"I don't think we need to feel guilty at all. In many parts of the world, tourism is a key economic sector and an important driver of prosperity. Even so, certain factors deserve careful consideration in advance, particularly the environmental footprint of a trip and the pressures associated with overtourism."
"You should ask yourself: 'Do I really need to go to Athens in the middle of summer, when it's already overcrowded?' Switching to doing sightseeing in the off-season, if your circumstances allow, at least helps to ease the pressure on a location. You could also ask yourself whether there are alternative destinations that are just as interesting but less crowded."
"There is also undertourism—places whose residents would be delighted to welcome more visitors. Not far from overcrowded Barcelona, the city of Girona welcomes visitors. Many people in rural areas would like to see more tourism, while Barcelona clearly has too much of it."
Tourism presents moral dilemmas regarding carbon emissions and overtourism impacts, yet experts argue guilt is unnecessary. Tourism drives economic prosperity in many regions worldwide. Instead of avoiding travel, visitors should consider specific factors: traveling during off-season reduces pressure on overcrowded destinations, and choosing alternative locations with equal appeal but fewer visitors helps distribute tourism benefits. Some regions experience undertourism and would welcome more visitors. Examples include visiting Leipzig instead of Berlin or Girona instead of Barcelona. This approach allows travelers to support economies while minimizing environmental footprints and overtourism pressures.
Read at www.dw.com
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