The Times, Jan 2009
Tourism is the biggest industry in the world. That means big social and environmental impacts. Think of all those flights, all that building development on unspoilt vistas, all that water usage from limited sources. So an economic downturn should be a good thing then?
Wrong. Yes the environmental footprint will go down (according to International Air Transport Association, who represent the airline industry, in November 2008 airlines saw a drop of 4.6 percent in passengers), however there are two sides to this coin. And perhaps more worrying, certainly in the immediate term, are the number of people around the world who are dependent on tourism to survive. As the world’s economy moves into a recession, the social impacts of a decline in tourism (such as the jobs it provides and the investment it encourages) will quickly come into focus for many.
Without the jobs and economic stimulus tourism provides, many communities are likely to turn to other activities to make ends meet and these may lead to activities that have impacts far worse for the environment and society. Just think about it - local communities that were once working with safari operators to conserve their land for wildlife may be forced to return to farming and hunting to survive. Or worse, they may have nothing to turn to at all. It may be a small example, but you get the point.
However, by focusing on the impacts of the industry we miss one of the real social impacts of the holiday – the impact on you. It is important not to underestimate the social role of the holiday for the people taking it. Having time to get away from the stress of a recession is likely to be crucial in the coming months. But it is not just about recharging your batteries. It is also about gaining a greater understanding of other cultures (in today’s survey 70% said it was important to experience cultures in other countries) and broadening your horizons.
So the next time you worry about whether to take a holiday or not, don’t just think of the social benefit you might be giving the world, think about the social benefit the world might be giving you.
