An innovative interdisciplinary study conducted by Australian researchers recently applied the concept of entropy to tourism, suggesting that traveling may offer significant health advantages, such as delaying the onset of aging. So, if you want to delay the inevitable, get older slower, then maybe you should start to travel more.
Entropy is a fundamental concept in physics, thermodynamics, and information theory that measures the degree of disorder, randomness, or uncertainty in a system. It’s often described as a measure of how much energy in a system is unavailable for doing useful work.
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So, how does this apply to getting old?
“Ageing, as a process, is irreversible. While it can’t be stopped, it can be slowed down,” said PhD candidate Ms Fangli Hu from Australia’s Edith Cowan University.
Ms Hu noted that positive travel experiences could enhance individuals’ physical and mental wellness through exposure to novel environments, engagement in physical activities and social interaction, and the fostering of positive emotions. These potential benefits have been acknowledged through practices such as wellness tourism, health tourism, and yoga tourism.
“Tourism isn’t just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people’s physical and mental health,” Ms Hu added.
O.K. But is this due to tourism specifically or just having more enjoyable experiences? Maybe just being happy can slow the aging process?
Tourism can invigorate the body and mind by exposing individuals to novel environments and stimulating activities. These new experiences can activate stress responses and elevate metabolic rates, positively impacting metabolic processes and the body’s self-regulating mechanisms. Additionally, such exposure may stimulate the adaptive immune system.
Ms Hu said that this reaction improves the body’s ability to perceive and defend itself against external threats. “Put simply, the self-defense system becomes more resilient. Hormones conducive to tissue repair and regeneration may be released and promote the self-healing system’s functioning.”
“Participating in these activities could enhance the body’s immune function and self-defense capabilities, bolstering its hardiness to external risks. Physical exercise may also improve blood circulation, expedite nutrient transport, and aid waste elimination to collectively maintain an active self-healing system. Moderate exercise is beneficial to the bones, muscles, and joints in addition to supporting the body’s anti–wear-and-tear system,” she added.
