lito:tourism

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lito:tourism [2026/03/16 19:38] – Simon Grantlito:tourism [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Low-impact tourism+This topic is part of [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]]. 
 +====== Low-impact tourism ======
  
 ![Tourism](wiki:tourism.jpg) ![Tourism](wiki:tourism.jpg)
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-## What is low-impact tourism?+===== What is low-impact tourism? =====
  
 Low-impact tourism is about sustainable travel and leisure activities that directly benefit local communities and that are respectful of wildlife, local people and their cultures - including travel that minimises our negative impact on the environment and the places we visit. Low-impact tourism is about sustainable travel and leisure activities that directly benefit local communities and that are respectful of wildlife, local people and their cultures - including travel that minimises our negative impact on the environment and the places we visit.
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 Here are the main impacts that low-impact tourism aims to reduce: Here are the main impacts that low-impact tourism aims to reduce:
-### Social & cultural impacts+==== Social & cultural impacts ====
  
 The vast majority of tourism is a long way from responsible. It’s a huge, highly lucrative and completely unregulated global industry dominated by some big players that are very difficult to hold to account and who don’t lack for willing customers. The pressure and stresses of modern life, combined with the often bad British weather and the increased accessibility of air travel, have placed the foreign holiday within everyone’s reach and elevated it from a luxury to something approaching a right. Unfortunately, a kind of ethical blind spot often exists when it comes to travel: people who try to live sustainably throughout the year will think nothing of jetting halfway round the world for a couple of weeks of sunshine. The holiday represents an escape from daily life and people tend to adopt an ‘anything goes’ attitude as soon as they step on the plane, behaving in ways they would never dream of back home. From gawking at or snapping photos of strangers’ children or native tribespeople, to walking scantily-clad into a sacred place, or drunken revelry in the streets, cultural insensitivity is often to blame for growing resentment of tourists.  Rowdy stag and hen parties have now become such a common irritant across Europe that a major resort in Crete once banned large groups from its hotels. The vast majority of tourism is a long way from responsible. It’s a huge, highly lucrative and completely unregulated global industry dominated by some big players that are very difficult to hold to account and who don’t lack for willing customers. The pressure and stresses of modern life, combined with the often bad British weather and the increased accessibility of air travel, have placed the foreign holiday within everyone’s reach and elevated it from a luxury to something approaching a right. Unfortunately, a kind of ethical blind spot often exists when it comes to travel: people who try to live sustainably throughout the year will think nothing of jetting halfway round the world for a couple of weeks of sunshine. The holiday represents an escape from daily life and people tend to adopt an ‘anything goes’ attitude as soon as they step on the plane, behaving in ways they would never dream of back home. From gawking at or snapping photos of strangers’ children or native tribespeople, to walking scantily-clad into a sacred place, or drunken revelry in the streets, cultural insensitivity is often to blame for growing resentment of tourists.  Rowdy stag and hen parties have now become such a common irritant across Europe that a major resort in Crete once banned large groups from its hotels.
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Economic impacts+==== Economic impacts ====
  
 Tourism can provide a much-needed boost to economies, but reliance on foreign visitors can be a double-edged sword. If too many people abandon traditional occupations to rush into more lucrative jobs in the tourist trade, it can lead to decline or loss of traditional skills to the detriment of other national industries. For example, Egypt sold itself so comprehensively to the tourist trade that its economy was devastated when the flow of visitors dried up in the wake of political instability and insecurity following the ‘Arab Spring’. Tourism can provide a much-needed boost to economies, but reliance on foreign visitors can be a double-edged sword. If too many people abandon traditional occupations to rush into more lucrative jobs in the tourist trade, it can lead to decline or loss of traditional skills to the detriment of other national industries. For example, Egypt sold itself so comprehensively to the tourist trade that its economy was devastated when the flow of visitors dried up in the wake of political instability and insecurity following the ‘Arab Spring’.
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 Cruise liners are giant floating all-inclusive resorts that sail under a ‘flag of convenience’, allowing them to register the business in a country of their choosing. Companies must then adhere to the tax, safety, labour and environmental laws of that nation (no prizes for guessing they don’t tend to choose countries with the most rigorous ones). These behemoths of the sea are highly polluting, use very low grade fuel - thousands of times worse than car diesel - and are known to dump raw sewage at sea. Every day at ports around the world these floating cities disgorge thousands of passengers who flock straight to the main attractions, overwhelming them. As with all-in resorts, these ‘low value’ tourists contribute very little to the local economy - all their food and drink is provided on the ship and they don’t even pay the nominal tourist taxes levied on beds in the city. Cruise liners are giant floating all-inclusive resorts that sail under a ‘flag of convenience’, allowing them to register the business in a country of their choosing. Companies must then adhere to the tax, safety, labour and environmental laws of that nation (no prizes for guessing they don’t tend to choose countries with the most rigorous ones). These behemoths of the sea are highly polluting, use very low grade fuel - thousands of times worse than car diesel - and are known to dump raw sewage at sea. Every day at ports around the world these floating cities disgorge thousands of passengers who flock straight to the main attractions, overwhelming them. As with all-in resorts, these ‘low value’ tourists contribute very little to the local economy - all their food and drink is provided on the ship and they don’t even pay the nominal tourist taxes levied on beds in the city.
  
-### Environmental impacts+==== Environmental impacts ====
  
 If you’re jetting off for a couple of weeks in the sun or for a quick city break, the damage starts the minute you get on the plane. Flying uses huge quantities of fuel, produces a colossal amount of carbon and is recognised by experts as [one of the main contributors to climate change](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_aviation). The cost of flights is kept artificially low since aviation fuel is heavily subsidised, making greener transport like train travel look astronomical by comparison. Something is definitely wrong when it’s cheaper to fly to Lisbon for the weekend than to take the train from London to the Lake District. If you’re jetting off for a couple of weeks in the sun or for a quick city break, the damage starts the minute you get on the plane. Flying uses huge quantities of fuel, produces a colossal amount of carbon and is recognised by experts as [one of the main contributors to climate change](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_aviation). The cost of flights is kept artificially low since aviation fuel is heavily subsidised, making greener transport like train travel look astronomical by comparison. Something is definitely wrong when it’s cheaper to fly to Lisbon for the weekend than to take the train from London to the Lake District.
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-## What are the benefits of low-impact tourism?+===== What are the benefits of low-impact tourism? =====
  
 Tourism represents an important source of income for many countries, particularly those where traditional industries are in decline. It can open up opportunities to members of the community traditionally excluded from the more lucrative occupations. For example, Nepal boasts the only all-female trekking company, while a women-owned coop in Tanzania ensures money from tourists gets spent in the community (rather than being drunk by the men!). Small-scale tourism of this kind, where travellers stay and eat in local businesses or directly employ local people, ensures money stays in the local community rather than disappearing into the pocket of some multinational tour operator. Tourism represents an important source of income for many countries, particularly those where traditional industries are in decline. It can open up opportunities to members of the community traditionally excluded from the more lucrative occupations. For example, Nepal boasts the only all-female trekking company, while a women-owned coop in Tanzania ensures money from tourists gets spent in the community (rather than being drunk by the men!). Small-scale tourism of this kind, where travellers stay and eat in local businesses or directly employ local people, ensures money stays in the local community rather than disappearing into the pocket of some multinational tour operator.
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 Last but not least, travel provides an opportunity for cultural exchange, to engage with and learn about other people, something that’s ever more important in these times of rising nationalism and isolationism. Initiatives like [Couchsurfing](https://www.couchsurfing.com/) take this one step further and out of the hands of corporations, giving travellers across the world the chance to stay with local people in their homes for free and learn about their lives first-hand. Last but not least, travel provides an opportunity for cultural exchange, to engage with and learn about other people, something that’s ever more important in these times of rising nationalism and isolationism. Initiatives like [Couchsurfing](https://www.couchsurfing.com/) take this one step further and out of the hands of corporations, giving travellers across the world the chance to stay with local people in their homes for free and learn about their lives first-hand.
-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 It goes without saying that the best thing you can do for the environment is not to fly. Rail travel should be the default choice in the UK and Europe. While it will obviously take longer, try seeing it as part of the holiday rather than scrambling to get there by the fastest possible route. Relax and enjoy the ride (easier to do when you can walk around and stretch your legs instead of having them rammed into the back of someone else’s seat). Check out sites like [The Man in Seat 61](https://www.seat61.com/) for advice on routes, connections and how to book multi-leg trips. It goes without saying that the best thing you can do for the environment is not to fly. Rail travel should be the default choice in the UK and Europe. While it will obviously take longer, try seeing it as part of the holiday rather than scrambling to get there by the fastest possible route. Relax and enjoy the ride (easier to do when you can walk around and stretch your legs instead of having them rammed into the back of someone else’s seat). Check out sites like [The Man in Seat 61](https://www.seat61.com/) for advice on routes, connections and how to book multi-leg trips.
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 There are lots of low-impact activities that you can do on holiday, from [[wisw:wild swimming]], [hiking](walk:walking), [[cycl:cycling]], [kayaking](cano:canoes), [[starg:stargazing]], [wildlife watching](ntaw:nature_awareness), visiting alternative technology or nature centres and animal sanctuaries, to cookery courses, [[craf:craft]] and [bushcraft](/bush/bushcraft) workshops and more. There are lots of low-impact activities that you can do on holiday, from [[wisw:wild swimming]], [hiking](walk:walking), [[cycl:cycling]], [kayaking](cano:canoes), [[starg:stargazing]], [wildlife watching](ntaw:nature_awareness), visiting alternative technology or nature centres and animal sanctuaries, to cookery courses, [[craf:craft]] and [bushcraft](/bush/bushcraft) workshops and more.
  
-### Is it more expensive?+==== Is it more expensive? ====
  
 No. Apart from the (artificial) difference between rail and air fares, responsible travel doesn’t need to be more expensive. In fact, staying in small places with local people is likely to be much cheaper than a large hotel. There are ethical tour operators out there who might cost a bit more but, as with everything in life, you get what you pay for. If you’re employing people as part of an activity (i.e. porters etc.), make sure they are properly paid and taken care of. Even if it costs you a bit more it’s unlikely to make the trip unviable. If you spend a bit more to ensure everyone is taken care of, you’re much more likely to have a good interaction with people and a better experience, which, at the end of the day, is what it’s all about. No. Apart from the (artificial) difference between rail and air fares, responsible travel doesn’t need to be more expensive. In fact, staying in small places with local people is likely to be much cheaper than a large hotel. There are ethical tour operators out there who might cost a bit more but, as with everything in life, you get what you pay for. If you’re employing people as part of an activity (i.e. porters etc.), make sure they are properly paid and taken care of. Even if it costs you a bit more it’s unlikely to make the trip unviable. If you spend a bit more to ensure everyone is taken care of, you’re much more likely to have a good interaction with people and a better experience, which, at the end of the day, is what it’s all about.
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### A word about volunteering+==== A word about volunteering ====
  
 Volunteering seems like the ultimate ethical holiday, a chance to ‘give something back’ while visiting a cool place. However, while organisations like [VSO](https://www.vsointernational.org/) demand proven skills and experience in order to match volunteers to suitable projects, these days volunteering has mushroomed into a huge and very profitable package industry and not all operators are so scrupulous. Volunteers may arrive with the best intentions, but without proper controls they could be doing more harm than good. If you’re engaged in unskilled labour then you may be taking a job away from a local person who could do the same thing. Even teaching English can be unproductive at best and at worst detrimental when students are inexpertly taught by a series of rotating unqualified volunteers using different methods. Volunteering seems like the ultimate ethical holiday, a chance to ‘give something back’ while visiting a cool place. However, while organisations like [VSO](https://www.vsointernational.org/) demand proven skills and experience in order to match volunteers to suitable projects, these days volunteering has mushroomed into a huge and very profitable package industry and not all operators are so scrupulous. Volunteers may arrive with the best intentions, but without proper controls they could be doing more harm than good. If you’re engaged in unskilled labour then you may be taking a job away from a local person who could do the same thing. Even teaching English can be unproductive at best and at worst detrimental when students are inexpertly taught by a series of rotating unqualified volunteers using different methods.
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 </figure> </figure>
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-### Here’s an idea+==== Here’s an idea ====
  
 It’s absolutely unsustainable for everyone in the world to fly around the planet on holiday. Unsustainable means that it can’t be sustained, so it can’t continue. So what’s the alternative? Is it too idealistic to imagine a world where people live in beautiful places with strong communities and jobs that they enjoy, so there’s no need to ‘escape’ from anything? It’s absolutely unsustainable for everyone in the world to fly around the planet on holiday. Unsustainable means that it can’t be sustained, so it can’t continue. So what’s the alternative? Is it too idealistic to imagine a world where people live in beautiful places with strong communities and jobs that they enjoy, so there’s no need to ‘escape’ from anything?
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/wellbeing). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Conservation Volunteers](https://www.tcv.org.uk/) - volunteer for breaks doing conservation work - [Conservation Volunteers](https://www.tcv.org.uk/) - volunteer for breaks doing conservation work
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-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [[cycl:Cycling]] - [[cycl:Cycling]]
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 - [[wwoo:WWOOFing]] - [[wwoo:WWOOFing]]
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • lito/tourism.1773689886.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/16 19:38
  • by Simon Grant