REVENGE TRAVEL: When travel goals become everybody’s goals

Photo Credits: https://www.vistalandinternational com/blog/gearing-up-for-revenge-travel-philippines-edition

People were enjoying fun and ­adventure before ­pandemic.  When ­lockdown ­happened in 2020, all of a sudden we were glued in our homes and not a single travel ­itinerary took place for two years.

It took some time before travel deals and promos were enjoyed by explorers this year, just in time for coping with extreme hot weather in the country.

Last year, when World Health Organization (WHO) declared “’with great hope’ an end to Covid19 as a public health emergency,” people brought their travel boards and maps.

It was like revenge.

Local and international tourists became frantic. It was a breeze that finally the chance to travel once again will materialize. In the beginning, people were worried about price ranges, it was costly.

Slowly, pretty offers were being felt until tourism, hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies gave in.  But still in some parts of the globe, the fee is still exorbitant.

The explorers knew the value of travelling by group; the more tourists travelling by group, the lesser the value per head.

Now, this is exactly the revenge.

More tourists will mean more flights, more accommodations, more people to feed and entertain.  The influx of tourists in one local destination will challenge the services and accommodation.

In mid-80s, this was the case in Puerto Galera, it became a crowded beach destination, being the nearest in Luzon, which led to backyard tourism during those times.

Now come 2024, Boracay became the most crowded beach, preferred by local and

international tourists.  But at what expense?

For one, Boracay needs to improve its sewage system, the presence of green algae is an indicator of nutrient pollution loading. But folks will tell otherwise, come rainy season, the green algae will disappear.

In an island like Boracay, this can be addressed by limiting the number of tourists so as not to degrade the whole island.  The more tourists, the more there is a need to manage the waste properly and sewage treatment practices.

Outdoor showers, lotions, sunblocks and people urinating in the beach are contributories in green algal bloom in Boracay. For more than two decades now, everyone must not only be alarmed by what they see along the coastal of Boracay, the revenge should be translated into positive actions not just fun and adventure.

To enjoy Boracay, other beach destinations and mountainous regions in the country, tourists must be ready to be socially res­ponsible.  The mantra of any tourist must be, “I am responsible in protecting this beautiful paradise.”

This is going to be the greatest revenge of any tourist, a kind of travel goal by heart, admire the beauty but not ruin the wonderful destination in the country.

– RIZA ZUNIGA