Comments on: Six of the world’s most threatened wonders http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/13/six-of-the-worlds-most-threatened-wonders/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:52:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dan Linstead http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/13/six-of-the-worlds-most-threatened-wonders/#comment-135075 Dan Linstead Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:49:24 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2860#comment-135075 There are numerous package holidays to other resorts - Dahab has grown massively in the last decade (when I was last there in the early 90s it was still largely backpackers; now you can go with Thomas Cook) but is still a more sustainable option than Sharm. If you want more than beach/ dive, Bedouin Paths (www.bedouinpaths.com) are a highly recommended UK-based outfit. Or if you've got a bit more time, fly into Cairo and travel down independently - stay in a homestay or eco-lodge, use a local tour operator, get under the skin of the place... (Dan Linstead, editor, Wanderlust) There are numerous package holidays to other resorts – Dahab has grown massively in the last decade (when I was last there in the early 90s it was still largely backpackers; now you can go with Thomas Cook) but is still a more sustainable option than Sharm. If you want more than beach/ dive, Bedouin Paths (www.bedouinpaths.com) are a highly recommended UK-based outfit. Or if you’ve got a bit more time, fly into Cairo and travel down independently – stay in a homestay or eco-lodge, use a local tour operator, get under the skin of the place… (Dan Linstead, editor, Wanderlust)

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]]> By: Darren Cronian http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/13/six-of-the-worlds-most-threatened-wonders/#comment-135034 Darren Cronian Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:18:42 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2860#comment-135034 @ Dan Thank you for dropping by and commenting. Apologises too for the small misquote. The problem with say boycotting Sharm and instead going to a nearby destination is do the tour operators have package holidays there? I have never been to that area of the world so I am unsure. @ Dan

Thank you for dropping by and commenting. Apologises too for the small misquote. The problem with say boycotting Sharm and instead going to a nearby destination is do the tour operators have package holidays there?

I have never been to that area of the world so I am unsure.

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]]> By: Dan Linstead http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/13/six-of-the-worlds-most-threatened-wonders/#comment-135032 Dan Linstead Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:15:03 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2860#comment-135032 I'd like to respond on behalf of Wanderlust magazine. Just to clarify, we are recommending different courses of action for different destinations threatened by over-tourism or poor development. The Venice 3-day suggestion, for example, is to minimise the hordes of day trippers and cruise visitors who wear down the fabric of the city while contribute little or nothing to the local economy (hence need for huge advertising hoardings on St Mark's Sq, as discussed on this site previously). Sharm is a different story. This is indeed a purpose-built resort - nothing existed here before tourism, and everything is shipped in from outside. Hotels are largely owned by Cairo (or foreign) businessmen, and only an estimated 3% of tourism revenue stays in the local area. Because there is no 'real' infrastructure in Sharm, it is also massively wasteful, producing up to 10x the rubbish of other Sinai towns. So we are saying - boycott Sharm, and go to another Sinai destination (for example, nearby Dahab), where the local Bedouin are more actively involved in the tourism economy and you're not just lining the pockets of big businessmen and filling the Red Sea with litter. This kind of direct action is the way to put pressure on the local authorities to improve their act. I’d like to respond on behalf of Wanderlust magazine.

Just to clarify, we are recommending different courses of action for different destinations threatened by over-tourism or poor development. The Venice 3-day suggestion, for example, is to minimise the hordes of day trippers and cruise visitors who wear down the fabric of the city while contribute little or nothing to the local economy (hence need for huge advertising hoardings on St Mark’s Sq, as discussed on this site previously).

Sharm is a different story. This is indeed a purpose-built resort – nothing existed here before tourism, and everything is shipped in from outside. Hotels are largely owned by Cairo (or foreign) businessmen, and only an estimated 3% of tourism revenue stays in the local area. Because there is no ‘real’ infrastructure in Sharm, it is also massively wasteful, producing up to 10x the rubbish of other Sinai towns.

So we are saying – boycott Sharm, and go to another Sinai destination (for example, nearby Dahab), where the local Bedouin are more actively involved in the tourism economy and you’re not just lining the pockets of big businessmen and filling the Red Sea with litter. This kind of direct action is the way to put pressure on the local authorities to improve their act.

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]]> By: Darren Cronian http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/13/six-of-the-worlds-most-threatened-wonders/#comment-134892 Darren Cronian Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:55:10 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2860#comment-134892 @ Joanne Great points and great discussion everyone. Keep those thoughts and opinions coming in. @ Joanne

Great points and great discussion everyone. Keep those thoughts and opinions coming in.

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]]> By: Joanne http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/13/six-of-the-worlds-most-threatened-wonders/#comment-134888 Joanne Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:43:58 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2860#comment-134888 I think the original piece from Wanderlust which insists we boycott Sharm El Sheikh is both naiive and silly! This is a purpose built tourist resort. Boycotting this holiday destination would mean devestation for thousands of workers in the hotels/bars/restaurants etc. Although tourism has not been handled in these places in the best way, rash moves are not the best way to righten them. The local tourist board needs to think of ways to improve the offering and education is important. Would we leave a tap running or a light on all day at home? No, so why do so many people do it when on holiday. So many Egyptian peoples lives depends on us visiting their country. I am just picking this as an example. I think the original piece from Wanderlust which insists we boycott Sharm El Sheikh is both naiive and silly! This is a purpose built tourist resort. Boycotting this holiday destination would mean devestation for thousands of workers in the hotels/bars/restaurants etc.

Although tourism has not been handled in these places in the best way, rash moves are not the best way to righten them.

The local tourist board needs to think of ways to improve the offering and education is important. Would we leave a tap running or a light on all day at home?

No, so why do so many people do it when on holiday. So many Egyptian peoples lives depends on us visiting their country. I am just picking this as an example.

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