Skip to main content

Instagram a key factor in park visits

 

A study by The Guardian (UK) has confirmed what we really all knew: The big driver these days in where to go is the search for 'Instagramable' sights.

The paper cites the Colorado River's Horseshoe Bend, near Page, Arizona, as an example. With the invention of digital cameras and then of Instagram and other photo sharing apps, the scenic spot has gone from a few thousand visitors a year to 100,000 in 2010 (the first Instagram year) to 750,000 in 2015. This year, the total is expected to top out at about 2 million.

According to Maschelle Zia, manager of the area for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, "Social media is the number one driver. People don't come here for solitude. They are looking for the iconic photo."

Similar rises in park use have been noted elsewhere, especially in Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks. While it's encouraging to think that more and more people are becoming conscious of nature and its beauty, the National Park Service is concerned about some areas being overwhelmed and overcrowded, especially at a time when its budgets have been cut.

The best part of every trip is realizing that it has upset your expectations

Add Comment

Comments (3)

Newest · Oldest · Popular
Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×