El Bolsón, ready or not?

As it is well known, tourism is one of the main reasons for travelling and it allows everyone to enjoy the different attractions located in each destination but, as well as it provides a great income to the local area it also may damage our environment.

This is a problem we must address as soon as possible in order to be able to continue developing this activity. For example, if people come to el Bolsón to enjoy its isolation from the world and the absence of a city-like structure and routine, trying to enjoy what living surrounded by nature is like, but as they do so, they also pollute, our town is not only going to lose its main attraction but will also affect the lives of those living in el Bolsón.

Taking into account that tourism is the second biggest income apart from oil in the 40 poorest countries of the world, its elimination is not an option, however it can be regulated so that it does not have a negative effect on the receiving community, that is by making tourist operators conscious of damage that could be caused..

In order to make visitors aware of what is happening, local inhabitants should set an example on how to take care of our own town and advertise this through the different media, like local TV and radio.

Tourists should be told about the preservation policies and practices, to respect the ecosystem by following the marked paths and not touching wild animals or plants, avoiding littering in the streets or the mountain and to try leaving the place as they found it,with the smallest ecological footprint they can.

Jenaro Calviño