Ethics of travel after a natural disaster

[armchairtraveler]

In the era of climate change, I think this topic is going to come up more and more.

Some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations — Turkey, Greece, Hawaii and, now, Morocco — have been ravaged by disaster this year, with earthquakes, wildfires and floods razing entire towns and villages, killing residents, and destroying or damaging cultural monuments.

The series of catastrophic events has left many tourists in a conundrum over how to respond. Those already in a country in the wake of a disaster debate whether they should stay or leave. Those with upcoming trips wonder if they should cancel. Can they and the revenue they bring in be of any real help, or will they be a burden? How appropriate is it to let tourism go on while a nation is in a state of collective mourning and rescue efforts are under way?

In Morocco, however, where a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Atlas Mountains southwest of Marrakech on Friday, killing thousands, the outlook is more unified. With the high tourism season under way and most of the destruction affecting rural areas far from tourist hot spots, many locals are eager for foreign visitors to keep coming so that they can support the economy and bring in funds for relief efforts.

After Morocco quake, tourists grapple with the ethics of travel

Each disaster’s impact is unique, and travelers are usually advised to follow the guidance of government officials in the aftermath of such events.

www.japantimes.co.jp