{"id":14432,"date":"2020-04-13T05:43:26","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T08:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/?page_id=14432"},"modified":"2024-06-03T21:02:25","modified_gmt":"2024-06-04T00:02:25","slug":"what-impact-can-a-tourist-visit-to-a-glacier-have","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/what-impact-can-a-tourist-visit-to-a-glacier-have\/","title":{"rendered":"What impact can a tourist visit to a glacier have?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.3″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”DSC_7608″ background_image=”https:\/\/glaciareschilenoss3.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/09145056\/DSC_7608-1.jpg” background_enable_mask_style=”on” background_mask_style=”diagonal-bars” background_mask_color=”#FFFFFF” sticky_enabled=”0″ disabled_on=”on|off|off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/faq\/” button_text=”PREGUNTAS GLACIARES” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”20px” button_font=”|700|||||||” button_use_icon=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_heading title=”What impact can a tourist visit to a glacier have?” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”35px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”17px|17px|17px|17px|true|true” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Desperate to get a view of those impressive glaciers before they disappear from view? You aren\u2019t alone. Throughout many parts of the European Alps 1<\/sup>, China 2<\/sup>, New Zealand 3<\/sup> and North America 1<\/sup>, increasing numbers of people are flocking to see what soon might not be there\u2026 or at least what might be a shadow of its former glory. This of course is a double-edged sword in the sense that it may be both enlightening people to the environmental problems we face as a species while simultaneously exacerbating the problem itself.<\/p>\n

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\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unpleasant to accept that while you\u2019re traveling to a destination before it disappears, you\u2019re in fact destroying it.\u201d \u2013 Mark Groulx<\/i> 1<\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_4″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” custom_padding=”||||true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Visitor numbers for glaciated regions are sometimes difficult to quantify, but there is clear evidence of increasing annual visitor numbers to parts of Chilean Patagonia, for example, and the case of the famous Torres del Paine National Park is an obvious one to mention. Annual numbers to the park have fluctuated from around 6,000 in the middle of the 1980s, to more than 250,000 in 2017 4<\/sup>. This is, of course, great news for all of us nature loving (even potentially eco-) tourists. We get to breathe in the fresh Patagonian air and the amazing sights, hopefully learning something about the landscape and its changes in the process\u2026 with stories and photos for our loved ones back home. But this comes at the expense of the future of these pristine places\u2026<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

…perhaps even for the people to whom we show the photos?<\/p>\n

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Environmental awareness:<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

This is dependent upon how the tourism company engages with its clients and what experiences the tourists have. Hikers primarily search for the beauty of the glaciers, but have \u201cpoor knowledge of the site\u2019s geomorphology, and have some difficulties in seeing the glacial retreat in the landscape\u201d 5<\/sup> and in the larger global context. In combination with the rise of attention in the media, education about changes to glaciers and their importance to society may help to strengthen public opinion about the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” custom_padding=”17px|17px|17px|17px|true|true” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Regional tourist income:<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Like many tourist destinations, the influx of visitors can help local economies and bring development to areas that may have otherwise been under-developed. In the case of Torres del Paine, most tourists fly to, and invest in local business in Punta Arenas, transfer to Puerto Natales by bus, stay in Puerto Natales and subsequently transfer to the park. Tourism companies that operate glacier hikes, boat circuits and kayaking in front of the impressive Grey Glacier additionally generate income for locals. Entrance fees to the park alone have been key in providing a central source of financing for the maintenance of protected areas which people come to see.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_heading title=”Negative impacts of glacier tourism :(” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”Montserrat|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” custom_padding=”10px||5px||false|false” title_text_color=”#b72619″ border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” custom_padding=”17px|17px|17px|17px|true|true” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Damage and pollution:<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Perhaps a smaller impact, but the greater the number of people that want to visit a glacier or national park that has glaciers, the more damage comes to the natural environment. These damages may not directly affect the glaciers, but may impact the surrounding environment, such as increases in erosion, litter and wildfires 6<\/sup>. Fires may in fact contribute to further melting of glacier ice 7<\/sup>, though the full effects of tourism on this process is not completely quantified.<\/p>\n

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Emissions and climate change:<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Easily the most damaging impact of global and \u2018last chance\u2019 tourism is its carbon footprint. People travel half way across the world to see glacier sights like that in Torres del Paine or Perito Moreno glacier, and this can have a huge environmental impact. Approximately 2% of total worldwide emissions are from aviation alone 8<\/sup>, and while this may not sound huge, this contribution is set to rise along with greater social mobility and disposable income. Put a different way, it is estimated that every round-trip trans-Atlantic flight emits enough carbon dioxide to melt 30 square feet (~9 m2<\/sup>) of Arctic sea ice<\/a> 8<\/sup>. Multiply that by the number of long haul flights in a day\u2026 and this adds up! Check out Flight Radar<\/a> for a view of all the planes in the sky right now!
On top of emissions from planes alone, all of the buses, cars and boats passing to connect tourists with their glacier destinations also drives up local pollution and has its contribution.<\/p>\n

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Cited information:<\/strong><\/h6>\n
\n

1<\/sup> \u201cPeople are flocking to see melting glaciers before they\u2019re gone – bringing both benefit and harm\u201d (2019). Ensia [on-line].\u00a0 Available at: https:\/\/ensia.com\/features\/melting-glaciers-tourism-impacts\/<\/a> (last access 07\/08\/2019)
2<\/sup> Wang, S-J., Zhou, L-Y (2019) Integrated impacts of climate change on glacier tourism Advances in Climate Change Research<\/a>. Volume 10, Issue 2, June 2019, Pages 71-79 https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.accre.2019.06.006<\/a>
3<\/sup> Purdie, H., (2013) Glacier Retreat and Tourism: Insights from New Zealand. Mountain Research and Development. Vol 33 No 4 Nov 2013: pp 463\u2013472
4<\/sup> Jos\u00e9 Barrena Ruiz, Machiel Lamers, Simon Bush & Gustavo Blanco Wells (2019) Governing nature-based tourism mobility in National Park Torres del Paine, Chilean Southern Patagonia, Mobilities, DOI: 10.1080\/17450101.2019.1614335<\/a>
5<\/sup> Welling, J., T., (2014) Glacier tourism research \u2010 summary of literature scoping. Icelandic Tourism Research Centre. [on-line]. Available at: http:\/\/www.rmf.is\/static\/research\/files\/1460989699-draft-report-irmf-2014-final-for-printpdf<\/a> (Last access 07\/08\/2019)
6<\/sup> \u201cIrresponsible Tourism and the Forest Fire in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile\u201d (2012) [on-line]. Available at: https:\/\/www.thetravelword.com\/2012\/02\/06\/irresponsible-tourism-and-the-forest-fire-in-torres-del-paine-national-park-chile-2\/<\/a> (Last access: 07\/08\/2019)
7<\/sup> Keegan, K., M., Albert, M., R., McConnell, J., R., Baker, I. (2014)
Widespread melt events on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jun 2014, 111 (22) 7964-7967; DOI:10.1073\/pnas.1405397111
8<\/sup> \u201cAir travel is surging. That\u2019s a huge problem for the climate\u201d (2019) Vox [on-line]. Available at: https:\/\/www.vox.com\/energy-and-environment\/2019\/1\/11\/18177118\/airlines-climate-change-emissions-travel<\/a> (Last access: 07\/08\/2019)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written by Thomas Shaw.<\/em>
Edited by Equipo Glaciar.<\/em><\/p>\n

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What impact can a tourist visit to a glacier have?<\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Desperate to get a view of those impressive glaciers before they disappear from view? You aren\u2019t alone. Throughout many parts of the European Alps 1<\/sup>, China 2<\/sup>, New Zealand 3<\/sup> and North America 1<\/sup>, increasing numbers of people are flocking to see what soon might not be there\u2026 or at least what might be a shadow of its former glory. This of course is a double-edged sword in the sense that it may be both enlightening people to the environmental problems we face as a species while simultaneously exacerbating the problem itself.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unpleasant to accept that while you\u2019re traveling to a destination before it disappears, you\u2019re in fact destroying it.\u201d \u2013 Mark Groulx<\/i> 1<\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Visitor numbers for glaciated regions are sometimes difficult to quantify, but there is clear evidence of increasing annual visitor numbers to parts of Chilean Patagonia, for example, and the case of the famous Torres del Paine National Park is an obvious one to mention. Annual numbers to the park have fluctuated from around 6,000 in the middle of the 1980s, to more than 250,000 in 2017 4<\/sup>. This is, of course, great news for all of us nature loving (even potentially eco-) tourists. We get to breathe in the fresh Patagonian air and the amazing sights, hopefully learning something about the landscape and its changes in the process\u2026 with stories and photos for our loved ones back home. But this comes at the expense of the future of these pristine places\u2026 perhaps even for the people to whom we show the photos?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

+ Positive impacts of glacier tourism + \ud83d\ude42<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

+ Environmental awareness:<\/span>
<\/strong>This is dependent upon how the tourism company engages with its clients and what experiences the tourists have. Hikers primarily search for the beauty of the glaciers, but have \u201cpoor knowledge of the site\u2019s geomorphology, and have some difficulties in seeing the glacial retreat in the landscape\u201d 5<\/sup> and in the larger global context. In combination with the rise of attention in the media, education about changes to glaciers and their importance to society may help to strengthen public opinion about the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.<\/p>\n

+ Regional tourist income:<\/strong><\/span>
Like many tourist destinations, the influx of visitors can help local economies and bring development to areas that may have otherwise been under-developed. In the case of Torres del Paine, most tourists fly to, and invest in local business in Punta Arenas, transfer to Puerto Natales by bus, stay in Puerto Natales and subsequently transfer to the park. Tourism companies that operate glacier hikes, boat circuits and kayaking in front of the impressive Grey Glacier additionally generate income for locals. Entrance fees to the park alone have been key in providing a central source of financing for the maintenance of protected areas which people come to see.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

– Negative impacts of glacier tourism – \ud83d\ude41<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

– Damage and pollution:<\/strong><\/span>
Perhaps a smaller impact, but the greater the number of people that want to visit a glacier or national park that has glaciers, the more damage comes to the natural environment. These damages may not directly affect the glaciers, but may impact the surrounding environment, such as increases in erosion, litter and wildfires 6<\/sup>. Fires may in fact contribute to further melting of glacier ice 7<\/sup>, though the full effects of tourism on this process is not completely quantified.<\/p>\n

– Emissions and climate change:<\/strong><\/span>
Easily the most damaging impact of global and \u2018last chance\u2019 tourism is its carbon footprint. People travel half way across the world to see glacier sights like that in Torres del Paine or Perito Moreno glacier, and this can have a huge environmental impact. Approximately 2% of total worldwide emissions are from aviation alone 8<\/sup>, and while this may not sound huge, this contribution is set to rise along with greater social mobility and disposable income. Put a different way, it is estimated that every round-trip trans-Atlantic flight emits enough carbon dioxide to melt 30 square feet (~9 m2<\/sup>) of Arctic sea ice<\/a> 8<\/sup>. Multiply that by the number of long haul flights in a day\u2026 and this adds up! Check out Flight Radar<\/a> for a view of all the planes in the sky right now!
On top of emissions from planes alone, all of the buses, cars and boats passing to connect tourists with their glacier destinations also drives up local pollution and has its contribution.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cited information:<\/p>\n

1<\/sup> \u201cPeople are flocking to see melting glaciers before they\u2019re gone – bringing both benefit and harm\u201d (2019). Ensia [on-line].\u00a0 Available at: https:\/\/ensia.com\/features\/melting-glaciers-tourism-impacts\/<\/a> (last access 07\/08\/2019)
2<\/sup> Wang, S-J., Zhou, L-Y (2019) Integrated impacts of climate change on glacier tourism Advances in Climate Change Research<\/a>. Volume 10, Issue 2, June 2019, Pages 71-79 https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.accre.2019.06.006<\/a>
3<\/sup> Purdie, H., (2013) Glacier Retreat and Tourism: Insights from New Zealand. Mountain Research and Development. Vol 33 No 4 Nov 2013: pp 463\u2013472
4<\/sup> Jos\u00e9 Barrena Ruiz, Machiel Lamers, Simon Bush & Gustavo Blanco Wells (2019) Governing nature-based tourism mobility in National Park Torres del Paine, Chilean Southern Patagonia, Mobilities, DOI: 10.1080\/17450101.2019.1614335<\/a>
5<\/sup> Welling, J., T., (2014) Glacier tourism research \u2010 summary of literature scoping. Icelandic Tourism Research Centre. [on-line]. Available at: http:\/\/www.rmf.is\/static\/research\/files\/1460989699-draft-report-irmf-2014-final-for-printpdf<\/a> (Last access 07\/08\/2019)
6<\/sup> \u201cIrresponsible Tourism and the Forest Fire in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile\u201d (2012) [on-line]. Available at: https:\/\/www.thetravelword.com\/2012\/02\/06\/irresponsible-tourism-and-the-forest-fire-in-torres-del-paine-national-park-chile-2\/<\/a> (Last access: 07\/08\/2019)
7<\/sup> Keegan, K., M., Albert, M., R., McConnell, J., R., Baker, I. (2014)
Widespread melt events on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jun 2014, 111 (22) 7964-7967; DOI:10.1073\/pnas.1405397111
8<\/sup> \u201cAir travel is surging. That\u2019s a huge problem for the climate\u201d (2019) Vox [on-line]. Available at: https:\/\/www.vox.com\/energy-and-environment\/2019\/1\/11\/18177118\/airlines-climate-change-emissions-travel<\/a> (Last access: 07\/08\/2019)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written by Thomas Shaw.<\/em>
Edited by Equipo Glaciar.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Desperate to get a view of those impressive glaciers before they disappear from view? You aren\u2019t alone. Throughout many parts of the European Alps 1, China 2, New Zealand 3 and North America 1, increasing numbers of people are flocking to see what soon might not be there\u2026 or at least what might be a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAow57LVCw:productID":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

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\u00bfQu\u00e9 impactos puede tener la visita tur\u00edstica a un glaciar?<\/strong><\/h2>

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\u00bfDesesperado por ver esos impresionantes glaciares antes de que desaparezcan de la vista? No est\u00e1s solo. En muchas partes de los Alpes europeos 1<\/sup>, China 2<\/sup>, Nueva Zelanda 3<\/sup> y Am\u00e9rica del Norte 1<\/sup>, un n\u00famero creciente de personas se congrega para ver lo que pronto podr\u00eda no estar all\u00ed... o al menos ver la sombra de su pasado glorioso. Esto, por supuesto, es un arma de doble filo, en el sentido de que puede ser tanto esclarecedor para las personas a los problemas ambientales que enfrentamos como especie, al mismo tiempo que exacerba el problema.<\/p>

\u201cEs desagradable aceptar que mientras viajas a un destino antes de que desaparezca, de hecho lo est\u00e1s destruyendo.\u201d \u2013 Mark Groulx<\/i> 1<\/sup><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>

El n\u00famero de visitantes a las regiones de glaciares a veces es dif\u00edcil de cuantificar, pero existe una clara evidencia de un aumento en el n\u00famero de visitantes anuales a sectores de la Patagonia chilena, por ejemplo. Aqu\u00ed, el caso del famoso Parque Nacional Torres del Paine es lo m\u00e1s obvio de mencionar. Las cifras anuales del parque han fluctuado en alrededor de 6.000 a mediados de la d\u00e9cada de 1980 a m\u00e1s de 250.000 en 2017 4<\/sup>. Esto es, por supuesto, una gran noticia para todos los turistas amantes de la naturaleza (incluso potencialmente ecol\u00f3gicos). Respiramos el aire fresco de la Patagonia y las vistas incre\u00edbles, con suerte aprendiendo algo sobre el paisaje y sus cambios en el proceso... con historias y fotos para nuestras familias en casa. Pero esto viene a expensas del futuro de estos lugares pr\u00edstinos... \u00bftal vez incluso para las personas a quienes les mostramos las fotos?.<\/p>

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+ Impactos positivos del turismo glaciar + :)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>

+ Conciencia ambiental:<\/span>
<\/strong>Esto depende de c\u00f3mo la empresa de turismo se relaciona con sus clientes y qu\u00e9 experiencias tienen los turistas. Los excursionistas buscan principalmente la belleza de los glaciares, pero tienen \"poco conocimiento de la geomorfolog\u00eda del sitio y tienen algunas dificultades para ver el retiro de los glaciares en el paisaje\" 5<\/sup> y en el contexto global m\u00e1s amplio. En combinaci\u00f3n con el aumento de la atenci\u00f3n en los medios, la educaci\u00f3n sobre los cambios en los glaciares y su importancia para la sociedad, puede ayudar a fortalecer la opini\u00f3n p\u00fablica sobre los impactos del cambio clim\u00e1tico y la degradaci\u00f3n ambiental.<\/p>

+ Ingresos econ\u00f3micos regionales:<\/strong><\/span>
Al igual que muchos destinos tur\u00edsticos, la afluencia de visitantes puede ayudar a las econom\u00edas locales y llevar el desarrollo a \u00e1reas que de otro modo podr\u00edan estar subdesarrolladas. En el caso de Torres del Paine, la mayor\u00eda de los turistas vuelan e invierten en negocios locales en Punta Arenas, se transportan a Puerto Natales en bus, se quedan en Puerto Natales y luego se trasladan al parque. Las compa\u00f1\u00edas de turismo que operan con caminatas por los glaciares, circuitos en barco y kayak frente al impresionante glaciar Grey tambi\u00e9n generan ingresos para la gente local. Las entradas al parque por s\u00ed solas han sido clave para proporcionar una fuente central de financiamiento para el mantenimiento de \u00e1reas protegidas que la gente visita.<\/p>

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- Impactos negativos del turismo glaciar - :(<\/b><\/span><\/h4>

- Da\u00f1os y contaminaci\u00f3n:<\/strong><\/span>
Quiz\u00e1s sea un impacto menor, pero cuanto mayor es el n\u00famero de personas que desean visitar un glaciar o un parque nacional que tiene glaciares, m\u00e1s da\u00f1o se produce en el medio ambiente natural. Estos da\u00f1os pueden no afectar directamente a los glaciares, pero pueden afectar el medio ambiente circundante, como el aumento de la erosi\u00f3n, la basura y los incendios forestales 6<\/sup>. De hecho, los incendios pueden contribuir a un mayor derretimiento del hielo glaciar 7<\/sup>, aunque los efectos completos del turismo en este proceso no est\u00e1n completamente cuantificados.<\/p>

- Emisiones y cambio clim\u00e1tico:<\/strong><\/span>
F\u00e1cilmente el impacto m\u00e1s perjudicial del turismo global y del turismo de la \"\u00faltima oportunidad\", es su huella de carbono. Las personas viajan desde el otro lado del mundo para apreciar vistas de glaciares como en Torres del Paine o el glaciar Perito Moreno, y esto puede tener un gran impacto ambiental. Aproximadamente el 2% de las emisiones mundiales totales provienen s\u00f3lo de la aviaci\u00f3n 8<\/sup>, y aunque no parece mucho, esta contribuci\u00f3n aumentar\u00e1 junto con una mayor movilidad social e ingresos disponibles. Dicho de otra manera, se estima que cada vuelo transatl\u00e1ntico de ida y vuelta emite suficiente di\u00f3xido de carbono para derretir 9 metros cuadrados de hielo marino del \u00c1rtico<\/a> 8<\/sup>. Multiplique eso por la cantidad de vuelos de larga distancia en un d\u00eda... \u00a1y esto s\u00ed que suma! \u00a1Echa un vistazo a Flight Radar<\/a> para ver todos los aviones en el cielo ahora mismo!
Adem\u00e1s de las emisiones de los aviones, todos los buses, autom\u00f3viles y barcos que se mueven para conectar a los turistas con sus destinos de glaciares tambi\u00e9n aumentan la contaminaci\u00f3n local y a\u00f1aden su contribuci\u00f3n.<\/p>

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Informaci\u00f3n citada:<\/p>

1<\/sup> \u201cPeople are flocking to see melting glaciers before they\u2019re gone - bringing both benefit and harm\u201d (2019). Ensia [on-line].\u00a0 Available at: https:\/\/ensia.com\/features\/melting-glaciers-tourism-impacts\/<\/a> (last access 07\/08\/2019)
2<\/sup> Wang, S-J., Zhou, L-Y (2019) Integrated impacts of climate change on glacier tourism Advances in Climate Change Research<\/a>. Volume 10, Issue 2, June 2019, Pages 71-79 https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.accre.2019.06.006<\/a>
3<\/sup> Purdie, H., (2013) Glacier Retreat and Tourism: Insights from New Zealand. Mountain Research and Development. Vol 33 No 4 Nov 2013: pp 463\u2013472
4<\/sup> Jos\u00e9 Barrena Ruiz, Machiel Lamers, Simon Bush & Gustavo Blanco Wells (2019) Governing nature-based tourism mobility in National Park Torres del Paine, Chilean Southern Patagonia, Mobilities, DOI: 10.1080\/17450101.2019.1614335<\/a>
5<\/sup> Welling, J., T., (2014) Glacier tourism research \u2010 summary of literature scoping. Icelandic Tourism Research Centre. [on-line]. Available at: http:\/\/www.rmf.is\/static\/research\/files\/1460989699-draft-report-irmf-2014-final-for-printpdf<\/a> (Last access 07\/08\/2019)
6<\/sup> \u201cIrresponsible Tourism and the Forest Fire in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile\u201d (2012) [on-line]. Available at: https:\/\/www.thetravelword.com\/2012\/02\/06\/irresponsible-tourism-and-the-forest-fire-in-torres-del-paine-national-park-chile-2\/<\/a> (Last access: 07\/08\/2019)
7<\/sup> Keegan, K., M., Albert, M., R., McConnell, J., R., Baker, I. (2014)\u00a0
Widespread melt events on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jun 2014, 111 (22) 7964-7967; DOI:10.1073\/pnas.1405397111
8<\/sup> \u201cAir travel is surging. That\u2019s a huge problem for the climate\u201d (2019) Vox [on-line]. Available at: https:\/\/www.vox.com\/energy-and-environment\/2019\/1\/11\/18177118\/airlines-climate-change-emissions-travel<\/a> (Last access: 07\/08\/2019)<\/p>

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Escrito por Thomas Shaw.<\/em>
Editado por Equipo Glaciar.<\/em><\/p>

[\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=\"English\" _builder_version=\"4.4.3\"]<\/p>

What impact can a tourist visit to a glacier have?<\/b><\/h2>

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Desperate to get a view of those impressive glaciers before they disappear from view? You aren\u2019t alone. Throughout many parts of the European Alps 1<\/sup>, China 2<\/sup>, New Zealand 3<\/sup> and North America 1<\/sup>, increasing numbers of people are flocking to see what soon might not be there\u2026 or at least what might be a shadow of its former glory. This of course is a double-edged sword in the sense that it may be both enlightening people to the environmental problems we face as a species while simultaneously exacerbating the problem itself.<\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s unpleasant to accept that while you\u2019re traveling to a destination before it disappears, you\u2019re in fact destroying it.\u201d \u2013 Mark Groulx<\/i> 1<\/sup><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>

Visitor numbers for glaciated regions are sometimes difficult to quantify, but there is clear evidence of increasing annual visitor numbers to parts of Chilean Patagonia, for example, and the case of the famous Torres del Paine National Park is an obvious one to mention. Annual numbers to the park have fluctuated from around 6,000 in the middle of the 1980s, to more than 250,000 in 2017 4<\/sup>. This is, of course, great news for all of us nature loving (even potentially eco-) tourists. We get to breathe in the fresh Patagonian air and the amazing sights, hopefully learning something about the landscape and its changes in the process\u2026 with stories and photos for our loved ones back home. But this comes at the expense of the future of these pristine places\u2026 perhaps even for the people to whom we show the photos?<\/p>

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+ Positive impacts of glacier tourism + :)<\/b><\/span><\/h4>

+ Environmental awareness:<\/span>
<\/strong>This is dependent upon how the tourism company engages with its clients and what experiences the tourists have. Hikers primarily search for the beauty of the glaciers, but have \u201cpoor knowledge of the site\u2019s geomorphology, and have some difficulties in seeing the glacial retreat in the landscape\u201d 5<\/sup> and in the larger global context. In combination with the rise of attention in the media, education about changes to glaciers and their importance to society may help to strengthen public opinion about the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.<\/p>

+ Regional tourist income:<\/span><\/strong>
Like many tourist destinations, the influx of visitors can help local economies and bring development to areas that may have otherwise been under-developed. In the case of Torres del Paine, most tourists fly to, and invest in local business in Punta Arenas, transfer to Puerto Natales by bus, stay in Puerto Natales and subsequently transfer to the park. Tourism companies that operate glacier hikes, boat circuits and kayaking in front of the impressive Grey Glacier additionally generate income for locals. Entrance fees to the park alone have been key in providing a central source of financing for the maintenance of protected areas which people come to see.<\/p>

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- Negative impacts of glacier tourism - :(<\/b><\/span><\/h4>

- Damage and pollution:<\/span><\/strong>
Perhaps a smaller impact, but the greater the number of people that want to visit a glacier or national park that has glaciers, the more damage comes to the natural environment. These damages may not directly affect the glaciers, but may impact the surrounding environment, such as increases in erosion, litter and wildfires 6<\/sup>. Fires may in fact contribute to further melting of glacier ice 7<\/sup>, though the full effects of tourism on this process is not completely quantified.<\/p>

- Emissions and climate change:<\/span><\/strong>
Easily the most damaging impact of global and \u2018last chance\u2019 tourism is its carbon footprint. People travel half way across the world to see glacier sights like that in Torres del Paine or Perito Moreno glacier, and this can have a huge environmental impact. Approximately 2% of total worldwide emissions are from aviation alone 8<\/sup>, and while this may not sound huge, this contribution is set to rise along with greater social mobility and disposable income. Put a different way, it is estimated that every round-trip trans-Atlantic flight emits enough carbon dioxide to melt 30 square feet (~9 m2<\/sup>) of Arctic sea ice<\/a> 8<\/sup>. Multiply that by the number of long haul flights in a day\u2026 and this adds up! Check out Flight Radar<\/a> for a view of all the planes in the sky right now!
On top of emissions from planes alone, all of the buses, cars and boats passing to connect tourists with their glacier destinations also drives up local pollution and has its contribution.<\/p>

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Cited information:<\/p>

1<\/sup> \u201cPeople are flocking to see melting glaciers before they\u2019re gone - bringing both benefit and harm\u201d (2019). Ensia [on-line].\u00a0 Available at: https:\/\/ensia.com\/features\/melting-glaciers-tourism-impacts\/<\/a> (last access 07\/08\/2019)
2<\/sup> Wang, S-J., Zhou, L-Y (2019) Integrated impacts of climate change on glacier tourism Advances in Climate Change Research<\/a>. Volume 10, Issue 2, June 2019, Pages 71-79 https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.accre.2019.06.006<\/a>
3<\/sup> Purdie, H., (2013) Glacier Retreat and Tourism: Insights from New Zealand. Mountain Research and Development. Vol 33 No 4 Nov 2013: pp 463\u2013472
4<\/sup> Jos\u00e9 Barrena Ruiz, Machiel Lamers, Simon Bush & Gustavo Blanco Wells (2019) Governing nature-based tourism mobility in National Park Torres del Paine, Chilean Southern Patagonia, Mobilities, DOI: 10.1080\/17450101.2019.1614335<\/a>
5<\/sup> Welling, J., T., (2014) Glacier tourism research \u2010 summary of literature scoping. Icelandic Tourism Research Centre. [on-line]. Available at: http:\/\/www.rmf.is\/static\/research\/files\/1460989699-draft-report-irmf-2014-final-for-printpdf<\/a> (Last access 07\/08\/2019)
6<\/sup> \u201cIrresponsible Tourism and the Forest Fire in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile\u201d (2012) [on-line]. Available at: https:\/\/www.thetravelword.com\/2012\/02\/06\/irresponsible-tourism-and-the-forest-fire-in-torres-del-paine-national-park-chile-2\/<\/a> (Last access: 07\/08\/2019)
7<\/sup> Keegan, K., M., Albert, M., R., McConnell, J., R., Baker, I. (2014)
Widespread melt events on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jun 2014, 111 (22) 7964-7967; DOI:10.1073\/pnas.1405397111
8<\/sup> \u201cAir travel is surging. That\u2019s a huge problem for the climate\u201d (2019) Vox [on-line]. Available at: https:\/\/www.vox.com\/energy-and-environment\/2019\/1\/11\/18177118\/airlines-climate-change-emissions-travel<\/a> (Last access: 07\/08\/2019)<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Written by Thomas Shaw.<\/em>
Edited by Equipo Glaciar.<\/em><\/p>

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