Last Chance Tourism: Psychology of Traveling in the Age of Climate Crisis

Öz

The environmental impacts of climate change have led to the rise of Last Chance Tourism (LCT). LCT is driven by the desire to visit endangered natural and cultural sites ‘before they disappear’, reflecting the paradox between environmental awareness and consumer culture. The key motivations behind LCT include emotional attachment to disappearing landscapes, leaving a legacy for future generations, existential awareness of climate change, and seeking social media validation. Although individuals recognize tourism’s ecological costs, they justify their consumption through cognitive dissonance and moral licensing. Within the framework of neoliberal consumerism, LCT commodifies fragile ecosystems, while social media-driven overtourism accelerates environmental degradation. This study highlights structural solutions such as visitor limits, carbon-based pricing, and conservation-focused education programs. While LCT fosters environmental awareness, it simultaneously exacerbates the climate crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for responsible tourism policies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Last Chance Tourism
• Climate Crisis
• Ecopsychology
• Sustainable Tourism
• Eco-anxiety.

Son Şans Turizmi: İklim Krizi Çağında Seyahat Etmenin Psikolojisi

Öz

İklim değişikliğinin çevresel etkileri, Son Şans Turizmi’nin (SŞT) yükselişine yol açmıştır. SŞT, tehdit altındaki doğal ve kültürel alanları “yok olmadan önce” ziyaret etme arzusundan beslenen ve çevresel farkındalık ile tüketim kültürü arasındaki paradoksu yansıtan bir turizm türüdür. SŞT’nin temel motivasyonları, doğal alanlarla duygusal bağ kurma, gelecek nesillere miras bırakma, iklim krizine dair farkındalık ve sosyal medyada görünürlük arayışıdır. Bireyler turizmin ekolojik zararlarını bilse de, bilişsel çelişki ve ahlaki lisanslama ile tüketimlerini meşrulaştırmaktadır. Neoliberal tüketim kültürü bağlamında SŞT, hassas ekosistemleri metalaştırırken, sosyal medya destekli aşırı turizm çevresel yıkımı hızlandırmaktadır. Çalışma, ziyaretçi sınırları, karbon bazlı ücretlendirme ve koruma odaklı eğitim programları gibi yapısal çözümleri önermektedir. SŞT, çevresel bilinç oluştururken aynı zamanda iklim krizini derinleştirdiğinden, sorumlu turizm politikalarının gerekliliğini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Son Şans Turizmi
• İklim Krizi
• Ekopsikoloji
• Sürdürülebilir Turizm
• Eko-anksiyete

Kaynakça

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