Last Chance Tourism has come to prevalence. A site either has to be closed for preservation or is endangered of being destroyed by climate change. Then people flock to the place, as it might be their last chance to see it. 

The most famous examples of this in action are Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Antarctica’s ice sheets, the Galapagos Islands, and the Maldives. Many travelers who visit places like these say they are more conscious of their environmental impact. 80% of visitors at the Mer de Glace, a threatened glacier in the French Alps, said that they would learn more about protecting the environment. Visiting threatened places can raise awareness of human impact on the environment and can lead to preventing it. 

However, tourism also causes a lot of negative impact on these places. Travel itself causes a lot of carbon dioxide emissions. Tourists also litter, can spread invasive species, and damage the ecosystem. Before almost any Colorado hiking trail there will be a sign to check shoes and clothing for burrs, seeds, etc. before entering or exiting, but most people don’t. Tourism can have as bad as a good impact on these places. 

The most important thing to consider before visiting a safe place is to practice safe tourism. Know all of the regulations and controls before visiting there. Is there a place to throw away trash, or do I have to carry it with me? What is allowed there? That way, these places can still be appreciated, but also preserved. Instead of visiting them because they might be gone, visit them because you can keep them for the future. 

Cites

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/03/briefing/last-chance-tourism.html

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249024088_Last-chance_tourism_The_boom_doom_and_gloom_of_visiting_vanishing_destinations

https://www.adventuretravelnews.com/theres-a-reason-why-last-chance-tourism-happens-but-we-still-need-to-talk-about-it

https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2016-5-september-october/green-life/paradox-last-chance-tourism

https://hub.wtm.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Barrier-Reef-edit.jpg