Last Chance Tourism - Tourism in a Changing Landscape
You have likely come across articles selling you holidays to ''at risk'' destinations with headlines such as:
Since the 1990s mainstream literature and media has been alerting the public of disappearing environments (Lemelin, 2013). With the constant growth of tourism it is pressing to understand the sector's role as ''both a victim and cause of global climate change'' (Schweinsberg, 2020). There is an urgent need to acknowledge the link between tourism and climate change.
Glaciers in particular are an important component of the world tourism system, proving to be profitable tourist destinations even in the most remote regions (Wang, 2019). However, their high vulnerability to climate change puts glacier tourism as an industry in the 21st century at risk.
Last Chance Tourism, Doom Tourism, Disappearing Tourism all allow tourists to experience disappearing landscapes and other endangered natural or historical sites, appealing to tourists' desire to be the last to witness these phenomena before they vanish or are irreversibly changed. Mt. Kilimanjaro is one of the most advertised sites, being the biggest contributor to Tanzania's tourism revenue (72% of this total), attracting approximately 300000 tourists per year.
While last chance tourism can provide more revenue to locals - who often serve as tour guides or cooks - and help raise awareness of the glaciers' rapid retreat, it can also intensify the effects by attracting too many visitors in a short amount of time, eventually resulting in a decrease in tourist numbers due to the melting of snow and ice and having a disproportionate impact on the functioning of the local tourism industry (Kilungu, 2019).
Impact on Local Geographies
Environmental Degradation
Climate change leading to an increase number of visitors has also led to exacerbated environmental degradation of the area, and, most importantly, introduced a number of alien plant species by climbers dispersing the plants' seeds through mud stuck on shoes (Hemp, 2008). While much of media coverage focuses on Mt Kilimanjaro climbing routes, this problem also pertains to regions like Mt Meru in Tanzania or Mt Elgon in Kenya.
Although rapid glacial recession has brought short term benefits to the local economies, Tanzania is in fact facing issues like global recession decreasing tourism, limited water resources threatening agriculture, and a growing population in need of more food and jobs to tackle underemployment amongst youths. Protecting one of Tanzania's most important resources, Mt. Kilimanjaro, is crucial to supporting future generations. It is urgent to anticipate and adapt to the ramifications of the changing landscapes through a better understanding of the long term impact (Wang, 2019).
Unfortunately, Tanzania's management plan and tourism policy does not identify climate change as an important factor and current adaptation plans do not view tourism as a key sector (Kilungu, 2019). Thus, scientific research should draw attention to the lack of mountain management plans in East Africa. Some suggestions have been made regarding the mitigation of the problems, including the cautious management of its forest cover, shifting the attractions to the growing heathlands (Kilungu, 2019).
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