Doom Tourism: Should You Visit Destinations Before They Disappear?
- Darian Abraham
- Mar 30
- 5 min read
The “floating city” is literally sinking and facing record high tides gpsworld.com. Around the world, other treasured places are also at risk of vanishing. This has sparked a travel trend dubbed “Doom Tourism” – the urge to visit destinations before they disappear.
What Is Doom Tourism?
Doom tourism (also known as “last-chance” travel) means traveling to places that may not exist in their current form for much longer climateimpactstracker.com. The drivers behind this trend are sobering — climate change is causing rising seas, melting glaciers, and more extreme weather, while environmental degradation and even over-tourism put added stress on fragile sites. Social media fuels it too: seeing stunning but threatened locales on Instagram creates FOMO (fear of missing out). Add the bucket-list mentality (“X places to see before you die” – or rather, before they die) and you have a surge of interest in these vanishing wonders.
Destinations Commonly Linked to Doom Tourism
Some of the most frequently cited “see it before it’s gone” destinations include:
Venice, Italy – Famed canals and piazzas are under threat from the double whammy of sinking foundations and rising sea levels. In November 2019, Venice saw its second-worst flood in a century with a 187 cm tide that covered ~80% of the city gpsworld.com. Efforts like floodgates are in progress, but long-term survival is uncertain as high tides become more frequent.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia – This largest coral reef is bleaching and dying due to
warming oceans and coral stress. It has lost over half of its corals since 1995 earth.org, with mass bleaching events in recent years signaling an ecosystem in crisis. Visitors flock to see the remaining vibrant corals and marine life while they still can.
Glaciers (Patagonia & Iceland) – From Patagonia’s towering ice fields to Iceland’s once-massive glaciers, these icy landscapes are melting rapidly. Iceland loses about 11 billion tons of ice each year, and scientists fear all 400+ of its glaciers could be gone by 2200 theguardian.com. In 2019, Iceland even held a funeral for “Okjökull,” the first glacier lost to climate change – a poignant wake-up call for the world.
Dead Sea (Jordan/Israel) – This salt lake is shrinking fast. Water levels drop roughly 1 meter every year, thanks to upstream water diversions and climate-driven drought aljazeera.com. In just the past two decades, the Dead Sea has receded about 20 meters aljazeera.com, leaving behind boat docks on dry land and causing huge sinkholes to open up along its shores.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania – Africa’s highest peak is famed for its snowy summit, but those glaciers are rapidly retreating. Over 85% of Kilimanjaro’s ice has vanished since 1912 ultimatekilimanjaro.com. At this rate, the legendary white cap could disappear completely within our lifetime (some projections say as early as the 2030s–2040s). Climbers now hurry to glimpse the last ice while it lasts.
The Maldives – This low-lying tropical paradise of coral islands faces an existential threat from sea-level rise. At current warming trends, 80% of the Maldives could become uninhabitable by 2050 abcnews.go.com. Its president has warned that if climate change isn’t halted, the entire country might be submerged by the end of this century. Tourists rush to enjoy the idyllic beaches and over-water bungalows that future generations might never see.
Top 6 Destinations Associated with Doom Tourism
Destination | Threat | Urgency |
Venice, Italy | Sinking + sea level rise | Severe; 80% flooded in 2019 |
Great Barrier Reef, Australia | Coral bleaching | Over 50% lost since 1995 |
Glaciers (Patagonia & Iceland) | Melting glaciers | Iceland loses ~11B tons ice/year |
Dead Sea (Jordan/Israel) | Rapid shrinkage | Drops 1m/year; 20m in two decades |
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania | Vanishing snow cap | 85% ice lost since 1912 |
The Maldives | Sea-level rise | 80% may be uninhabitable by 2050 |
"Iceland loses about 11 billion tons of ice each year, and all 400+ glaciers may vanish by 2200." (The Guardian)
"Over 85% of Kilimanjaro’s ice has vanished since 1912." (Ultimate Kilimanjaro)
(Of course, this list goes on – from the Amazon Rainforest to Glacier National Park – but these examples are among the most iconic.)
The Ethics of Doom Tourism
Is it noble or selfish to visit a place on the brink of ruin? On one hand, visiting an endangered site can raise awareness and bring much-needed income for conservation and local communities. Many travelers come away moved, turning into advocates for protecting what they saw. On the other hand, there’s a clear irony: more visitors often mean more harm. Extra foot traffic, pollution, and carbon-heavy flights can accelerate the very decline we’re worried about climateimpactstracker.com. In fact, when a site becomes endangered, the spike in tourism can create a vicious cycle – the “doom tourism paradox” – where increased demand further damages the site, making it vanish even faster psychologytoday.com.
This ethical dilemma leaves would-be “doom tourists” torn. The key may lie in how we visit, if we choose to go at all. That leads us to responsible travel practices for these fragile destinations.
How to Be a Responsible Doom Tourist
If you’re planning a last-chance trip, here are a few tips to travel more responsibly:
Do Your Homework & Follow Guidelines: Research the destination’s visitor rules and ecological recommendations. Stick to marked trails, respect wildlife boundaries, and listen to local guides – they often know how to minimize impact.
Choose Eco-Friendly Options: Whenever possible, use tour operators, hotels, and guides that are eco-certified or community-run. Your tourism dollars will support those protecting the site, not exploiting it.
Travel Off-Peak or in Smaller Groups: Visiting in the off-season or choosing less crowded times can reduce stress on the environment (and often gives you a more serene experience). Small-group or solo travel leaves a smaller footprint than big tours.
Leave No Trace: This should go without saying – don’t litter, don’t take “souvenirs” from nature, and don’t disturb the habitat. Carry in what you need and carry out all your trash. Basically, make it look like you were never there.
Offset Your Carbon Footprint: Getting to far-flung places often involves flying or cruising. Consider offsetting your carbon emissions (through reputable carbon offset programs) or opting for greener transportation when feasible. Every bit helps when it comes to reducing your contribution to climate change.
Final Thoughts & Call to Action
Traveling to a disappearing destination can be a powerful, bittersweet experience. Personally, I understand the urge to see these wonders before they’re gone – I’ve felt that pull myself. Standing in such a place, you feel awe and fragility all at once. But I also believe we have a responsibility to do it mindfully or even ask “Should I go at all?” in some cases.
Ultimately, doom tourism raises tough questions about our role as travelers on a changing planet. It’s not an easy black-or-white issue. My take: if you do go, go with eyes open and with care – and support those fighting to save these places. And if you decide not to go, that can be a valid choice too, to avoid adding pressure.
What do you think?
Would you rush to visit a bucket-list spot on the brink of disappearance, or do you feel it’s better to stay away? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share your opinions or experiences in the comments – let’s chat about it!
Disclaimer: This post’s information is based on various sources (news articles and research reports) that are cited above for accuracy. Sources: ABC News; Al Jazeera; Earth.org; Climate Impacts Tracker; The Guardian; BBC News gpsworld.com | earth.org | theguardian.com | aljazeera.com | ultimatekilimanjaro.com | abcnews.go.com | climateimpactstracker.com | psychologytoday.com
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