THE relationship between the environment and travel and tourism has been under the spotlight a great deal in recent years and in all the debate and discussion one thing is abundantly clear: the time is coming when destinations that are not wholly sustainable and driven by environmentally-friendly practices will not only lose business, but will also be boycotted by travellers.
There are people who believe this may be a long way off, but the signs are there that environmental red flags may be introduced within the next two or three years and that absolute bans on travel to specified countries or areas may become standard practice well before 2030.
An internationally-accepted definition of what is a suitable destination has yet to be created, but no doubt within the next few years we shall see the drafting and codifying of international standards and rules.
Once this happens it will become hard to reverse any such moves and the choice for a destination will be simple: fall in line or stay in the cold. International agreement on anything is often hard to achieve, since different peoples, countries, regions and continents have varying opinions on just about everything.
However, the rapid growth of environmental activism — ranging from the sensible to the ludicrous — has been phenomenal and younger people are especially determined to define what is ‘green and acceptable’ and pillory that which is not.
I am very sceptical on a wide range of issues that are often described as non-challengeable and non-negotiable, but this kind of scepticism and the thorough evaluation that sceptics usually demand are now seen as oldfashioned, unprogressive and reactionary.
There does seem to be a headlong rush into creating positions that are regarded as being indisputable, beyond reproach and gospel truth. This may be foolish or dangerous, given that history shows positions of local or international policy and standards have often in hindsight been wrongly taken and proved wrong.
However, what is clear is that all of this is indeed coming and those people and organisations interested in the growth and development should already be working on scenario planning and trends analysis so that positions adopted in time to come are reasonable, positive and constructive and not simply destructive.
The Covid-19 crisis has shown clearly that knee-jerk reactions, blind policy-making and imposition of practices that seem right can often — some say always — result in disastrous situations.
The kickback now against lockdown, face masks and all the other features of the Covid era is now very strong and it is possible that some decision makers and policy makers may at best be condemned or at worst jailed for their roles in the Covid response mechanisms.
With regard to the environment there are certain positions that are clear and that are agreed to by everyone.
First, that our environment is under threat as never before; second, that preventive measures should be taken; third, that everyone must play a part in reversing environmental decline and, fourth, that this must happen now and not at a later stage.
Where there is disagreement is on how to move forward and although international laws and policies are discussed, drafted and implemented, there is huge disagreement on all of these. With regard to travel and tourism what needs to be understood is that almost all travel and tourism depends on the environment for its existence.
Here in Zimbabwe we know that our natural resources are what we have to offer tourists, whether domestic, regional or international. What should follow is careful and well-considered action to ensure that ‘sustainability’ if not a word that people use to look good but is a concept understood and wholly supported by real action and not by words alone.
Travel and tourism people and organisations must become fully active in all that is happening and is to come. It is incumbent on them to take the lead and not simply become responsive to other people’s words and actions.
To lead the dialogue, to start the work, to take the action and to be in the forefront always and everywhere is to be responsible and sensible — and also to be the leaders and winners. We Zimbabweans pride ourselves in being environmentally sensitive, but I pose the question here: is this true or are we fooling ourselves or others, for whatever purpose?
I could also ask such questions as: why is there so much litter all over our country, are we overdeveloping places best left undeveloped, is the Victoria Falls area in danger of becoming a concrete jungle devoid of the natural resources that have made it a visitor paradise, are we destroying our wetlands and other hitherto valued natural resources, have we become focused on development entirely at the expense of the resources that we still have available to us?
It’s not possible in a column like this to make all the statements and to know all the answers or to pretend to know even more than a fraction of what needs to be known and understood.
However, I’d like to challenge readers to engage in the debate and to purposefully enter this debate with ideas, suggestions and conversation that make us all think and which lead to the right kind of action. And I’d like to say to the travel and tourism sector in Zimbabwe: don’t wait to start the discussion and take the action.