Ignoring life-threatening dangers and high costs, many people are still drawn to trips to the depths of the ocean or out into space.
A year ago, the world focused its attention on the remote depths of the North Atlantic when the Titan submarine, a cramped vessel operated by a video game controller, lost communication while descending to the wreck of the Titanic. With only 96 hours of oxygen supply, a rushed rescue mission was launched. Days later, authorities confirmed that the submersible had suffered a “catastrophic explosion” at a depth of 3,800 meters, instantly killing the two crew members and three passengers, who each paid $250,000 (6.3 billion VND) for the trip.
Those wondering if the tragic fate of the Titan might prompt a reevaluation of the future of adventure tourism received an answer last month when a real estate billionaire announced plans to build another submersible to visit the Titanic. This news came just nine days after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s space technology company, Blue Origin, conducted its first crewed flight since one of its rockets caught fire in 2022. Six passengers paid up to $1.25 million (31.8 billion VND) each for a 9-minute and 53-second orbital flight.
Humans have long explored the world.
However, in light of the extreme risks, costs, and environmental concerns associated with adventure tourism, many continue to question whether travelers should venture to the edge of the Earth—or even further.
“The adventure tourism industry is fraught with high costs, high risks, and inadequate safety measures,” stated Melvin S. Marsh, who presented his research paper, “The Ethical and Medical Dilemmas of Adventure Tourism,” at this year’s International Tourism Research Conference.
Yet, Marsh and other experts say they do not expect anything to change. “No one is surprised by these deaths. You assume that will happen. Very few people even care about this issue,” he added.
Meanwhile, despite extreme pollution, the number of private rocket launches has doubled since 2019, largely due to the ongoing race among billionaires Bezos, Elon Musk, and Richard Branson to see which commercial rocket company can dominate the market.
Supporters have compared this new space race to the early development of air travel. In its infancy, only the daring and eccentric dared to fly, followed by wealthy passengers. Eventually, the industry grew to the point where air travel became common and is now the safest mode of transportation worldwide.
According to Deana Weibel, a cultural anthropologist specializing in religious pilgrimages and space tourism, the urge to explore distant frontiers (whether across oceans or into space) is part of what it means to be human. While some view these 10-minute space journeys as mere displays of wealth, Weibel believes that witnessing Earth from above has a profound positive impact on travelers.
Weibel, who has interviewed astronauts, noted that their lives change the moment they see our planet from above. “It forces you to realize how fragile this planet is and how everything else around it is uninhabitable,” she stated.
Arun Upneja, Dean of the School of Hospitality Management at Boston University, suggested that one way to address the risks and potential costs of adventure tourism is to require companies in this sector to provide insurance, making them accountable for risks following an accident.
However, Upneja does not believe the potential dangers of adventure tourism will slow its growth. He pointed out that the waiver signed by Titan passengers mentioned the word “death” three times on the first page. Pricing will also not be a long-term barrier. “Costs will definitely come down. People have participated and will continue to participate,” he added.
The Explorers Club is an international organization founded in 1904 by Arctic explorers to promote exploration and scientific research. Synnove Stromsvag, President of the Norwegian Branch of the organization and head of the rescue team, stated that nothing can deter the human desire to explore and push boundaries. “Humanity has always explored. That is how we learn about the world and about science. We should not underestimate private enterprise and individuals in developing this technology,” she emphasized.
