The travel industry is currently out of control, engaging in a “race to the bottom” that is changing how locals perceive the influx of visitors into their communities
Aug 26, 2024
Protests have erupted in the streets, graffiti urges tourists to leave, and local populations shrink as short-term rentals proliferate, driving up prices and pushing out residents. This year, it feels like the tide has turned against tourism, and communities are starting to push back.
Key takeaways
- The tourism industry has overlooked its most valuable resource: the support of locals. Without it, the entire structure is at risk of collapse. In many areas, this goodwill has been lost, and regaining it will be a challenge;
- Residents are demanding change, but meaningful improvements will only come with a robust tourism-driven economy that can improve and modernize social systems and infrastructure.
- Cooperation between the countries that send tourists and those that receive them is essential – the industry should not hold all the power;
- In a decade, some destinations will have successfully met these challenges, while others may be beyond recovery.
Ge the full story at CNN Travel
