In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Nepal, let’s take a look at what happens to tourism in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
- Like many countries, tourism was one of Nepal’s key industries. One foreign visitor might pay up to $100K to climb Mount Everest! Post-earthquake, many are worried about the long-term recovery of the country’s economy.
- For places that rely on tourism, disaster can be an opportunity to rebuild bigger and better, like Cancun did after Hurricane Wilma pounded the area in 2005.
- Post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans is another big-time tourism recovery success story.
- There’s a whole subset of visitors fascinated by the aftermath of disasters. Whether you think it’s making the best of a bad situation or rather in questionable taste, many of these locations are converted to “disaster tourism sites.” Places like Chernobyl, the Ninth Ward of New Orleans and Pompeii draw thousands of curious tourists every year.
- If your area is ever affected by a natural disaster, even something on a smaller scale, like a flood, take note of this advice to begin the process of rebuilding tourism.