiday-makers are also booking accommodations that are actually intended
for the locals. This means that, on the one hand, living space is becoming scarce and, on the
other hand, rents are rising rapidly.
Destruction of landscapes and habitats for animals and plants:
The expansion of the infrastructure necessary for mass tourism not only destroys natural areas,
but also the habitats of animals and plants and thus contributes to the extinction of species.
Now the essential question is what we can do in order to prevent mass tourism: Sustainable
Tourism!
Here are my top four tricks for your next vacation:
N° 1 Travel in the low season if possible:
Especially during high season, families with children and teachers fill the areas. Therefore it is not
only more affordable but also more sustainable, because you avoid the big streams of tourists.
N° 2 Vacation nearby:
You don't have to go far to go on great adventures. Sometimes it is the smaller and initially
inconspicuous places that surprise you in particular.
N° 3 Support local providers:
Often the locals suffer primarily from mass tourism. If you go to eat in local restaurants or buy in
regional shops, you support the locals and relieve them financially.
N° 4 Look for more sustainable means of transport:
Traveling by plane, cruise ship or your own car cause extremely high CO2 emissions, which has a
negative impact on climate change. You can counteract this by taking public transport, such as
the train or bus, on vacation.
N° 5 Do not forget your water bottle:
A reusable drinking bottle, for example made of glass or stainless steel, should definitely not be
missing on your packing list. So you can save a lot of plastic waste in the form of 0.5 liter plastic
bottles on site. In countries with drinking water quality, you can fill the water directly from the tap
Maybe after reading the tips, it sometimes feels like sustainable tourism was created to reduce
the fun of traveling. However the list of tips for sustainable travel is just an inspiration on how you
can make your vacation more environmentally conscious, eventful and sustainable with little
things. Use the tips for your next hopefully sustainable trip and reconsider each of your trips
before you book them.
NIKOL DONTSCHEW
Nikol is a German volunteer in Praxis organisation involved in the World Tourism Day campaign.
