Yellowstone National Park in the United States recently called for visitors to be more respectful of wildlife following certain incidents, reflecting the need for travellers to be mindful of how their behaviour can affect the environments in which they explore.
Some places have even introduced legislation to ensure visitors do not undermine the very things that contribute to the beauty and popularity of these destinations. Here are some examples.
Banning sunscreen
Ever heard of octinoxate and oxybenzone? These are chemical compounds that absorb UVB rays and protect humans from the sun.
But while sunscreens may prevent us from burning, they also cause coral bleaching and can be harmful to the marine environment. This is why many destinations around the world have formally forbidden visitors and locals alike from slathering on sunscreen before taking a dip in the sea.
This is the case of Thailand, which legislated on the matter in 2021. Failure to comply with the law will result in a fine of 100,000 baht (around RM13,390).
This measure is also on the agenda in paradise destinations, such as the Palau Islands in the Pacific Ocean, which led the way by banning sunscreen in 2020.
In Hawaii, products incorporating these two famous chemical filters have been banned, as is the case in the Virgin Islands and the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador.
No selfies
Yellowstone National Park called tourists to order following incidents that resulted in the death of animals, either because they were hit by cars (in the case of bears), or because they were captured or handled by visitors (elk, bison).
While this is no more than a reprimand, other destinations have passed laws to force visitors to be more respectful of the local environment. This especially applies to selfie-takers: at Lake Tahoe, famous for its turquoise-blue freshwater, people are no longer permitted to snap photos of themselves.
And it’s for their own good, since the measure is above all about avoiding being attacked by wild animals – specifically bears, which, apparently, people enjoy taking selfies with.
In Austria, it’s not at all for the good of tourists that a kind of wooden board has been erected in the village of Hallstatt, which looks just like the village in Disney’s “Frozen” movie.
The local authorities are said to have responded to a call from residents who were fed up with the hordes of visitors flooding in to take a photo in front of this picturesque landscape of typical houses perched on the hillside.
No loitering, no sandals
In Italy, the authorities have legislated several times to clamp down on tourists’ bad behaviour with measures that sometimes sound surprising or unusual.
In the village of Portofino, southeast of Genoa, for example, the mayor decided to ban tourists from loitering to avoid creating pedestrian traffic jams. You can walk or run, but make sure you don’t linger!
Zones have been clearly demarcated to apply this astonishing measure, which will be valid until Oct 15.
Further north, in the Cinque Terre region, the authorities have decided to ban flip-flops and sandals. This is for the good of visitors who venture onto steep paths without suitable footwear – and it’s a very serious matter, since offenders risk a fine of between €50 (RM250) and €2,500.
And an Italian tour of prohibitions wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Venice, which has banned tourists from eating and drinking in St Mark’s Square, for instance on the famous steps. This is undoubtedly the oldest measure seeking to clamp down on ill-behaved travellers, as it dates back to 1987.
The city also prohibits the feeding of pigeons, whose presence has damaged the facades of its iconic monuments.