International flights prices have dropped substantially over the last decade, and they will more than likely continue to decrease. While this trend has allowed many more people to travel to many more places, providing both cultural, professional and personal benefits, the negative impacts cannot be ignored. In this essay, I will outline these positive aspects of this increase in air travel and explain the serious environmental impact it is having.
From an individual’s perspective, affordable airfares have brought great advantages. Whereas in the past, interstate or international travel was limited to the wealthy, it is now possible for almost everyone. An Indian student can travel abroad to gain a qualification at a foreign university, for instance. Such an experience can have a profound impact on their life, and they can still fly back home whenever necessary, thereby maintaining connections and relationships. For business people too, this ease of travel allows new avenues to be explored more easily than via phone or video conferencing. Holiday-makers too reap the benefits of cheap travel as they are able to vacation anywhere in the world nowadays.
There are, however, more downsides associated with increased air travel. The most significant relates to the environment. Indeed, airplane emissions contribute to greenhouse gases which are directly responsible for climate change. The more people fly, the more polluted the air becomes. There is also the destinations to consider. Bali is a classic example of a pristine paradise that has been destroyed and corrupted by foreign tourists who litter and wreak havoc on the beach, waterways and natural wilderness areas. Such issues can be irreversible and are a direct result of increased tourism.
In conclusion, on the surface, greater access to air travel may seem to be a positive thing, particularly in terms of individual growth. The ecological problems that stem from this, however, can be devastating, not only for the destination but for the whole planet.
International flights prices have dropped
substantially
over the last decade, and they will more than likely continue to decrease. While this trend has
allowed
many
more
people
to
travel
to
many
more places, providing both cultural, professional and personal benefits, the
negative
impacts cannot be
ignored
. In this essay, I will outline these
positive
aspects of this increase in
air
travel
and
explain
the serious environmental impact it is having.
From an individual’s perspective, affordable airfares have brought great advantages. Whereas in the past, interstate or international
travel
was limited
to the wealthy, it is
now
possible for almost everyone. An Indian student can
travel
abroad to gain a qualification at a foreign university,
for instance
. Such an experience can have a profound impact on their life, and they can
still
fly
back home whenever necessary, thereby maintaining connections and relationships. For business
people
too, this
ease
of
travel
allows
new avenues to
be explored
more
easily
than via phone or video conferencing. Holiday-makers
too reap
the benefits of
cheap
travel
as they are able to vacation anywhere in the world nowadays.
There are,
however
, more downsides associated with increased
air
travel
. The most significant relates to the environment.
Indeed
, airplane emissions contribute to greenhouse gases which are
directly
responsible for climate
change
. The more
people
fly
, the more polluted the
air
becomes. There is
also
the destinations to consider. Bali is a classic example of a pristine paradise that has been
destroyed
and corrupted by foreign tourists who litter and wreak havoc on the beach, waterways and natural wilderness areas. Such issues can be irreversible and are a direct result of increased tourism.
In conclusion
, on the surface, greater access to
air
travel
may seem to be a
positive
thing,
particularly
in terms of individual growth. The ecological problems that stem from this,
however
, can be devastating, not
only
for the destination
but
for the whole planet.