Thursday, January 16, 2014

Pantanal travel piece by the Guardian

I found this article from my preferred UK newspaper, the Guardian, which details reporter Alex Bellos' trip to the region. I found it interesting because it indicates an increasing tourist interest in the area, possibly fueled by the upcoming World Cup. We know that the Pantanal is relatively unknown, but if further mainstream interest like this develops (the Guardian is a major publication) that could all be about to change. It will be important to ensure that even though 'The Brazilian government...is determined to attract international tourists', the impact is managed properly. The increased revenue to the area could even help support conservation and local communities. Nevertheless, it is worth a read to get you excited about the wildlife we might get the chance to see.

1 comment:

  1. It would be great if the Pantanal got more publicity. Still, I would worry that the influx of tourism would harm the Pantanal in the same way as it did the Amazon- by encouraging deforestation. However, if, as it appears in the article, the Brazilian government is prepared to deal with this issue, then overall I think the tourism will have a positive impact, making known this important but frequently overlooked wetlands.

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