There has been a lot of talk recently about cracking down on mass tourism. Cities around the world are looking for ways to stop crowds Maintain quality of life for local residents.
But there’s one incredible tourist destination that most people have probably never heard of that plans to fly under the radar, and they’ve been doing it for a whopping 40 years by severely limiting the number of tourists allowed inside.
Welcome to Lord Howe Island – if you’re lucky enough to be one of the 400 people allowed on the island at any one time.
Mark Metcalf
“The longer we maintain this uniqueness, the more unique we are in the world,” said Anthony Liddle, a sixth-generation islander and businessman. CNN.
Located 372 miles off the east coast of mainland Australia, this jewel of a place is home to around 380 people who respect and protect the homeland their ancestors have protected for generations.
Tourism began in 1947, but by the late 1970s locals had recognised the need to protect the island’s unique ecosystem, and through their efforts Lord Howe Island UNESCO World Heritage Site In 1982, local leaders decided to curb tourism and have stuck to that decision ever since.
And it seems to have worked.
Today, the island, along with the saltwater that surrounds the seven miles of land, is still densely populated with rare plants and animals, some of which can be found nowhere else in the world.
Getty Images
Over 85% of the island is covered in virgin forest and around 70% is designated as permanent park reserve, where any development is prohibited. According to Lord Howe Environmental Tours.
But despite the best efforts of locals and conscious tourists, Lord Howe Island’s days of enjoying its natural beauty and wonder are numbered, as coral bleaching is killing reefs and the rainforest is dying due to climate change.
But that hasn’t stopped islanders from maintaining their eco-friendly lifestyle or scared off tourists, with the destination booked up until 2026.
Getty Images
Tourists come to swim in the coral reefs, enjoy the pristine beaches, hike through the cloud forests, and get involved in local conservation programs.
Dean Hiscox, who runs Lord Howe Environmental Tours, said people living on the island and those visiting it shared a “shared desire to make nature a priority”.
“Families who have lived here for five, six, seven generations always recognise how special the lifestyle is here,” said Ian Hatton, a naturalist and photographer who has lived locally since 1980.
“There’s a strong generational desire to protect our island.”
