Tourism at the End of the World.

Last-chance tourism, a growing trend in Canada and worldwide, involves visiting endangered or disappearing natural sites before they disappear. While this type of travel provides unique experiences and economic benefits to local communities, it also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and may accelerate the decline of these fragile sites. The ethical implications of last-chance tourism are complex, and there is a need for greater awareness and management of the pressures on these natural wonders. Examples of last-chance tourism include visiting the Athabasca Glacier in Alberta, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and the shrinking Mer de Glace in the French Alps. The industry surrounding these sites can have both positive and negative impacts, such as carbon emissions from Arctic cruises and concerns about commercial monopolies and mass tourism at the Athabasca Glacier. Educational messaging and smaller-scale, guided tours can help mitigate the negative effects, but there is a limited window of time to address these issues before it's too late. [Extracted from the article]