What is Last-Chance Tourism?
And should you jump to be the last to see these locations?
You may have seen this new controversy in the media pop up, all about last-chance tourism, where people rush to see places around the world that are on the brink of disappearing due to climate change. Think melting ice caps, dying coral reefs or endangered species hangouts. It’s a race against time- gotta see it before it’s gone for good. Turns out, the earliest I could find news about this “last-chance” tourism is 1993, 30 years ago. This idea has been around for a while.
Before you book your tickets, let’s talk about why this whole idea is stirring up some controversy.
Beneath the glossy brochures lies a darker truth. Last-chance tourism, in many instances, serves as a smokescreen for the harsh realities of climate change. By focusing solely on the spectacle of disappearing landscapes, we risk overlooking the urgent need for systemic change to mitigate global warming. It's like to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic while ignoring the iceberg looming ahead.
The environmental footprint of tourism itself cannot be ignored. From carbon emissions from flights and transportation to the strain on local resources and ecosystems, tourism contributes significantly to global warming. So, by rushing to these last-chance destinations, we might actually be making the situation worse, the very thing we're trying to witness.
I personally see these headlines as marketing efforts for tour guides, airlines, and other places trying to capitalize on our eco-anxiety. But there’s two sides to this, there may be locations that may not exist in 5 years. So if you are truly interested in these locations, by all means, go! I know I’ll be visited locations that are on my bucket list- regardless of if they’ll be there in 5 or 10 years from now, because, who knows, I might not be here in 5 or 10 years.
During the lockdown in 2020, we saw nature return to locations we never thought we’d see before. And we’ve been able to revive the Great Barrier Reef- a location I was positive I’d never seen again. Going to the location just because it’s your last chance is dumb, go travel because you want to and act responsible while you’re there.