RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
WELCOMING TOURISTS 400 AT A TIME
LORD HOWE ISLAND, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
Have you ever wondered how many other tourists are in the same place as you during your trip? It is not uncommon for one hotel to have 400 guests, but the whole destination? Lord Howe Island has limited the number of visitors to 400 for 40 years, long before overtourism became widely discussed. Discover how this island balances responsible tourism with allowing its inhabitants and nature to thrive.
What's
changing
Cheap flights, inexpensive accommodations, massive cruise ships, increasing disposable incomes and a belief that more is more: These are some of the most important causes of extreme mass tourism that disrupts life for the locals. Visitor limits can help, but implementing restrictions can be challenging. Locations with experience enforcing these limits offer valuable lessons for destinations determining their own approach.
What's already
possible
On Lord Howe Island off the coast of Australia, visitor limits have been in effect for more than 40 years and admit only 400 visitors on the island at any given time.
Seizing
the opportunity
Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally limited visitors to protect the unique and fragile ecosystem from overdevelopment. The 400-person limit is enforced by a costly bed license policy mandated for all accommodations. Today, 85% of the island remains undeveloped and is home to the world’s most southernmost reef, a cloud forest, endangered birds and a different pace of life that aligns with the community’s respect for nature. Only 350 people live on the island full time, and they follow strict policies that regulate building and development.
Standout
tactic
Removing invasive weeds is crucial for preserving Lord Howe Island’s fragile ecosystem. When the task became too much for the Lord Howe Island Board to combat, visitors were asked to help. Today, visitors support conservation by joining weeding eco tours and other programs facilitated by Friends of Lord Howe Island, naturalist Ian Hutton and other community members.
How
it helps
The visitor limits help Lord Howe Island preserve its community character and minimize environmental damage. With a predictable number of visitors, the island requires fewer flights and the emissions they cause. Through island-wide projects to eradicate invasive species, many native animal populations, like woodhens, are rebounding.
Diving
deeper
How can the increased need for goods and packaging to support even limited numbers of tourists on islands align with sustainability goals?
Increasing
impact
Lord Howe Island could expand its influence beyond its shores by sharing best practices and data with destinations facing similar challenges. An island program that monitors plastics brought to shore by seabirds underscores the reality that pollution knows no borders.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
