Tourists’ money verses environmental vandalism

Everyone looks forward to a well earned holiday or rest from every day grind, apart from the usual annual two weeks away, most try snatch a few days here and there such as a short sunshine break, visiting family and friends or even a brief Caribbean cruise. However, the majority of holiday makers would probably jump at the chance to visit some of the world’s most famous land marks, budget permitting.

 

This applies to the more mature traveler, who can now take advantage of more time on their hands and in many cases, have built up a nest egg allowing them to travel in style. They are more likely to recognise the importance of taking the correct level travel insurance. Over 75’s sense of adventure doesn’t diminish but they know it’s better to be safe than being sorry.

 

Ironically just as we want to see the wonders of the world, this ‘better safe than sorry’ attitude seems to have been adopted by many of the authorities and residents who live close to these world heritage sites and historical cities. Whereas safety and precautions should never be scoffed at, it’s frustrating and at the same time understandable, that steps are being taken to limit access to many of the world’s treasures in order to preserve them for future generations.

 

When one considers environmental damage to place of natural beauty or historical importance its easy to dismiss it particularly in connection with older tourists, who in general will be well behaved and considerate of the environment around them and cautious, particularly when it comes to safety and wellbeing including travel insurance. Over 75’s are hardly expected to indulge in willful vandalism however their very presence could hasten the demise of many a wondrous monument.

 

Think of the Machu Picchu (the Peruvian Inca city) and only recently it was announced by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities that access to the tombs in the Valley of King’s, Luxor would need to be heavily restricted as the sheer volume of tourists were harming the very items they have come to see, merely by breathing over them.

 

Venice has recently raised its head above the parapet with regards to limiting tourism, with the minister in charge of public transport proposing that visitors must pre-book their visit to in order to prevent overcrowding in the Renaissance Square and numerous winding narrow streets.

 

It is not only official bodies that are taking exception to the floods of tourists ruining historical sites, last month Chilean protestors decided to set up camp on a runway in protest to the number of foreign arrivals (over 60,000 each year), who fly in to Easter Island. However, the protestors must overcome the dichotomy between the need for tourist dollars and need to protect the environment from the effects of over crowding.

 

Similar problems are also now occurring in the Pitcairn Islands and residents are pushing for an introduction of limits on tourism, similar to the system already in operation by the Galápagos Islands. However, the tiny volcanic rock that is Easter Island is also a major stopover from Chile to the pacific island of Tahiti, which doesn’t hold out much hope for a mutually beneficial agreement, however the government has now agreed to talks.

 

To many tourists the ecological concerns may seem irrelevant, as how much damage can one tourist do? The answer is that they are ruining the very unspoiled beauty they came to see. Scientists recently discovered mosquitos carrying avian malaria had arrived on the Galápagos Islands by hitching a ride and the results could prove catastrophic to the delicate eco system.

 

For more information about Staysure’s travel insurance over 75’s policies visit the website at www.staysure.co.uk