Scientists and Tourists Can Work Together Well

Have you ever had this kind of experience: a geography scientist guides you through a visit to a geology park which is also the place where he does his research. During the trip he not only takes you to the place where you can see the fantastic sight you have never seen before, but also he explains the cause of formation of the rocks, rivers, mountains and the caves. You get the knowledge which you never had before when enjoying the amazing view. At the same time the scientist’s research center gets money from the tour company because they offered their work place to the company for the tourists. With the money, they can equip more advanced devices for their research. At the same time, during the trip, you can apply to explore a small cave with a team of scientists, and they give you a basic training before that. After the trip you get so much geographical knowledge which you could never imagine. Will you keep the amazing trip as a secret from your family or friends? Of course, you will not. I think to share an exiting experience with others is the first choice for most people, so that more people get the knowledge. In this case, tourists and scientists work together very well, both of them get what they want, meanwhile they make contribution to protect the environment: tourists can bring money to scientists for their research and directly participate in some simple scientific research, and meanwhile scientists can give professional advice while people travel with them which can make more people interested in natural environment and when the tourists share the experience with more people when they get back, they make more people interested in the place and have the sense to protect it.

First, I think tourists and scientists can work together very well because tourists can bring considerable money to scientists which they can use it for their research. Space tours are a good example for this. As we know, as normal people, maybe several years ago to travel to space is only a dream, but nowadays anyone can travel to the International Space Station by space craft once you have enough money. So far more than 5 people visited the space station, and the first tourist paid 2 million dollars for his unique travel. But the price has gone down and more and more people can afford the price. And the Russian space administration has offered this kind of service to normal people from where they have the funds to run their space research. At the same time, in my hometown, there is a dinosaur theme park. There are hundreds of fossils in different ages exhibited there. Archaeologist and geology scientists do their research there while the park attracts thousands and millions of people every year. Of course the park is not for free, and considerable part of the park’s income will used for the research.

Moreover, tourists can attend some basic lectures on research and help scientists while they are having fun and learning new knowledge. For example, archaeology is the subject which is about discovery. To archaeologists, they need more people to search for things they are looking for, and tourists can do this with pleasure. “A tour for exhumation” must be a very attractive title, which is about having a chance to attend an exhumation work after some basic training. Meanwhile, tourists can also do the favor for scientists like diving to inspect coral reefs which they just need to report what they see and the color of coral. It is simple and fun. At the same time, the tour which is guided by scientists can make tourists learn much more about the place they visit. For instance, if we travel to a cave, a geologist has more background knowledge to explain the formation of the cave and the distinctive sight inside of it. And an archaeologist is more appropriate to be a guider when tourists visit a history site – he can not only introduce the history of it, but also give some stories behind the history. Once people know the place and share the fantastic experience with more people, do you think they will do any harm to the amazing place? I think more than 90 percent of those people will do everything they can to protect the place. That is what scientists want.

Last but not the least, tourists can get more people’s attention to the environment. For instance, when a tourist returns home, I believe at least 90% people will bring something about the place where they visited back. That may be pictures, videos or souvenirs. When they share these with their friends and family, they to help more people learn he place and raise the consciousness to protect the beautiful place. Also they will share they tour experience with their colleagues, classmates, teachers or even the strangers they meet on streets when they chat with each other. Consequently, even one tourist who attends the tour which guided by scientists can effect hundreds of people to have the sense to protect natural environment both directly and indirectly.

However, someone may see the examples of tourists’ damage to natural environment where they visit. Is it all the tourists’ responsibility? I think it is not. Once the manager of the beauty spot has the right to control tourists’ behavior, all the problems will be solved. Consequently, tourists and scientists can work together well because traveling can bring scientists money for their research, tourists can attend some simple scientific activity directly to give some help to scientists, and, after they know more about the environment problem, they will, pay more attention to protect the planet we live in.