A dystopia foretold
The year is 2075 and the world as we knew it has undergone drastic transformations. Climate change, once a distant warning, has become a palpable reality. Coastal cities are submerged, tropical rainforests and ancient forests have disappeared, and deserts have expanded. Extreme weather events, from hurricanes to heat waves, are hitting the planet regardless of latitude.
In this scenario, the once thriving tourism industry lies in ruins. Emblematic destinations are now shadows of their former selves. Paradise beaches are devastated by rising sea levels. Natural wonders like tropical rainforests have been reduced. Entire communities that lived in harmony with these ecosystems have disappeared and animal species have been exterminated. Historic sites have succumbed to vandalism, pollution and neglect by public administrations almost absent from society.
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Travel, once an accessible and desirable pastime, has become a luxury of the past. Government restrictions and insecurity due to extreme weather events make travel a risk or simply impossible in much of the world. Resource wars, exacerbated by water and food shortages due to global warming and the overexploitation of aquifers and agricultural soils, have turned vast regions into wastelands and conflict zones.
Airports, once symbols of global connectedness, are abandoned, with few air routes reserved for the transport of essential goods. The concept of traveling for pleasure is a relic of a world that was once innocent and carefree, more interested in short-term individual concerns than in the common good and the future.
In a desperate attempt to preserve the travel experience, virtual tourism is emerging. Through advanced virtual reality and simulation technologies, people can experience digitized versions of once-popular destinations. However, these experiences, while offering a momentary and pleasurable escape, cannot replicate the real excitement and connection. Moreover, they are prohibitively expensive for the majority of the population, being a luxury reserved for elites who further exploit existing resources.
Nostalgia for the golden age of tourism is palpable. Older people tell stories to young people about days when you could freely explore the world, marvel at its natural beauty and enjoy diverse cultures.
In this world, the priority is no longer leisure or exploration, but survival. Communities struggle to adapt to new climatic realities, relocating entire populations to theoretically safer places. Innovation is focused on sustainability: renewable energy, water-efficient agriculture and cities designed to withstand harsh weather.
The future of tourism in this dystopian world is uncertain. While some advocate its revitalization to reconnect humanity with its planet and cultures, others see it as a vestige of an irresponsible past that should not be revived. Guilt hinders solutions, nostalgia holds back innovation. Capital and governments are more concerned with maintaining themselves than with solving problems they consider impossible.
But let's go back to 2023. Now we can only wait and see what the future holds for us as soothsayers in a world yet to be built.
