Can imposing visitor limits and adopting sustainable practices help rejuvenate local ecosystems damaged by mass tourism?
Tourism contributes to approximately 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, with nearly half of them originating from air travel. Despite economic challenges, such as high inflation, energy crises linked to the Ukraine conflict, and climate change-induced wildfires, post-pandemic tourism has seen record-breaking numbers, exemplified by Greece welcoming one million visitors per week during the summer of 2022.
The issue of overtourism has compelled the tourism industry to take action, drawing inspiration from sustainable tourism pioneers. One notable case is the restoration of Maya Bay in Thailand, which gained global fame as a filming location for “The Beach.” Overcrowding, pollution, and damage to coral reefs prompted its closure in 2018, followed by an ambitious coral rehabilitation project. Visitor numbers have since been significantly reduced, contributing to the success of marine conservation efforts.
In Bhutan, the concept of “high-value, low-volume” tourism has been embraced for decades, supported by a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF). This fee, initially $65, has been invested in conservation, afforestation, trail maintenance, and sustainable transportation. Bhutan’s carbon-negative status and climate resilience are outcomes of this approach. While the government raised the daily fee in 2022 to offset tourism emissions, a subsequent reduction to $100 aimed to stimulate tourism while maintaining climate goals.
Costa Rica has achieved remarkable success in reversing deforestation through sustainable tourism. The introduction of the Certification for Sustainable Tourism in 1997 encouraged low-impact resorts and eco-lodges, attracting environmentally conscious travellers. These efforts have helped Costa Rica restore over half of its forest cover and obtain more than 98% of its energy from renewable sources.
Mallorca, on the other hand, faces challenges as an immensely popular tourist destination. The island’s tourism boom has contributed significantly to global warming, prompting the government to take action. A 2022 tourism law targets energy efficiency and CO2 reduction in hotels, bans single-use plastics, and encourages water-saving measures. Additionally, a daily eco-tourism tax, reinvested in sustainability initiatives such as seagrass meadow restoration, seeks to mitigate the environmental impact of tourism. However, local environmentalists remain concerned about the sustainability of Mallorca’s tourism industry in the face of rising visitor numbers and flights.
