Is a Return to Travel Actually a Bad Thing?

Maldives

“[W]hile lockdowns may have felt like they’ve lasted an eternity, a year isn’t that long when it comes to nature. While humans can devastate habitats very quickly, it takes much longer to restore the balance.”

For many of us, it’s been a year since we’ve been able to travel internationally. While dreaming of the day we can travel again, we’ve read stories about nature bouncing back and wildlife returning to areas previously overwhelmed by human activities. But has this break been positive for vulnerable ecosystems? And, if so, should we be concerned about the impending return of tourism? The answer, as you might expect, is complex.