Sample Essay

The Benefits of Recreational Travel

Travel as a form of recreation is a comparatively recent phenomenon. When human beings did not have enough resources to satisfy their basic needs, there was no time or energy for recreational travel. All resources had to be employed in the pursuit of the basic needs: food, water, clothing and a place to call home. However, as our civilization progressed and prospered, many people started to look out for ways of recreation. Travelling to far-off and beautiful places became very common. Recreational travel provides many benefits indeed.

First of all, recreational travel provides much-needed downtime for busy people. This is very true of people who work in busy offices, often sitting for a long time in front of their computer screens. All day long every day, they go to the same office, do the same things, and meet the same people. All this is done often under high pressure and stress, perhaps to meet some deadline or target. For such people, taking time off to relax in a far-off, calm and quiet place perhaps by the sea would be ideal, to maintain their sanity! So, recreational travel provides much-needed stress relief for busy people.

Secondly, travelling with families is an ideal bonding time. Recreational travel is often with one’s loved ones. It is a time when fathers and mothers do not have to rush to work or cook in the kitchen. It gives the kids the much-needed presence of the parents in a stress-free environment. For the children too it is a time to be away from the pressures of school and homework and after-school activities; a time for family bonding.

Thirdly, travel broadens the mind. When people travel to foreign lands they come across different cultures and ways of life. They will learn to appreciate different types of food, different climates, and even different modes of transport. All these novel experiences make a person more broadminded and accepting of people who are different than one’s own. It makes the world a better place by bringing people closer. In the modern world where there is the ever-present threat of a nuclear war, it is supremely important for people to be appreciative of other cultures and races. Recreational travel is one of the ways in which this can be achieved.

Also, travel and tourism have become one of the major sources of income for many countries in the world. It is beneficial to those who are employed in the industry as a source of income. It is also one of the factors that can reduce poverty and boost the economic development of a country. This is especially true of underdeveloped and developing countries. When tourists visit, they spend money on food, tickets to visit major attractions, to buy souvenirs, and so on. This is a major source of income for the native people. There are countries whose economy is solely dependent on tourism.

However, such reliance on recreational travel for income brings some disadvantages too. Places that are very crowded tourist spots often suffer from the negative impacts of tourism. Travellers often litter and cause damage to the environment. Sometimes, historical monuments and the local culture are treated without respect. Also, relying on recreational travel and tourism for income is not sustainable always. This was seen when Covid-19 hit many countries. In such situations when people’s mobility is severely limited, there is no chance of recreational travel. Besides, a single natural disaster is enough to drive travellers away from a scenic spot.

Many people are skeptical of recreational travel because of the cost involved. They believe that spending so much money just for travelling to another place is not worth it. However, it should be remembered that there are many options available now for the budget-conscious traveller. There are budget airlines like Air Asia now that are not too expensive if you plan your travel early enough. Also, it is not necessary to stay in 5 star hotels when one is travelling. Many backpackers stay in cheaper hostels to save money. Many even carry with them a small stove so that they can cook their own food very cheaply.

Considering the pros and cons of recreational travel, the scale is still tilted towards the pros. The advantages of recreational travel far outweigh the disadvantages. In the highly connected modern world of the future, recreational travel and tourism will definitely grow and our human civilization is more likely to benefit from it, not harmed.