When it comes to volcano tourism, travelers generally fall into two categories: those who avoid getting near and those who actively want to approach volcanoes.

The popularity of volcano tourism has been on the rise ever since British entrepreneur Thomas Cook led the first party of tourists to visit Mount Vesuvius in 1841. Currently, a large number of individuals go to destinations such as Iceland, Italy, and Hawai'i in order to see and encounter the immense force of nearby volcanoes. Furthermore, there is a growing array of options available to travelers who want to explore these natural phenomena, ranging from a straightforward trek in Volcanoes National Park in Hawai'i to descending into an active volcano via the use of rappelling techniques on Vanuatu's Ambrym Island.
The Blue Lagoon resort, a popular tourist destination in Iceland, has been evacuated due to volcanic activity in the vicinity. This is the seventh eruption in the region since December 2023. The spa, situated a mere 5km away from the little fishing village of Grindavík where the eruption occurred, is powered by geothermal energy due to its placement in a lava field. While no fatalities have been recorded in connection with this eruption, a number of visitor fatalities at other volcanoes have raised concerns about the overall safety of volcano tourism.

In 2019, a total of 22 individuals lost their lives and 25 sustained injuries during a tourist excursion to Whakaari/White Island, a stratovolcano located off the coast of New Zealand. The incident occurred when the volcano unexpectedly released a surge of very hot steam. This tragic event has been thoroughly examined in the 2022 Netflix documentary titled «The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari». Mount Marapi, a very active and renowned volcano on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, caused the deaths of 23 hikers and inflicted injuries on several more in 2023 due to an unforeseen eruption of scorching ash. Is volcanic tourism considered safe? Fortunately for adventure travelers, specialists affirm that it is really possible, albeit with some crucial conditions.

Prior to starting, doing preliminary research is essential. «Individuals engaging in volcano tourism must thoroughly educate themselves» states Matthew Patrick, a geologist with the Hawaiian volcanic Observatory. Acquire knowledge of the limitations in place and the measures taken by local authorities to enforce them and ensure public safety. One should check local tourist websites for the most up-to-date safety information and subscribe to SMS notifications when visiting national parks. Furthermore, while embarking on a journey to an active volcano, it is advisable to accompany a trustworthy and well-regarded guide. Although it is possible for travelers to independently visit some locations, such as the Acatenango volcano in Guatemala, it is advisable to go for a guided trip when it comes to seeing active volcanoes, mostly for safety reasons.«Every volcano possesses unique characteristics, thus individuals must remain cognizant of this fact» asserts Patrick. "In previous years, it was possible to approach the lava flows of certain volcanoes in Hawai'i with a reasonable level of safety». However, it is evident that being in close proximity to an erupting volcano would be quite undesirable.

Additionally, cultural factors, such as those present in Volcanoes National Park, may also need to be taken into account. According to Indigenous Hawaiian tradition, volcanoes are seen as sentient entities, and volcanic outbursts have great cultural and spiritual importance. Scientists and tourists are requested to demonstrate utmost respect for the profound significance that volcanoes have for this community. Responsible protocols for courteous visitation including refraining from disrupting the movement of lava, refraining from extracting plants or rocks from the vicinity, and refraining from capturing photographs or recordings of Indigenous Hawaiians engaged in prayer in close proximity. «Forecasting eruptions within hours is not that difficult. But still, sometimes they manage to surprise us» – Kristín Vogfjorð.

Many tourist boards provide instructions on how to visit local volcanoes in a responsible manner, if it is deemed appropriate. Following the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland, the country's tourist website has created a dedicated page to provide current and relevant information. While evacuation precautions are now in place on the Reykjanes peninsula, where the eruptions have taken place, activities in the rest of the nation are returning to normal.
Volcano tourism has become significantly safer worldwide, including in Iceland, due to advancements in predicting eruptions and hazardous events like toxic gas emissions associated with volcanoes, as stated by Kristín Vogfjorð, the head of Geoscience Research at the Icelandic Meteorological Office. «Since 2000, we have successfully predicted certain volcanic eruptions in Iceland» - said Vogfjorð. «Predicting volcanic eruptions within a few hours is not a challenging task». However, on sometimes, they are able to astonish us.