#htmindustry

Image found on an article titled Why DNA tourism may be the big travel of 2019.

Travel is in our DNA. Ever since human civilization began, we have been traveling around the world. To discover new land, to meet or conquer new people. For instance, the silk road is how people prospered. It was like today's internet. It spread knowledge. I think we still have that feeling to roam the world and seek out new experiences. This wanderlust journey I've taken has educated me and I’ll forever be a responsible traveler.

Anchorage, Alaska taken by my cousin Jen Moulds.

Traveling the world is a fantastic opportunity. This picture of Alaska makes you want to book your next flight out. I checked flights and hotels the minute my cousin posted this picture on Facebook. $800 to go to Alaska for the flight and hotel for a week. Where's my credit card? That's today's world, and with travel bloggers and influencers, secret gems travel faster than the speed of light. I've always loved to travel. We went all over Michigan when I was a child. When I wrote the blog Isle Royale is Wildly Unique; I thought twice before I clicked post. Should I share this little slice of heaven? That's where things begin to change direction. Is all this easy access to knowledge helping us or making places too overloaded and crowded?

I never really thought of the negative aspects of tourism. You always see the fun, adventurous side and don't think of the consequences of these tourist traps. The YouTube video, What's wrong with volunteer travel? makes you stop and think, who are these people we let volunteer and represent America? Daniela Papi also talks about how orphanage tourism is breaking up families. This was also discussed in my blog Be the Good in Voluntourism. There is also the issue of over-tourism.

Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan.

"Without careful calculations, every destination is going to eventually hit the wall whether its drinking water, parking spots or crowds on the walking street," said travel writer Doug Lansky in the YouTube video, The New Normal of Tourism, a great clip about tourism today. When it comes to over-tourism, I can understand how it could be frustrating for the inhabitants. I live in Holland, Michigan, and we have a tulip time celebration for about a week once a year in May. Most of the people around here try to get out of town for that week because it is crowded and annoying for people trying to do their daily lives. If we had tulip time every day of the year and that's how it was all the time, it could be enough to make you want to move to a different city. Doug Lansky also did a great Ted Talk called How to Save Tourism from Itself, in which he said some stunning statistics, "In 1950 there were 25 million international travelers, last year (2018) 1.4 billion." Tourism has had an explosion with today's technology people are reaching every corner and destination on Earth.

Bhutan, China lives by a philosophy that makes happiness a top priority.

The video The New Normal of Tourism also talked about Bhutan, China, and their solutions to a better life. The government follows a philosophy called Gross National Happiness which I've discussed in a past blog called Tourists or Environmental Terrorists? This is a philosophy I can live by. It seems logical to me. Happiness is essential, and I think a lot of people tend not to make it a priority. People settle for unhappy lives to make things easier.

This photo was on a site titled SeaWorld is Evil.

My idea of travel has always been to seek out where I've come from. To see where my ancestors lived. To learn the history of where they're from and walk in the same lands they once did. I also desire to see new beautiful places. As I talked about in the blog Stop the Madness, I've always been fascinated by the ocean. One of my happiest moments was a speed boat out at sea, seeing seals on buoys and just knowing how incredibly magnificent that world beneath me was. Over these last couple of weeks, I got out of my comfort zone and faced some important documentaries that I had been avoiding. Trophy and Blackfish made me outraged. I can't stand to see animals tortured and killed. It has opened my eyes to the truth behind SeaWorld, and I will never support that negligent monster of a company. The same goes for zoos. I went to the zoo this summer with my kids. I watch the lion pace back and forth, looking desperate. About a week after we were there, he died—what a horrible life to live. I won't be back. I won't continue to contribute to the madness.

The images are always in your mind of the Gulf oil disaster.

We all remember the oil-soaked birds pictured on the news after the BP Deep Horizon oil spill. It was a devasting event that should have never happened. People are tampering with the Earth too much, and the result will be the end of us. This was another lesson that I will keep with me. The impact that it had on the tourism industry was crushing too. It's like a domino effect that ruins people's lives. My blog Hey BP, Thanks for the Sunblock has more on the spill.

This is a great site that talks about a wanderlust gene. Do you think you have it?

Throughout this wanderlust journey, I have experienced and learned new things. I have learned the importance of being a responsible traveler. I have a better understanding of the world and how to best interact with it. I've seen a side of tourism I never gave much thought to. Tourism is education. Both the tourist and whoever they interact with are learning from each other. It is a beautiful thing. People prosper through travel. They gain knowledge, and that's priceless.

Metta McLeod

June 18, 2021

Trending Now: Summer 2021 Travel Trends: Pack Your Wallets and Patience: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/travel-rewards/summer-2021-travel-trends-pack-your-wallets-and-patience/

Sources:

https://gnhusa.org/gross-national-happiness/

http://m-foundation.org/projects/cambodia/

https://www.hibiscustravel.net/wanderlust-gene/

https://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20100506/News/305069843

https://youtu.be/oYWl6Wz2NB8

Photo by J.D. Crowe The Water's Fine

We all remember the photos on the news of the birds soaked in oil after the BP disaster. It’s an image that I will never forget. Environmental impacts can have a devastating effect on tourism. Whether it's a natural disaster from a tsunami, hurricane, earthquake, or a manmade event, it can cost millions of lives and dollars. For instance, BP & Exxon cost the hospitality industry trillions. The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 is the largest environmental disaster in American history, dumping about 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. 11 men on the rig died, and thousands of wildlife perished. As a result, hospitality took a colossal hit impacting over 7 million businesses, about 35 million employees, and 5.2 trillion in sales, according to a Dun & Bradstreet survey. Some things are out of our control but what the oil companies are doing to this planet is heartbreaking. It’s time to stop being controlled by the money makers and start fighting for our planet.

Beachgoers and cleanup crew share the shores of the gulf coast after the BP oil spill.

I can't think of a U.S. city hit harder by environmental impacts than New Orleans. They aren’t a stranger of climate change and the effects of it. Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill took NOLA down. However, they bounce back and are still one of the most popular tourist attractions in the U.S. Hurricane Katrina led to a 63% decrease in tourists and $250 billion in damages. Sustainable tourism activist Costas Christ says, "Why shouldn't the entire tourism industry be thinking about its impact on issues such as the environment, on cultural heritage, on local people's livelihoods?" That’s why NOLA keeps such a strong sense of culture. The people there fight for who they are, and culture is celebrated there. Costas Christ is someone the world needs to listen to. I came across him in past blogs which can be read here.

Photo by J.D. Crowe called, BP Sunblock.

The movie Deepwater Horizon showed what happened during the BP spill, and a great quote from the movie was by Jimmy Harrell (Kurt Russell), who slams BP managers for their negligence by letting the testing crew leave without doing the necessary tests. Harrell says, "You're a 180-billion-dollar company, and you're cheap." Donald Vidrine (John Malkovich) replies, "That's why we're a 186-billion-dollar company. We worry about those bills." Harrell fights back, "I worry about my rig; my crew lives on it. You just rent it." BP has gotten away with murder, and they got a slap on the wrist. Recovery damages paid by BP were around $9 billion, which is pennies for the corporation.

Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill creeping to the costs along the Gulf of Mexico.

There will always be that chance of a freak accident and everyone needs to be prepared for that. More importantly, companies like Exxon and BP need to pay their dues when they have accidents like this. Big money runs this country. They own the media, and they own everything you think you have control over. Donald Trump hired former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as the Secretary of State. Doesn't that sound odd to you? Yes, old news, but come on, people. This country needs a serious wake-up call, and hopefully, it won't cost us millions of lives before that happens. Tourism takes hard hits, but it keeps coming back. The key is to be prepared for when disaster strikes because it will.

Metta McLeod

June 17, 2021

Trending Now: Workers Continue to Fight for Help 11 Years After Deepwater Horizon Disaster: https://www.wafb.com/2021/04/20/workers-continue-fight-help-years-after-deepwater-horizon-disaster/

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill

http://credbc.ca/tourism-industry-impacts-the-deepwater-horizon-spill/

https://www.al.com/opinion/2016/10/deepwater_horizon_the_bp_oil_s.html

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/ten-years-since-the-deepwater-horizon-exploded

https://www.noaa.gov/explainers/deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-settlements-where-money-went

This image was found on an amazing blog by Sophie Spencer called The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Thailand.

You go on your dream vacation in Thailand, and you are sitting on the beach with a Khao Lak Rain in your hand. You watch your children play in the ocean, and suddenly the water recedes, and your life is over within minutes. The 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean left over 225,000 people dead in 14 different countries. It was the deadliest in recorded history. The mini-series, Tsunami: The Aftermath, shows what happened in Thailand when the tsunami hits and how people dealt with the devastation. People lost everything, including their land, making it easy for big money to come in and bulldoze over their lives. The series focuses on the westerners vacationing in the areas hit hardest by the tsunami. It shows how tourism is affected during a natural disaster. The environmental impact on tourism can have both positive and negative effects.

The damages left by the deadliest tsunami in recorded history. The image was found on history.com in an article called The 2004 Tsunami Wiped Away Towns with ‘Mind Boggling’ Destruction.

I’m struggling with my thoughts. Is it good or bad for us to visit these majestic places? Should we be there or not? Are we doing more harm than good for the people of Thailand? That is life, a struggle for balance. All things in balance. The yin and the yang. It reminds me of reporters Nick Fraser (Tim Roth) and Chai (Will Yun Lee) in Tsunami: The Aftermath, who have an interesting dynamic. You see a clashing of cultures when dealing with the bodies of the dead. Fraser has a western philosophy background, and he wants to take pictures of the dead so the families can have closure. Photographer Chai fights for his people and their eastern way of doing things by having a ceremony and burning of the bodies. Who is right, and who is wrong? We are all just trying to do our best to get by and get along.

Chai and Nick Fraser in Tsunami: The Aftermath

While researching the tsunami, I came across a site called Khaolakexplorer.com, a tourist site attracting people to visit Khao Lak as they have built and remained one of the most popular places to visit in Thailand. The rebuilding began immediately after the tsunami, right over all the bones and sticks of those that lived their generation after generation. The site even targets the dark tourism crowd with a question about memorials for people to pay respects. The response is, “Yes, there is a museum and a nearby memorial to the victims that make for a solemn visit and offers a truly enlightening experience to the scale of the disaster that occurred that boxing day morning.” So now new resorts are built on stolen land. They have been warned repeatedly not to build on the coasts, but money proceeds brain in this crazy world.

Khao Lak resorts taken out by the 2004 tsunami.

Another part of the Tsunami: The Aftermath series shows the fight between right or wrong when it comes to tourism. Fraser discusses plans of a rebuild with hotel representative Ellen:

Fraser: “You’re just going to rebuild the hotels? You’re going to put them right back where they were?”

Ellen: “The country needs tourism. We build hotels, we bring jobs, we bring trade, we bring the dollar, the yen, the pound.”

Fraser: “Yeah, but you have a responsibility to the people, too, haven’t you?”

Ellen: “I also have a responsibility to my company, to the people I work for.”

The Le Vela Khao Lak, they didn’t waste any time and Khao Lak is back in business.

This short scene is an example of the struggle for the tourism industry. There are always pluses and minuses. The countries need to decide what’s best for them and their limit of travelers. Tourists with wanderlust need to be educated on the cultures of where they are going and learn about the land they are visiting. With balance and educated tourism, it can be a way to help all of those involved. Tourism can be a good thing because, during a natural disaster, attention is brought from the entire world. When people from different countries get stranded in environmental disasters, it brings more resources and help. On the downside, people are traveling to high-risk areas like this putting themselves in danger. We can’t live in fear, though, because dangers are everywhere.

Metta McLeod

June 16, 2021

Trending Now: Indonesians Rush Uphill After 6.1 Magnitude Quake Near Moluccas: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/magnitude-61-quake-hits-near-indonesias-mollucas-islands-2021-06-16/

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake_and_tsunami

https://www.agoda.com/la-vela-khao-lak/hotel/khao-lak-th.html?cid=1844104

https://www.famousfix.com/topic/tsunami-the-aftermath/photos

https://www.history.com/news/deadliest-tsunami-2004-indian-ocean

Isle Royale is where nature runs wild. It is in Lake Superior, and it is the fourth-largest lake island in the world. It is 45 miles long and 9 miles wide. There are no roads on the island, and no vehicles are allowed. People don't live on the isle yearlong. Isle Royale was home to the Ojibwe and was called Minong. The island is known for its fisheries, and it was mined for its large amounts of copper. Isle Royale National Park was created in 1931. I went to the island when I was a girl in the early '90s. My experience on the island was unique. I mistook the Loon’s wail for wolf howls which are another species native to the island. The beauty of Isle Royale is unforgettable. Many rules made the island special too. You can’t leave any trash there. The packing for the trip alone was unlike any camping trip I've been on. Whatever you pack in has to be packed out. At that time, there was one little store and a couple of homes. Now they have the Rock Harbor Lodge, a full-service lodging facility, and two restaurants on the island. We have seen what happens when places begin to get overpopulated with tourists and the effects of overtourism on the world.

This image was found on a blog called Travelling Jezebel which is a great blog about tackling overtourism.

Overtourism is like cancer that spreads and destroys the most beautiful parts of the world. People are traveling to major tourist cities and pushing the people that live there out. It is changing the culture of these towns. As best described in the very informative YouTube video, Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism, one interviewee says the city of Venice is becoming a Disneyland. Overtourism is causing property tax inflation, and Airbnb is destroying communities.

Along with overtourism comes pollution. There is an estimated 8,000,000 tons of plastic litter put in the ocean each year. With rising climate changes, global warming is causing the Great Barrier Reef to dye. Coral bleaching is when the coral expels the algae living on it. This can lead to mortality, and it is said that the Great Barrier Reef could disappear by 2050. It's one example of the tragedy unfolding on our beautiful planet due to human's push for greed. Isle Royale is a special place that shouldn't be ruined by overtourism. The wildlife gets to live freely without fear of hunters. We have to protect the vulnerable and fight for their existence.

This image shows the coral reef’s devastating reality of before and after a bleaching event.

"Every organism that devours more resources than can be restored eventually starves one day," wrote blog writer David Lauterwasser. We have seen the future from the past, yet we continue to follow to pretty path with blinders on ignoring the truth. As seen in the movie 180° South, we have learned how we are repeating the same mistakes we have made in the past. For example, the island in Chile called Rapa Nui, aka Easter Island, is a reminder of how societies rise and fall due to their own demise. The island has gone through civil war, cannibalism, disease, and environmental collapse. The people depleted their resources, and the downfall effect has been a sad version of what is to come for our planet worldwide.

This photo is a depiction of what happened on Easter Island. This image was found on a blog by David Lauterwasser. Please check out his work.

The following quote is by Oscar Chapman, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, at the dedication of Isle Royale National Park in 1946:

"What we are protecting and preserving here, so far as it is possible and practical to do so, are actually the processes of nature in which the only permanent thing is change, - change which is permitted to take place with the very minimum of human guidance or control. The essence of place is its wild beauty..."

According to National Park Service Stats, the number of annual visitors to Isle Royale was under 3,000 when it opened, and that number has grown to over 26,000 in 2019. The island is an economic booster for the surrounding areas and keeping it a tourist attraction isn't going to go away. The National Park Service needs to make sure they are strict about their rules. They understand the importance of keeping a low human impact on the island. Although, there is talk of making more lodges on a different parts of the island, so people aren't crowded. That sounds like a slippery slope. It will double the people that they bring in, making it more marketable to the tourists. I hope they won't continuing building on the island. It is unique because of its wild beauty, and more people will strip that from the island. The island was recently named the "Best of the World 2021" list by National Geographic. This is a list of the 25 best places to visit in the world. What will this mean to Isle Royale? Sometimes travel writers and making the best of lists is a curse more than a blessing. Should I even be writing this blog, or should I keep my little Michigan paradise island a secret?

Metta McLeod

June 1, 2021

Trending Now:

Isle Royale National Park Opens Back Up to Visitors with Some Restrictions

https://www.michiganradio.org/post/isle-royale-national-park-opens-back-visitors-some-restrictions

Venice Control Room Will Monitor Tourists to Combat Overtourism

https://globetrender.com/2021/03/15/venice-control-room-will-monitor-tourists-to-combat-overtourism/

For Plant Earth, No Tourism is a Curse and a Blessing

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/07/travel/covid-pandemic-environmental-impact.html

Sources:

https://medium.com/@FeunFooPermaKra/history-repeats-itself-as-the-story-of-the-easter-islands-downfall-begins-to-unfold-globally-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_Royale

https://irma.nps.gov/STATS/SSRSReports/Park

https://travellingjezebel.com/overtourism/

https://www.businessinsider.com/great-barrier-reef-could-disappear-by-2050-why-2019-10

https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2018/06/08/georgia-aquarium-world-ocean-day-kinkade-intv.cnn

https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/whats-killing-coral-reefs-and-how-can-we-stop-it/

https://www.mlive.com/news/2020/11/isle-royale-named-in-national-geographics-best-of-the-world-2021-list.html

"In terms of our business, COVID-19 is like nothing we've ever seen before, and for a company that's 92 years old, that's borne witness to the Great Depression, World War II, and many other economic and global crises, that's saying something." Said the late Arne Sorenson Marriott's former President, and CEO. Every industry has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospitality industry has taken a severe hit operating at about 75% below average numbers. As we heal from our losses and as the world gets vaccinated, we can expect the hospitality industry to bounce back. People are always going to want to travel. To discover new places, to relax, or to get away. Tourism has had a setback, but the future of the hospitality industry is bright. There will always be a need, and it isn't going anywhere. Tourism has many different titles. This blog will focus on ecotourism, accessible tourism, nature conservation, and the effect the people and the pandemic have had on the industry.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a marine biologist. The ocean has always fascinated me. It is a majestic beast full of magic and wonder. Unfortunately, many people are in awe of the sea—too many people, causing a dangerous environment for what belongs beneath the water edge. According to the series Blue Planet II, less than 1% of our international waters are protected. Who is watching over this beauty and all the creatures it holds? One man began the fight to protect the leatherback turtles of Trinidad. These magnificent animals date back to millions of years ago when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Len Peters connected with the leatherbacks and put his life on the line to protect them. He began to educate his village, and the people came together to help preserve the existence of the leatherback turtle's. He incorporated ecotourism to bring awareness to the dire situation. It took a village in this scenario.

There are millions of stories like this happening around the world. According to the Worldwide Fund for Nature, around 10,000 species go extinct every year. Those numbers are at risk of rising because of the current pandemic. With the pandemic quarantining most of the world, many important organizations have been put on hold. Ecotourism has also been put on pause. Ecotourism brings awareness to the vulnerable plants and animals of the planet. It turns children into scientists and visitors into conservationists. COVID-19 put a halt on efforts to improve the quality of our oceans, forests, and lands. Some countries are also facing financial hardships because ecotourism brings in millions of dollars to communities. We all thought it would be a couple of months, but now we are pushing over a year and wondering if anything will ever go back to normal?

According to the CDC, one and four U.S. adults have a disability. The accessible tourism industry brings in billions of revenues. Without its people like Erik Weihenmayer couldn’t inspire the world like he did in the documentary film The Weight of Water. Blind since age 13, Erik put his trust into his river guide Harlan Taney and kayaked the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Without tour guides like Harlan other people can’t accomplish their dreams. People with disabilities have been affected by COVID-19 the hardest, says the UN. The pandemic has made their struggle much more difficult.

The image above is Erik Weihenmayer kayaking the Colorado River with tourist guide Harlan Taney.

Nature conservation is one way to protect our planet from disasters. Legends like Douglas Tompkins, founder of North Face and, more importantly, a savior of 2,000,000 acres of land in South America, has made a considerable difference in the world. Philanthropy helps the world and improves the quality of life. With COVID-19 as scary and horrible for people that it has been, it has almost been a savior for the planet itself. People are not traveling as much, reducing the carbon admission. The Earth got to take a breath of fresh air. On the downside, people have itchy feet, and there is about to be an explosion of tourism. Travel agencies offer deals of a lifetime, and caged-up consumers are ready to jump on the next flight. I feel that breath of fresh air is only that, and we are about to be drowned again by our ignorance.

We need to educate each other to love the world around us. We need more Tompkins and Len Peters in the world. We must face the reality of our situation. We have to wake up before it's too late. The COVID pandemic has halted efforts to protect Earth. Money is tight, and people aren't donating to projects that help sustain the Earth. People are fighting for their lives, and the focus has changed to the people, not the plants. The pandemic is affecting every corner of the world and every organization in it. The fight will never be over to protect the planet but is it the planet that needs protecting? All my research this week has brought me to the conclusion that it all comes down to me and you. Every person can have an impact on this planet. You have to think if you want it to be negative or positive. Do you want to be part of the problem or the solution? What impressions will you make on the world? Do you want to look back on your life and see your contribution? Will your try and make a difference, or will you leave with only a carbon footprint?

Metta McLeod

May 30, 2021

Trending Now: Coronavirus: The Consequences for Tourism: https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-the-consequences-for-tourism/g-52696291

The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Safari Industry: https://www.safaribookings.com/blog/coronavirus-outbreak

COVID-19 Impact: Changes in Tourism:

https://www.sc.edu/uofsc/posts/2021/03/tourism_expert_talks_about_future_of_travel_industry_post_covid.php

Sources:

https://mashable.com/2017/12/11/blue-planet-ii-finale/

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/infographic-disability-impacts-all.html

https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2020/03/video

https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/biodiversity/biodiversity/

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/wonder-list-bill-weir-patagonia/index.html

https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/the-weight-of-water-what-to-know-about-adventurer-erik-weihenmayers-new-film/

"How dare you?!" Those words by Greta Thunberg quickly made news all over the world as she pleaded with the leaders at the United Nations conference in 2019. One brave girl trying to make a big difference. Are we listening, though? Are you making any changes to do your part? The world around us is struggling, and we all need to wake up. Tourism is experiences that leave impressions on people's lives. Connecting with others spreads knowledge and gives an exchange of ideas. The tourism industry has helped improve the lives of millions of people around the world. It creates jobs and brings in money to communities, but it also brings irreversible damages. It could make places throughout the world unsustainable. Without balance, tourism can create adverse environmental, economic, and cultural effects on the planet and humankind.

The environmental impact of tourism has had lasting effects on places around the world. Do tourists belong in the Amazon rainforest? Are they benefiting it or negatively impacting it? Too many people can disrupt the entire ecological state of the environment. People spread disease and leave trash. Should they be trampling in such a majestic place? As it shows in the movie Gringo Trails, the majestic beach of Haad Rin in Thailand went from rarely touched by outsiders to being littered with the trash of thousands of tourists. Is a good time worth it? Is making a few bucks worth losing such beauty?

The image above is of the beautiful beach of Haad Rin and the aftermath of one of their New Year’s parties.

As a Michigander, I began to think of my home, and the effects tourism is having. People come from all over the world to visit Michigan every year. According to Travel Michigan, tourists spend around 25 billion per year in Michigan. The top reason people come to Michigan is to see the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are precious, and when looking at the impact that pollution can have on an industry, we need to do our part to make sure we help follow the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). If our lakes are not clean and safe, people aren't going to visit them. For instance, the Flint water crisis. People all over the United States know about the contaminated water in Flint, and they are not going to be booking a trip to visit anytime soon. The hospitality industry is still suffering from this incident that began in 2014. If we don't take care of our Great Lakes, we aren't going to have a selling point anymore. Travelers will avoid us like the plague.

The image of the SDGs was found in a blog by Chris Hoy called, Can the SDGS be achieved by 2030? Chris Hoy shares his thoughts and makes some valid points. His blog can be found here: Can the SDGs be achieved by 2030?

Money makes the world go round. The economic impact that tourism brings to communities is life changing. The movie Gringo Trails shows how one man's terrifying experience created a whole tourism industry for that area. It helped their community and improved the lives of the people. The death toll lowered as the people gained wealth and were able to better themselves. Although tourism brings in money for the short term, what about the long-term effects? Some places aren't sustainable enough to handle so much pressure from people and all that comes with them. How profitable is it for a city that has to deal with the aftermath of the lasting damage that comes with tourists?

Besides the environmental and economic impact of tourism, there's also a cultural impact. "Tourism is really about selling nature and cultural heritage," says National Geographic Traveler editor Costas Christ. Cultural integration brings a swap of knowledge. It has helped the people of this planet grow. As shown in the documentary film Vendemmia, Bhutan, China, follows a philosophy called Gross National Happiness. Ideas like these help spread a culture of peace and unity. The GNP philosophy guides the government in Bhutan. Similar philosophies have been shared for centuries and it has made us better people. With the good influences of culture can also come the bad. People rub off on each other, and sometimes their worst traits influence others. As was also shown in the movie Vendemmia the people of Italy are desperately trying to preserve their culture. Once we immerse with others, we begin to lose a bit of ourselves. We must not lose who we are.

The above image is the Gross National Happiness 9 Domains of Measurement which was found at this site here.

Tourism is not going anywhere, and it all boils down to balance. People need to be educated on the importance of following the customs of other countries. To respect the people and the environment in which they visit. Once tourism is under control, it can be a wonderful experience for everyone. The hospitality industry needs to do its part to follow the SDGs to make sure they are helping make the world a better place. They can take part in better waste programs, recycle, replace old light bulbs, and fix leaking sinks to limit water waste. If the hospitality industry got on board with the world and did their part to follow the SDGs, it would profoundly reduce our carbon footprint. If everyone takes action, we can continue to visit new places or favorite getaways, as long as we remember to be informed tourists and not environmental terrorists.

Metta McLeod ~ May 24, 2021

Trending Now: SDG Update - May 24, 2021. http://sdg.iisd.org/sdg-update/

Also Trending Now: Six Young Activists Making Waves. https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2021/0521/1223023-6-young-climate-activists-making-waves/

Sources:

https://devpolicy.org/can-the-sdgs-be-achieved-by-2030-20150924/

https://gnhusa.org/gross-national-happiness/

https://greenglobaltravel.com/gn/

https://ophi.org.uk/policy/gross-national-happiness-index/

https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2019/05/2019-national-travel-and-tourism

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/full-moon-party-thailand-ends-7083649