Travel torn

Is tourism good or bad? Ask those who design campaigns like Incredible India and they will clearly say it is a good thing — a country’s history, heritage and natural beauty are there to be shared and besides bring in lots of money too.

But environmentalists worry about the influx of tourism, and we are not talking about all that vandalism of the “Bunty loves Sweety” kind of legend inscribed on monuments.

In Egypt they are really concerned. The mummies of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt which have survived for thousands of years are now in danger of losing their resting places. The millions of tourists who flock to the Valley of Kings and Valley of Queens in Luxor near Cairo have generated humidity and caused fungus in the monuments endangering their very existence. It is projected that these apparently timeless monuments could disappear in the future because of the wear and tear induced by the curious travellers.

Egypt’s supreme council of antiquities wants to take some of these places off the tourist map in order to preserve them.

This could become a trend at a time when ecological anxieties are on the rise. It is not just natural habitats but also historical sites which will need to be protected from the milling crowds.

The keepers of the famous Macchu Picchu in Peru are planning to stop people from climbing the site. Marine environmentalists say too much deep sea diving is destroying corals. But is it feasible or even possible to restrict tourism?

Apart from the enormous revenue that tourism generates — some countries survive on it — won’t it create withdrawal symptoms among travellers across the world? The middle-class family, the adventure enthusiast, the history buff are now addicted to travel — they want new places to see, new seas to explore and new shops to buy from. Where will all that leisure and extra cash be expended?

But governments will have to take a call. They cannot kill off the hen that lays golden eggs year after year. Some kind of middle ground will have to be found. Restrictions will have to be imposed where the damage appears to be threatening the very existence of the attraction. Already some monuments are being cordoned off.

Bhutan, conscious of its fragile ecology takes in only a few tourists every year. And in these times when airline travel is becoming a pain, try a staycation, a vacation where you stay at home.