A QUESTION has been recently raised in the media as to whether people in the UK should take holidays in regions close to those devastated by the tsunami.

But surely the question should be whether long distance tourism to any country is desirable?

The contention that tourism will benefit these regions is debatable, when it is realised that local communities will get less than 20 per cent of the amount spent on such holidays.

Several of the countries affected by this disaster are actively encouraging local communities to switch from self-reliant and sustainable activities to servicing tourists.

This has added to the already crippling debt burden of these countries as loans are taken out to provide the infrastructure for tourism.

This type of development also threatens the livelihoods of rural and indigenous people as a result of encroachment on natural habitats and migrations to tourist areas.

The recent disaster has also brought into stark focus the risks of an economic dependency on tourism.

There are also some potentially far more serious negative factors to consider.

Take for example, the impact of a return air flight from London to Jakarta (18,870 km return). This would result in the emission of about 13,000kg of carbon dioxide and use 19,000kw hours of energy a person. Or, put another way, would result in seven times as much greenhouse gas emission as the same distance travelled by train and boat.

Has our Government done anything, in the light of the threats posed from global warming, to discourage long distance travel?

Far from it. In fact duty is not paid on aviation fuel. The journey above would cost an extra £513 if tax and duty were charged at the same rate as that on vehicle petrol.

Instead of discouraging air travel, the Government reveals plans to expand airports and pander to consumer demand for winter holidays in the sun.

I have made several journeys abroad in connection with poverty-focused development projects and readily acknowledge my own impact in doing so.

In an ideal world I would like to feel that these journeys would prove unnecessary. However, we live in a world that is far from the ideal.

As for holidays I do take my holidays in Europe (mostly in the UK). Is long distance travel really worth the hassle anyway?

There are so many interesting possibilities in the UK and won't our summers be getting warmer at least until melting glaciers cut off the Gulf Stream!

M THOMAS

Future in Our Hands UK

Churchward Avenue Swindon