Just last week a shocking video became viral in social media, a video that reminds us about what we actually can do for nature.
Thailand’s bucket list, Maya Bay has implemented a restriction policy due to, that place had already off-limits for tourists. Maya Bay became tourist’s bucket list because “The Beach”, a 2000 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
This policy has been implemented since October and will be three months closed to recover. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said that the bay needs more time to recover.
Ever since Maya Bay closed indefinitely the impact for the nature is incredible, the waters have become clear and Black-tipped reef sharks have returned. Bottom line, the nature begin to recover.
As we can see the video about the impact of tourist restriction there is one question, should this policy also implemented in many places to support sustainable tourism and recovering the nature after many beaches and bays have been damaged because of tourists ?
If we talk about tourists problem, we can talk about how bad the damage for the nature. The litters and coral reefs which also damaged by tourists.
Yep, there are many litters or rubbish thrown irresponsibly and also many coral reefs have been damaged because of the tourists didn’t know how to enjoy it without damaging it.
If we see the tourists perspective, they surely do need to do vacation and see the nature. However if the tourist site began to over capacity, there will be a problem. In the other side, nature also needs to recovers itself.
Talking about the benefit from tourists who come to one place, for instance Maya Bay, tourists have a great contribution for the economy, obviously. But we have to aware that some tourists are damaging the nature as well.
The video above is a big slap for both some tourists and some tourism management who are ignorant towards the nature.
Back to the question, “should some places implement what Thailand’s government have done to recover the nature ?”
To answer this question, maybe we can have three solution with some condition applied,
First, NO, we don’t have to follow the restriction policy if…and BIG IF… we can manage it really well by making a strict law/regulation with punishment. For example the litter, people have to put the rubbish they made in trash can and those who don’t follow get the punishment or a high amount of fine. To support this rule, there must be many trash cans in every corner.
Sounds easy right? But the implementation will not be that easy since the behavior of “throwing rubbish-anywhere-they can” is still stick in the personal behavior. People do will get angry when they got the punishment and they will deny it by saying “many people do the same thing” as their defence.
Second, YES, if we want to recover the nature wholeheartedly. But there will be people against because the economic factor. Their income and their life depend on tourists who come and buy their products or use their services.
This is like what happens in our daily life, in one side we hate company cut down our trees, but in one side we waste many tissues and papers. In one side we hate plastic waste which makes environment damaged, but in the other side we still use plastic straws and plastics bags irresponsibly.
Third, MAYBE we can make open the tourists site in some times and close it in the other times. For instance the tourists site can open in January – March, then closed since April – June, then open again in July - September and close again in October – December. So that the nature can have 3 months to recover.
In the end, we are the one who responsible for our nature’s sustainable. In the other side, we also damaging the nature. So if we want our children and grandchildren to see and enjoy what we have been enjoyed in this world, we have to act responsibly. Because if we keep destroying the nature, there will be nothing left for our generation.
source :
World Economic Forum | CNN Traveler | Standard.co.uk
