Extreme tourism, a phenomenon fueled by daring thrill-seekers, has recently been put under the spotlight due to the disastrous implosion of a submersible journey to the wreckage of the Titanic. This tragic event has led many to question whether such extreme vacations should be curtailed.
The Allure of Extreme Tourism
Extreme tourists are individuals who are not afraid to take risks for the sake of adventure. One such adventurer, who has previously waded into the so-called Devil's Pool at the edge of a 350-foot high waterfall at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, claims that the loss of five lives on the Titan will not dampen his hunger for adventure.
"Once you've done everything that I've done, it's like you keep looking for let's say riskier things to do," he says. He even admits that he would most definitely travel on a similar experimental submersible like the ill-fated Titan.
Also Read: Doomed Titanic Sub Voyage: Billionaire's Narrow Escape
The Risks of Extreme Tourism
However, not all extreme tourists share the same sentiment. Another adventurer, who found herself trapped in a blizzard for a week during a $50,000 adventure to climb Antarctica's tallest mountain, believes that the submarine disaster will affect extreme tourism.
"I do think that with tragedies like this one, that definitely leads us to kind of rethink who gets to go and is there a system in place that keeps us in check," she says.
The Explorer's Extreme Trifecta
Vanessa O'Brien, the first woman to achieve what's known as the Explorer's Extreme Trifecta, has a unique perspective on the matter. The 58-year-old has traveled into space on Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin rocket, scaled the peak of Mount Everest, and dived 36,000 feet to the deepest point of the Pacific Ocean, deeper than the Titanic. She considers herself an extreme explorer, not an extreme tourist.
When asked whether the idea of extreme tourism has gone too far, she responded affirmatively. She believes that trips to the bottom of the ocean to see the Titanic in an experimental vessel should be off-limits for tourists.
"Yes, absolutely. That vehicle was not certified," she says.
The Future of Extreme Tourism
The recent Titanic sub tragedy has undoubtedly stirred a debate about the future of extreme tourism. While some thrill-seekers remain undeterred, others believe that such disasters should serve as a wake-up call to reevaluate the risks involved and the systems in place to ensure safety. As the discussion continues, the future of extreme tourism hangs in the balance.