April 22, 2021

How pandemic tourism damages the environment

topic:	Conservation
located:	Bosnia and Herzegovina
editor:	Katarina Panić

"If someone had ever told me that I would regret the growth in the number of tourists, I would not have believed him. This is exactly what has happened now, in the first year of the coronavirus," Božidar Nikoletić, director of the Kozara National Park, told FairPlanet. "It is not only our experience here in Bosnia. The same is also noticed in neighbours, in national parks in Serbia and Croatia," he added.

The mountain saw an increase in the number of tourists by some 30 per cent compared to the last ten years’ average.

"At first, we were happy. It was quite a chaotic time. The lockdowns, curfews, everyone was afraid of what brings tomorrow. And we started to record growth. Our joy did not last long," Nikoletić said. 

Once the pandemic started, travel restrictions were imposed, and public gatherings were limited. People who used to travel abroad couldn't cross borders anymore. The cafes and restaurants were closed, and people who used to spend their time there couldn't hang out indoors. 

Many of them began to go out into nature. It turned out that they were practically forced to spend their time outdoors. Moreover, it appeared that they do not love nature; they neither understand nor appreciate nature, and don't recognise or enjoy its benefits.

"On the contrary, they make things worse. Soon we found out they are a sort of pressure on the area, especially for protected zones,” Nikoletić explained. “We realised the difference between our old, environmental-friendly visitors who used to come here all the time because they wanted to and newcomers who are here because they are forbidden to be somewhere else. Kozara National Park doesn't need visitors who leave the garbage in the wood[s] or wherever they step.”

Local mountaineering associations now and then call activists to join them to collect the garbage. They regularly publish pictures of full bags on social networks with the message: "Let's show the garbage the way to the container." 

Today is Earth Day, and  I am going to Kozara mountain to cover the event organised by the UNDP titled Go Green initiative. 

"Governments and citizens lack awareness that they are part of the solution and that simple things such as planting a tree can create a significant impact if done on a large scale and a regular basis ", UNDP stated. 

In Bosnia, 40 municipalities are in so far. Each will plant 1,000 trees. One is waiting for me.

Image: Spomenik Database. 

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