Traveling (very!) light

 

Remember "You'll own nothing and be happy"?  Well, it looks like that day may be drawing nearer, if at least some airlines and resorts have their way.  In an article titled "Are luggage-free trips the future?", the BBC observes:

To highlight how travelling sustainably first starts at home, here are some places that are challenging the long-established idea of packing before you leave – and offering shortcuts to a more streamlined holiday.

Japan 

In a daring move towards a more sustainable aviation industry, Japan Airlines recently launched a pilot programme giving overseas travellers the option to rent clothes for their stay in the country in advance – thus eliminating the need to lug and load. 

. . .

The Alps 

Around the world, skiers are trying to lower their carbon footprints. But while winter sports holidays have long been the domain of excess oversized baggage costs, there is an element of changing perceptions. A new idea is emerging in resorts across France, Switzerland and Austria: leave the gear at home and rent it at the resort.

. . .

Dubrovnik 

While Venice was the first destination bold enough to consider banning wheelie suitcases to better preserve the city's overcrowded streets in 2014, Dubrovnik has turned the argument into action – now recommending visitors leave their rolling luggage at home ... the city now recommends visitors not disturb the historic cobbled streets by carrying – not dragging – wheeled baggage around.

. . .

East Africa

Safari lodges in national parks across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda offer a different proposition to most holidays ... while there is no ban on certain types of luggage, restrictions are commonly in place and there is an expectation for travellers to understand and respect the need to arrive light.

There's more at the link.

That's all very well for the well-heeled;  but what about the rest of us, who don't have spare cash to burn?  It's also great for the resorts, which can "rent out" clothing, sports gear and other goodies (at a significant extra profit to themselves), then wash and clean it and do the same thing over and over again.  I daresay they'll end up making a profit of at least ten times what they paid for the stuff, all at our expense.

(One can only hope that their laundry and cleaning services are up to the job.  Given how many hotels already have problems with bedbugs, how many more will find unwanted insect visitors in their rented clothing or sports gear?  Who's to say that the person who rented those clothes before me was as clean and hygiene-conscious as I am?)

I can't help wondering whether this isn't being pushed by those who stand to benefit most from it.  The resorts and sports lodges are obvious winners, but there's also the airlines, who won't have to devote as much hold space to carrying passengers' luggage - they can instead fill it with higher-profit air freight containers.  There's also the perspective of those who want to "save the earth" by (among other things) reducing leisure travel.  If it becomes a lot more expensive to travel, through having to rent what you need at your destination rather than carry it with you, won't that play right into their hands?  They won't have to legally restrict leisure travel;  the costs involved will do it for them.

This may be on a par with the "eat insects!" crowd:  yet another attempt to modify our behavior to fit in with the "green revolution".  Hard pass from me, thank you very much!

Peter