The Environmental Problems of Traveling and the Role of Ecotourism: A Case Study of Bali and Cebu
I used to think of the ocean as something magical—endless, peaceful, and untouched. I imagined dolphins swimming freely through calm waves, and coral reefs glowing under the surface like something from another world. But that idea changed for me during a dolphin-watching tour in Bali.
Instead of a calm encounter with nature, the ocean was full of boats—loud, fast, and crowded. The moment dolphins appeared, dozens of boats rushed toward them. It felt more like a race than a peaceful observation. The dolphins looked scared, diving and changing direction quickly, trying to get away. At first, I was excited like everyone else, but the mood on the boat shifted. We all started to realize this wasn’t as harmless as it seemed.
When I returned to South Korea, I couldn’t stop thinking about that experience. It made me realize how tourism, even when it seems eco-friendly, can harm the environment. That’s when I joined the Just Ocean campaign and started learning more about ocean conservation. Later, through my iGEM team, I explored ways to use science to help reduce marine pollution. This essay explores the environmental problems caused by tourism, especially in places like Bali and Cebu, and how ecotourism might be part of the solution.
The Environmental Problems of Tourism
Plastic and Waste
One of the biggest problems in tourist-heavy areas is plastic waste. When tourists visit beaches or take boat tours, they often leave behind things like water bottles, food wrappers, or plastic bags. In places like Bali and Cebu, where waste systems are already under pressure, a lot of this plastic ends up in the ocean. Sea turtles, birds, and fish can mistake plastic for food, and this causes serious harm. According to a study published in Science Advances, over 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year.
Noise Pollution in the Ocean
We don’t usually think about sound as a kind of pollution, but for marine animals, it’s a big issue. Many sea animals, like whales and dolphins, depend on sound to communicate, find food, and stay together. But boats, jet skis, and large ships make the ocean louder and harder to navigate for these animals. The documentary Sonic Sea explains how this underwater noise can confuse animals so much that they end up stranded or separated from their pods.
Ghost Nets and Overfishing
When people talk about plastic in the ocean, they often think of straws or bags. But a large amount of ocean plastic actually comes from abandoned fishing gear. These “ghost nets” float through the water, still trapping animals even though no one is using them anymore. The film Seaspiracy shows that fishing gear makes up a huge part of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Overfishing is also a major issue. To meet demand from tourists, many coastal areas overfish, which reduces fish populations and damages coral reefs.
Coastal Development
As more tourists come to places like Bali and Cebu, more hotels and resorts are built along the shore. This often means clearing out mangroves and seagrass beds—important ecosystems that protect the coast and support marine life. Once they’re gone, it’s very hard to bring them back. In the documentary The End of the Line, experts talk about how too much construction along coastlines is destroying the habitats that fish and other sea creatures need to survive.
The Problem with Wildlife Tourism
At first glance, dolphin and whale-watching tours seem like a safe way to enjoy nature. But many of these tours chase the animals, causing them stress. When boats get too close, dolphins can’t use echolocation properly, and they may avoid feeding or resting. If this happens often, it can affect their health and even their ability to reproduce. Blackfish, while mostly about orcas in captivity, raises important questions about how close we should get to marine animals for entertainment.
A Better Way Forward: Ecotourism
Ecotourism is meant to protect the environment while still allowing people to experience it. In some parts of Cebu, for example, snorkeling tours now have strict rules: no touching coral, no feeding fish, and no dropping anchor on reefs. Some communities in Bali are also working to restore mangroves and teach visitors about ocean conservation.
But not all ecotourism is truly eco-friendly. Sometimes companies use the label without actually following sustainable practices. That’s why it’s important to have clear guidelines and certification systems, like those from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Tourists also have a responsibility to ask questions and make sure the tours they join are respectful of nature.
Conclusion
Tourism doesn’t have to harm the environment, but it often does when people aren’t careful. The way we travel matters. Choosing tours that don’t disturb animals, avoiding single-use plastics, staying in eco-certified hotels, and being thoughtful about what we eat—all of these actions can make a real difference.
Governments and companies also need to do their part by enforcing laws and investing in better technologies, like quieter boats or biodegradable fishing nets. Scientific research can help us find even more solutions, like understanding why whales rarely get cancer—a mystery known as Peto’s Paradox that might one day lead to new medical discoveries.
But in the end, it starts with how we think. The ocean isn’t just a place for vacation photos or boat rides. It’s home to incredible life that has existed long before us. If we want future generations to see dolphins in the wild or swim in coral reefs, we need to make smarter, more respectful choices today.
By: JayIn Park
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