Travel Sustainably and with Caution: The Case of Holbox Island
By Lindsey Neuwirth, Stony Brook University Marine Conservation and Policy Graduate Student
Holbox Island shoreline. Photo by Lindsey Neuwirth
People have a persistent urge to get out and see the world. This yearning has followed me around ever since I can remember. It started young when my family visited the pristine sandy shores of Playa Del Carmen, Mexico every couple of years.
This had been my grandparents favorite vacation spot, too, from the time they immigrated to the United States from Germany in the 1950s. One they would then share with me, telling the stories about how much the town had changed since they first visited many years ago, mainly due to an influx of tourists.
Over the years, I too began to notice the kinds of negative tourism-related changes they spoke of. I watched the traditional Mexican tile pathways be paved over right beneath my feet. I watched locals’ quaint beach bungalows that lined the shore get demolished to make way for big buildings and luxury hotels. I watched the shorelines slowly become suffocated with more tourist garbage year after year.
Flash forward to January 2020. Having not visited in many years due to the strict schedule of being a college student, I was finally able to return to this place that I loved as a child: Mexico. However, this time things were different. Instead of joining the crowds of tourists flooding Playa Del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, I traveled with my family to a little piece of paradise called Holbox Island.
Holbox Island. Photo by Lindsey Neuwirth
As we departed the ferry, the first major difference I noticed between here and my family’s previous vacation spot was the lack of cars. Instead, locals drove golf carts. The streets were narrow—no car with four wheels and four doors would ever be able to squeeze through. As I squinted in the bright day light to see everything, I realized the sun reflected right off the white sandy paths that the carts drove on. A notable difference from the fossil-fuel-based asphalt roads back home.
When we walked into the hotel, we were immediately immersed in green jungle life. Just a couple steps further past the tropical trees, we could see sparkling turquoise waves, rolling onto the white sandy shore that was not littered with trash. Drinks were served with reusable metal straws instead of those made of plastic. Single-use plastic, a material so ubiquitously used in the US, is rarely used in this remote getaway in an effort to keep the local environment clean and prevent a buildup of waste on the island. Each year, about eight million tons of plastic end up in oceans all over the world, inevitably in part due to the fact that 80% of tourism occurs in coastal destinations. With simple practices to reduce single-use plastics, Holbox prevents being one of those contributors; though we need global action to seriously address problems with plastic and other waste.
Holbox Island. Photo by Lindsey Neuwirth
Over the course of my stay, I learned how locally driven ecotourism can help sustain local communities both economically and ecologically. In fact sustainable tourism development projects on Holbox have been positively highlighted for their local benefits. Much employment is provided through development of locally owned and operated hotels, restaurants and tours. Islanders have prioritized protecting whale sharks and crystal-clear waters, sharing them in a responsible way with tourists has developed into community values. Resources such as water and energy are limited here, as on most other islands, and even more water is required on Holbox to sustain tourism. As we travel, we must keep this in mind and always show respect to local communities.
A short boat ride away, lies Isla Pajaros. Otherwise known as 'bird island,’ Isla Pajaros is a perfect example of how Holbox ensures protection of the environment through ecotourism practices. From flamingos, cormorants and herons, to frigatebirds, pelicans and egrets, this island associated with Holbox serves as a refuge for several endangered avian species. To make conservation effective, people are not allowed to walk on the island. Instead they watch and learn about the variety of incredible species in their natural habitat from offshore viewing towers. Such environmentally conscience practices are a win-win for both people and the planet, as it allows visitors to gain a valuable perspective on an ecologically sensitive place without causing a disturbance.
What I observed on Holbox Island was a fragile ecosystem allowed to exist alongside human activities because it was being taken care of by the people who live in it. I realized sustainable, locally driven ecotourism practices are a necessity in ensuring enriching travel experiences for generations to come, as well as safeguarding the communities that are visited by people from all over the world. In prioritizing proper waste management, limiting emissions, conserving resources and employing local community members, the tourism industry can both thrive and serve as an example to educate others on environmentally friendly practices they can bring back home and apply to their own daily lives.
Holbox Island. Photo by Lindsey Neuwirth.
Holbox Island. Photo by Lindsey Neuwirth.
Every destination is different. Each has its own threshold to what it can withstand. We must travel with awareness of the environmental problems a location faces to prevent further degradation. We must avoid supporting unsustainable development in tourist destinations to promote more ethical travel. Holbox provides many good examples of sustainable development for tourism providing important local benefits.