While some of my town folks are sulking at the fact that the rainy season signals the decline in the tourist traffic in our town, here I am rejoicing. I really should thank the rainy season for making the trails and roads less appealing with the mud and the increased difficulty to travel. While some might hate the rains for pulling down their sales and sources of income, I think nature deserves this opportunity to breathe after getting battered.
Having witnessed first hand how tourists of all sorts flocked to a small town, I cringe at the thought of how exhausted Mother Earth must be for accommodating so much. Use a machine continuously and the life span will surely decrease. What more for the elements in our environment that take time to rejuvenate? Unlike machines, both biotic and abiotic components lack the luxury of immediate replacement when damaged.
I am hoping that even when the establishments and individuals directly depending on the tourism for income source are saddened by the rains, they will still appreciate the fact that Mother Nature needs this break. I am also hoping that the local government in partnership with private groups initiate an assessment of the areas that are critically affected and impose closure of these areas to facilitate self-healing. I believe these make our approach to tourism more systematic and sustainable.
The key to not losing the place we call home to tourism is active local community involvement and scientific approach in managing the demons that come with it. Let us not be blinded by the short term gains that we currently enjoy- there is no greater gain in life than seeing the future generation enjoy and enrich what you have enjoyed in your time. Taking care of the environment does not require more than that desire to stop being selfish and care for humanity as a whole. Adi tako bukudan nan gawis.
Having witnessed first hand how tourists of all sorts flocked to a small town, I cringe at the thought of how exhausted Mother Earth must be for accommodating so much. Use a machine continuously and the life span will surely decrease. What more for the elements in our environment that take time to rejuvenate? Unlike machines, both biotic and abiotic components lack the luxury of immediate replacement when damaged.
I am hoping that even when the establishments and individuals directly depending on the tourism for income source are saddened by the rains, they will still appreciate the fact that Mother Nature needs this break. I am also hoping that the local government in partnership with private groups initiate an assessment of the areas that are critically affected and impose closure of these areas to facilitate self-healing. I believe these make our approach to tourism more systematic and sustainable.
The key to not losing the place we call home to tourism is active local community involvement and scientific approach in managing the demons that come with it. Let us not be blinded by the short term gains that we currently enjoy- there is no greater gain in life than seeing the future generation enjoy and enrich what you have enjoyed in your time. Taking care of the environment does not require more than that desire to stop being selfish and care for humanity as a whole. Adi tako bukudan nan gawis.
