Noise is one of the most underestimated issues in modern tourism. It leaves no physical traces like sunburn and causes no immediate pain, yet according to the World Health Organization (WHO), its impact on the human body indicates that long-term exposure to environmental noise can impair sleep quality, elevate stress levels, and negatively affect general well-being and health.

Road Traffic, Household Appliances, Loud Neighbors

On a daily basis, we are surrounded by numerous sounds to which we often become accustomed. Vacations are intended to be an escape from this daily hustle and bustle. However, it appears that many popular tourist destinations are equally noisy.

The most common sources of noise during vacations include:

• heavy vehicular and air traffic in close proximity to resorts,

• motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis, and motorboats,

• music clubs and outdoor events,

• noisy hotels featuring entertainment programs,

• playgrounds and amusement parks.

Interestingly, research demonstrates that even if noise does not fully wake us up, the brain still registers it. This implies that sleep quality may be compromised and less restorative, even though in the morning we feel as though we slept through the entire night.

The Sound of the Sea Drowns Out the Noise…

Many individuals believe that the beach is a perfectly quiet environment. In reality, the sound of waves frequently blends with music from bars, conversations of hundreds of tourists, passing jet skis, or flying aircraft.

Interestingly, the sound of the sea itself is an example of what is known as natural broadband noise. For many people, it has a calming effect because it masks individual, abrupt sounds. This is precisely why the sounds of waves are utilized in sleep-inducing applications.

However, we do not perceive every sound of similar intensity in the same manner. Birdsong or the rustling of a forest typically evoke positive emotions, whereas the sound of a motorcycle or aircraft engine is more frequently deemed a nuisance. Acousticians refer to this as the study of the soundscape – where not only the volume matters, but also the character of the sound and our attitude toward it.

Why Does Noise Tire Us So Much?

Our body treats sudden, loud sounds as potential danger signals. Even during sleep, a temporary increase in heart rate or activation of the nervous system can occur. If this situation recurs repeatedly over several days of vacation, feelings of fatigue and irritability arise instead of relaxation.

Studies cited by the WHO show that noise – particularly road and aircraft noise – is linked to a higher risk of sleep disturbances and chronic stress. Consequently, an increasing number of cities and tourist regions are planning quiet zones and nighttime traffic restrictions.

Did You Know That…?

• The quietest place in the world is located in Microsoft's laboratory in the USA. It is so quiet there that after a few minutes, many people begin to hear their own heartbeat, lungs working, and even the movement of their eyeballs.

• In certain countries, what is known as silent tourism is developing. Tourists select destinations remote from roads, airports, and major resorts specifically to escape the noise.

• Noise is one of the few environmental pollutants that vanishes immediately when the source is turned off. It does not persist in soil or water, but its effects on humans can last significantly longer.

Vacationing More Intelligently

We cannot always avoid noise, but we can limit its impact. Prior to traveling, it is advisable to check whether the hotel is located near a busy street or an airport. Noise maps published by many cities and reviews from other tourists can be helpful. Sometimes, selecting a garden-view room instead of a street-view room ensures a much more peaceful sleep.

Destinations focused on contact with nature are also gaining popularity – national parks, small towns, or agritourism farms. In such locations, the primary sounds are wind, water, and birds, which are the very sounds most people perceive as highly relaxing.

Silence as a 21st-Century Luxury

A few decades ago, silence was taken for granted. Today, it is becoming a commodity that must increasingly be sought out consciously. A modern vacation should not merely be a change of location, but above all, an opportunity for the body to regenerate. If our entire vacation is accompanied by the noise of streets, airplanes, and night parties, our brain never transitions into a true state of rest.

It is therefore highly possible that the ultimate luxury of the future will not be a five-star hotel or a rooftop pool, but the opportunity to hear what we can barely hear on a daily basis: silence.

Main sources utilized in the development of this material

• World Health Organization. (2018). Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/279952

• Jarosińska, D., Héroux, M.-È., Wilkhu, P., et al. (2018). Development of the WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(4), 813. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/4/813

• Basner, M., & McGuire, S. (2018). WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Effects on Sleep. IJERPH, 15(3), 519. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/3/519

• Smith, M. G., Cordoza, M., & Basner, M. (2022). Environmental Noise and Effects on Sleep: An Update to the WHO Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives.

• Brown, A. L., & van Kamp, I. (2017). WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines: A Systematic Review of Transport Noise Interventions and Their Impacts on Health. IJERPH, 14(8), 873.

• Davenport, J., & Davenport, J. L. (2006). The Impact of Tourism and Personal Leisure Transport on Coastal Environments: A Review. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science.