Tourism is one of the fastest growing
industrial sectors world wide, and a top generator of revenue. Some countries like Egypt, Kenya
or the Maldives are heavily dependent on tourism. While expansion of tourism creates new jobs
and makes some people rich, the downside becomes more and more visible: it leads at least to
a partial destruction of the natural environment and habitat of many creatures. All divers, whether
they acknowledge it or not, are only adding to the problem, especially when they are untrained,
keen, race after and touch everything and, worst of all, when they can't control their buoyancy
and their fins. There's tons of divers with a profile like that out there, and it would be well, if we
all checked ourselves all the time if we are really able to go down there. But tourism also leads
to building and building leads to destruction. Places like the Maldives or Cozumel in Mexico, to
name only two, are known for their reckless expansion and almost limitless destruction of coastal
areas and reefs in the name of tourism. Below, you will find some facts about water tourism around
the world, which will hopefully heighten your awareness of your responsibility towards nature and
the other inhabitants wanting to live there. In the water as well as on land, your motto should always
be to "leave no traces". |
|
|
|
|
 |
In order to add an air of Africa or a breeze from the ocean, thousands of animals protected
under international law are being killed, adorned with stupid accessories and sold to tourists worlwide. Three quarters
of the total of these kinds of souvenirs are taken from the oceans., especially hard and soft corals, giant clams and snails.
Turtles are much sought-after commodities, prepared as stuffed animals or alive. Souvenir shops sell these items to tourists
who do not know or do not care that these animals are protected because they are endangered. Smuggling these animals
knowingly or unknowingly is a crime and will be treated as such by customs officers. Buying these items under any circumstances
and regardless of reasons and excuses leads only to further "production" of such debased animal souvenirs. |
|
| What you can do:
Never buy any animal souvenirs at all. Make sure that you are not taking souvenirs yourself, when you are not sure about
customs regulations. Such souvenirs are always a loss to the environment, and very often, the animals are being killed particularly
for this purpose. |
|
|
