The tourism industry, one of the world's largest markets, turns over trillions of dollars every year. Globalization has made travel easier, but has also led to negative consequences for people, animals and nature. Fclay initiative trying to reverse the trend.
According to UN Tourism's latest World Tourism Barometer about 790 million tourists traveled internationally in the first seven months of 2024, about 11 percent more compared to the previous year. This increase is not only noticeable in popular tourist countries such as Greece, Spain and Italy. Äeven in the Arctic and Svalbard have the number of tourists increased significantly.
In the Arctic, the temperature increased twice as fast compared to the rest of the world in the last 50 years. The diminishing sea ice has led to improved opportunities for the extraction of minerals, oil and gas. Fishing and new shipping routes also risk affecting the marine ecosystem.
Udevelopmentare like this has led to an increase in "last chance tourism", travelers who want to experience places before they disappear. Unfortunately, that means increased tourism Often more litter and to sensitive ecow system, which coral reef, damaged by boats and snorkeling.
UNESCO Annual Report, World Heritage in Danger List, describes a worrying development for the world heritage site and wants to increase international awareness of the problem but also to encourage countermeasures. The report shows that some places and monuments are under great pressure from mass tourism. Tourists illegally climb monuments, steal parts, scribble and litter.
Initiative to secure more sustainable tourism
As a backlash to reports about the negative consequences of tourism, companies and organizations have begun to emerge that claim to promote sustainable tourism.
Global Sustainable Tourism Council establishes and manages global standards for sustainable travel based on the Agenda 2030. These standards focus on sustainability planning, benefiting the local community, preserving cultural heritage and to reduce environmental impact.
The tour operator Intrepid publishes annually Not Hot List which presents up to 10 lesser known ones alternative destinations to reduce pressure on overcrowded tourist areas. They arrange trips in smaller groups and work with local guides and locally owned accommodations to benefit the local community. Intrepid Foundation menat arr they work actively to promote nature, animals and to strengthen human rights.
Although Globalrunner's travels emphasizes that there is a close connection between fair travel and human rights. They believe that tourism can be a positive force that can strengthen destinations socially, economically and ecologically. Since 2021, they have chosen to offer trains instead of air travel.
Give-Paula Jonsson, researcher and future strategist, tells in a interview with SVT that there is actually a positive consequence of overtourism, namely that it can contribute to preserving cultural heritage.
- We have cultural heritage that is maintained by and can be built on thanks to over tourism, like La Sagrada de Familia in Barcelona. Where the proceeds go directly to the building, she says.
Dagens Nyheter recently listed several examples of various measures in a number of countries with the aim of slowing tourism's negative effects. Spain has introduced tourist tax and is marketing more about culture and history and less about clubs and beaches.
Italy has imposed restrictions on cruise ships, various bans at historic sites and bans on bringing sand from beaches. England, France and the Netherlands have restricted the letting of private homes, while Bali has imposed a ban on certain mountains and volcanoes.
Give-Paula Jonsson also gives practical suggestions on how you can become a more sustainable tourist in an episode of SVT's program The Foreign Office.
- By trying to find alternative accommodation instead of using permanent Airbnb, which in the long run has become a smaller home on the local housing market. Traveling outside the high season and trying to integrate into the local economy are other ways that can promote sustainable tourism, says Jonsson.
ABeing aware of the impact of tourism and choosing sustainable alternatives is a good prerequisite for being able to continue discovering the world while protecting it for future generations.
Curious to learn more? Here are some past articles on tourism from around the world:
Johannes Lindh in Jordan: "After the world heritage classification: Bedouins have been forcibly moved from Petra"
Sebastian Brandt in Albania: "Battle for tourists and birds on the coast of Albania"
Sara Lannebo in Armenia: "New hiking trail to promote tourism and outdoor life in Armenia"
Emily Swärd in Kenya on slum tours in Kiberia: "When addiction makes it difficult to criticize"
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