Brittney Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA star who also played professionally in Russia during WNBA off-seasons.

She was arrested at a Moscow airport in February 2022 after Russian authorities said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

Russian prosecutors charged her with possession and smuggling of narcotics, and in August she was convicted and sentenced to nine years in a penal colony and fined.

Griner pleaded guilty in July but said she had no criminal intent and blamed the cartridges on hasty packing.

Her arrest and detention drew international attention because she is an openly gay Black athlete detained in a country with hostile policies toward LGBTQ people.

U.S. officials changed Griner’s status to "wrongfully detained" in May 2022, which opened the way for formal negotiations to secure her release.

U.S. negotiators pursued a prisoner-swap that involved offering the release of Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker serving a roughly 25-year sentence in the United States.

Negotiations involved high-level diplomacy, including a July phone call between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and were facilitated by third parties such as the United Arab Emirates.

U.S. officials described the choice to exchange Bout for Griner as a painful, one-for-one decision, and some critics warned the swap could encourage future wrongful detentions by adversaries.

On December 8, 2022, U.S. and Russian planes met in Abu Dhabi and the two governments carried out a swap that returned Griner to U.S. custody and returned Bout to Russia.

President Joe Biden and other U.S. officials said Griner was safe and on a plane home, and reports described her as being in good spirits on the tarmac and upon arrival in San Antonio.

The exchange did not include Paul Whelan, another American detained in Russia, and U.S. officials said they would continue efforts to secure his release.

Reports said Griner was sent to a Russian penal colony known in reporting for beatings, torture, and slave labour during part of her sentence.

Griner later described her imprisonment as harsh, surreal, and terrifying, and she announced plans to write a book about her roughly ten-month detention.

Commentators and officials debated the political implications of the case, noting that Griner’s detention illustrated how high-profile detainees can become leverage in geopolitical disputes and raised questions about the moral and strategic costs of the swap.

The U.S. had precedent for negotiated releases, such as the earlier swap to free Trevor Reed, which also involved commutations and bilateral bargaining.

After returning to the United States Griner reunited with family, was described as in good spirits, and her case remained a focal point for discussion about wrongful detention and diplomatic trade-offs.

Brittney Griner was detained in Russia in February 2022 for possession of cannabis vape cartridges, was convicted and imprisoned, and was returned to the United States in December 2022 in a prisoner swap that exchanged her for Viktor Bout; her case prompted intensive U.S. diplomatic efforts, exposed harsh conditions in Russian penal colonies, and sparked debate about the political costs and precedents of such exchanges.

Brittney Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA star who also played professionally in Russia during WNBA off-seasons.

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Content: Brittney Griner freed from Russian prison in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout

The US and Russia have exchanged jailed US basketball star Brittney Griner for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, once nicknamed “the Merchant of Death,” officials said.

The swap was confirmed by US officials with direct knowledge of the negotiations ahead of an expected White House announcement, the Associated Press reports.

Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist whose months-long imprisonment on drug charges brought unprecedented attention to the population of wrongful detainees.

She was arrested in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport after vape canisters containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage - but she maintained it was an honest mistake.

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed on Thursday morning they had already spoken by phone with Griner and she is said to have been in good spirits.

In a celebratory tweet, Mr Biden said Griner, a native of Houston, Texas, is on a plane home and is safe.

The Russian foreign ministry said it traded Griner for Russian citizen Viktor Bout, a former Soviet Army lieutenant colonel whom the US Justice Department once described as one of the world’s most prolific arms dealers.

Bout, whose exploits inspired a Hollywood movie, was serving a 25-year sentence on charges that he conspired to sell tens of millions of dollars in weapons that US officials said were to be used against Americans.

The deal, the second such exchange in eight months with Russia, procured the release of the most prominent American detained abroad.

The dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, however, did not include the release of Paul Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive jailed in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges.

Mr Whelan's family and the US government say the accusations against him are baseless. He was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in prison.

Griner pleaded guilty in July, though still faced trial because admitting guilt in Russia’s judicial system does not automatically end a case. She acknowledged in court she possessed the canisters, but said she had no criminal intent and said their presence in her luggage was due to hasty packing.

Her status as an openly gay Black woman, locked up in a country where authorities have been hostile to the LBGTQ community, infused racial and gender dynamics into the picture and made each development a matter of global importance.

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Brittney Griner Involved In Possible Prisoner Swap With Russia

In an effort to free Brittney Griner, the pro basketball star detained in Russia, the Biden administration has offered to swap her for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout and send him back to Russia, Forbes has learned. Negotiations are in the early stages, according to a non-government source in a position to know.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time WNBA all-star who also plays professionally in Russia, was arrested in Moscow Feb. 17 after customs police claimed they found vape cartridges with hash oil in her luggage. Bout, the so-called “Merchant of Death,” inspired Nicolas Cage’s gunrunner character in the 2005 film, “Lord of War.” He’s serving a 25-year sentence in federal prison since his 2011 conviction in New York federal court of conspiring to sell millions of dollars in weapons to FARC, the Colombian terror group.

The possibility of a Griner-Bout trade was reported on May 13 by Tass, Russia’s state-owned news agency, and confirmed for Forbes by the source. “Currently, talks are underway on exchanging Bout for Griner,” Tass reported, citing “a source in the Public Monitoring Commission.” A second Moscow-based news outlet, Gazeta.Ru, had earlier reported a Griner-Bout exchange was in the works.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department declined to comment. Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, who leads the interagency team that’s working for Griner’s release, had no comment. The same was true for Bout’s New York attorney, Steve Zissou. Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner’s California agent, did not respond to requests for comment.

Despite the anti-Russian fervor in Washington sparked by President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine, the White House a month ago struck a deal to free Trevor Reed, a former Marine who had been held in a Russian prison for two years for allegedly attacking a Moscow police officer. In exchange, President Joe Biden commuted the sentence of Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving 20 years for conspiring to import $100 million in cocaine.

Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who’d been instrumental in Reed’s release, is also working on behalf of Griner’s family at their request, according to Mickey Bergman, vice president of the Richardson Center. He’s also working for the release of Paul Whelan, a former Marine detained in Moscow since 2018 on espionage charges. “The situation (as you might imagine) is sensitive,” Bergman said, declining to comment further.

Bout was a translator in the Soviet army before starting an air-freight company that transported tens of millions of arms he supplied during his heyday in the 1990s and early 2000s to sanctioned militias and rebels in conflicts throughout Africa and Asia. Soft-spoken, erudite, fluent in seven languages with an IQ of 170, Bout seemed more like a university professor than the world’s most notorious illegal arms trafficker. His 2008 arrest in Bangkok was part of a sting operation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

The U.S. government opposes the practice of wrongful detention as a bargaining chip because it represents a threat to the safety of everyone traveling, working and living abroad, a State Department official told Forbes. That disdain, however, didn’t stop the department from helping arrange the release of Reed and others.

Griner, 31, is by far the most high profile of the more than a dozen Americans detained by Russia in the last decade. That puts more pressure on the State Department, which is acutely aware that as a Black lesbian, Griner could be a target of Putin’s exclusionary politics. Since the maximum base salary in the WNBA is $228,094 — male stars can earn as much as Steph Curry’s $45 million annually — Griner and many other American women play during the WNBA off-season in Russia, where they can bring home more than $1 million. Griner has played several years for the team in Ekaterinburg.

Griner’s U.S. supporters were at first mostly silent over her plight. The government convinced them that Russia might deport her quickly only if her case did not become front-page news. Once it became clear that Russia planned to hold her, the State Department changed her status to “wrongfully detained,” opening the door to swap negotiations. Briner’s U.S. supporters have spoken out forcefully against her imprisonment.

One lingering question is whether a deal to swap Bout for Griner will get Biden’s approval. Given the president’s declaration that Putin is a “war criminal,” some on Griner’s team worry he might hesitate before freeing an infamous Russian arms trafficker.

“There’s a problem with releasing a convicted arms trafficker for Griner, whose drug possession would probably only be a fine in the U.S.,” says Shira Scheindlin, the retired federal judge who presided over the Bout trial and was required to sentence him to the 25-year mandatory minimum. “It would be better if Bout – who has already served too much time in my opinion – was exchanged for both Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. Then there would be some moral equivalency about which few could complain.”

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She was arrested at a Moscow airport in February 2022 after Russian authorities said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

Title:

Content: US-Russia prisoner exchange talks
American female basketball star in exchange for Russian arms dealer Moscow confirmed in negotiations
According to Agence France-Presse, a Russian diplomat pointed out on the 13th that the United States and Russia are discussing prisoner exchange, which is the first time that the Russian side has said that the prisoner exchange negotiations involve the exchange of Viktor Bout, an arms dealer with the title of "businessman of death", and American basketball star Brittney Griner.
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According to the report, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry ’ s North American department, Alexander Datchiev, claimed on Saturday that “discussions on the very sensitive issue of prisoner exchange are taking place through the channels chosen by our president. ”
"Of course, if Washington is careful not to spread propaganda and continue its quiet diplomacy, it should bear fruit," he added.
The report continued, "TASS" (TASS) quoted the news that this is the first time that the Russian side confirmed that the US-Russia prisoner exchange involves the exchange of Bout and the US women's professional basketball (WNBA) player Greiner.
In fact, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said recently that he is ready to discuss the exchange of prisoners with the United States.
He said at the time that President Putin and President Biden had previously reached a consensus on diplomatic channels for discussing prisoner exchanges.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist who won the WNBA championship and previously played in Russia, Greiner was arrested in February for possession of an e-cigarette containing cannabis oil a few days before Moscow launched its assault on Ukraine.
Cannabis is illegal in Russia, whether for medical or recreational purposes.
Greiner, who has pleaded guilty but denied deliberately breaking Russian law, had previously shown little emotion when she appeared in court on August 2.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Greiner ’ s drug-related trial is nearing its end and could be sentenced to 10 years in prison, but could end in a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia.
And Russian arms dealer Bout, who was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and later extradited to the United States, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in the United States in 2011 on charges of supplying weapons to some of the world ’ s most violent and bloody insurgents.
According to the Washington Post, quoting sources, US Secretary of State Colin Blinken said on July 27 that he had made concrete proposals to the Russian side, when the United States proposed to use Bout in the United States in exchange for the return of Greiner and another former Marine detained by Russia Paul Whelan.

Russian prosecutors charged her with possession and smuggling of narcotics, and in August she was convicted and sentenced to nine years in a penal colony and fined.

Title:

Content: US releases basketball player from Russian prison in exchange for arms dealer
Someone may consider such an exchange to be unequal.
Today, 17: 12
Brittney Greiner / Getty Images
On Thursday, December 8, the United States and Russia held an exchange that has been preparing for many months.
American basketball player Brittney Greiner was released from a Russian prison.
In exchange, the country sponsoring terrorism returned arms dealer Victor Bout.
“She ’ s safe, she ’ s on the plane, she ’ s on her way home, ” President Joe Biden said.
In February 2022, Greiner was detained at a Russian airport.
During a search of her belongings, two e-cigarettes with green liquid - cannabis oil - were found in her suitcase.
In some states of the United States, this oil is not prohibited.
As a result, on August 4, she was found guilty of possession and smuggling of drugs and sentenced to nine years in prison and a fine of one million local currency.
Victor Bout, also known as the “arms baron ” and“ merchant of death ”, was sentenced in the United States in 2012 to 25 years in prison for trying to sell weapons and support terrorism.
He is also considered one of the largest illegal arms dealers in the world.
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Content: Global RiskNews Briefs

Russia frees US basketball star in swap with arms dealer Bout

The US and Russia have exchanged US basketball star Brittney Griner for arms dealer Viktor Bout in a prison swap. The arms dealer had been held in an American prison for 12 years. Brittney Griner is on a plane back to the United States.

Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February for possessing cannabis oil and was sent to a penal colony last month. A prisoner exchange was proposed by the US in July. As part of the prisoner exchange, US President Joe Biden signed the order to release Bout, commuting his 25 year jail term.

Read More: Russia frees US basketball star in swap with arms dealer Bout

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Griner pleaded guilty in July but said she had no criminal intent and blamed the cartridges on hasty packing.

Her arrest and detention drew international attention because she is an openly gay Black athlete detained in a country with hostile policies toward LGBTQ people.

U.S. officials changed Griner’s status to "wrongfully detained" in May 2022, which opened the way for formal negotiations to secure her release.

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Content: Categories
Finance

Inside Joe Biden’s Faustian pact with Russia to secure Brittney

Three weeks ago, the American basketball star Brittney Griner arrived at a Russian penal colony known for torture, beatings and slave labour to begin a nine-year sentence following her arrest at a Moscow airport in February for possession of vaping cartridges containing hashish oil.

But in a stunning twist on Thursday, Griner’s plight as an unwitting pawn in a high-stakes geopolitical struggle came to an abrupt end, as she arrived in Abu Dhabi from Moscow and boarded a plane home to reunite with her family. She landed in San Antonio, Texas, early Friday morning.

In exchange for Griner’s release, the US released Viktor Bout, a notorious arms trafficker who was serving a 25-year sentence for conspiring to kill US citizens and aiding a terrorist organisation.

The deal was met with jubilation from Griner’s family and supporters. But the controversial swap for Bout — as well as the exclusion of Paul Whelan, another US citizen imprisoned in Russia — also drew criticism and raised questions about how America’s adversaries might leverage arrests of its citizens in the future.

US officials began working toward Griner’s release as soon as she was apprehended in Russia in February, but the effort became more concentrated on prisoner swap negotiations once the State Department declared in May that she had been wrongfully detained.

In July, US secretary of state Antony Blinken and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov spoke on the phone for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February. During the call, Blinken pressed Lavrov to accept a “substantial proposal” from Washington to release Griner and the former marine Whelan, who has been detained in Russia since 2018 on what the US and his family say are trumped-up espionage charges.

Americans had offered to free Bout, people familiar with the discussions said, but the Russians said they also wanted the release of Vadim Krasikov, a former colonel from Russia’s domestic spy agency who was convicted of murder in Germany last year.

In the ensuing months, officials said, Washington made a number of offers to Russia in an attempt to secure the release of Griner and Whelan.

However, Biden administration officials said that in recent weeks it became clear that Moscow would only accept a one-for-one swap. According to one senior administration official, “the choice was bringing Brittney Griner home right now or bringing no Americans home from Russia right now”.

Despite the Biden administration’s insistence that they had no choice but to exclude Whelan from the deal, Republican lawmakers and others denounced the decision, as well as facilitating the release of Bout, who is also known as “the merchant of death”.

“The Biden administration has allowed Viktor Bout, a dangerous arms dealer who was convicted of conspiring to kill American law enforcement, to walk free,” said Mike Rogers, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee.

“This move to appease Vladimir Putin will only encourage further hostage taking by Russian security forces,” he added.

US officials described Biden’s choice as a painful one, adding that they would continue to work for Whelan’s release. Washington previously secured the release of Trevor Reed, another former marine, via a prisoner swap in April.

People familiar with Thursday’s prisoner exchange likened the episode to “a scene from the Cold War”, with Russian and American planes meeting on the tarmac at an airport in Abu Dhabi.

The Russian plane carrying Griner arrived first, one of the people said. American officials and people familiar with the events said the basketball star was upbeat on the tarmac, saying she was looking forward to returning home.

The Griner-Bout swap marks a rare instance in which the US and Russia have been able to find common ground since Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sending the west’s relationship with Moscow to its lowest ebb since the Cuban missile crisis.

According to people familiar with the matter, the Americans and Russians directly negotiated the details of the swaps, with UAE officials including president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan helping to facilitate the mechanics of the transfer.

It is not unusual for third countries to aid in brokering international diplomatic agreements such as prisoner swaps between hostile countries.

Sheikh Mohammed and Putin discussed the matter when they met in Russia in October, and they spoke on the phone on Wednesday, people familiar with the meetings said. Yousef al-Otaiba, UAE ambassador to the US, was present for the exchange on Thursday and had helped to co-ordinate details on the American side.

On Thursday, some pro-Kremlin commentators hailed the swap as a return to diplomacy. “Everyone sees through this exchange that Moscow and Washington are holding secret negotiations and can make a deal,” Sergei Markov, a political scientist and former member of Russia’s parliament, wrote on Telegram. “And everyone hopes that means Moscow and Washington can make a deal to end the war in Ukraine.”

However, analysts and US officials said that while the breakthrough was a sign that the two sides could get things done when their interests align, it was not evidence of any larger thaw in relations. Biden administration officials added that the recent conversations with Russia about Griner and other prisoners were limited to the release of wrongfully detained Americans.

“The exchange doesn’t do anything to change the situation for bilateral relations. There are lots of issues where they are in open confrontation,” said Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

He said the otherwise dire state of relations between Russia and the west was thrown into sharp relief last week, when Moscow abruptly pulled out of talks on renewing the New Start treaty, the only remaining agreement governing the countries’ nuclear arsenals.

“This is a global stability issue: the last remainders of arms control are falling apart, which could lead to an arms race and a higher risk of dangerous incidents,” he said. “The trajectory we’re on is making that all the more likely.”

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U.S. negotiators pursued a prisoner-swap that involved offering the release of Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker serving a roughly 25-year sentence in the United States.

Negotiations involved high-level diplomacy, including a July phone call between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and were facilitated by third parties such as the United Arab Emirates.

U.S. officials described the choice to exchange Bout for Griner as a painful, one-for-one decision, and some critics warned the swap could encourage future wrongful detentions by adversaries.

On December 8, 2022, U.S. and Russian planes met in Abu Dhabi and the two governments carried out a swap that returned Griner to U.S. custody and returned Bout to Russia.

President Joe Biden and other U.S. officials said Griner was safe and on a plane home, and reports described her as being in good spirits on the tarmac and upon arrival in San Antonio.

The exchange did not include Paul Whelan, another American detained in Russia, and U.S. officials said they would continue efforts to secure his release.

Reports said Griner was sent to a Russian penal colony known in reporting for beatings, torture, and slave labour during part of her sentence.

Griner later described her imprisonment as harsh, surreal, and terrifying, and she announced plans to write a book about her roughly ten-month detention.

Title:

Content: American basketball player Grainer has written a book about her imprisonment in Russia.
Michael Jordan sports shoes sold for a record $2.2 million
American basketball player Grainer has written a book about her imprisonment in Russia.
NEW YORK (AFP) - Sotheby ’ s on Tuesday announced the sale of NBA legend Michael Jordan ’ s sneakers in his last championship final with the Chicago Bulls in 1998 for a record $2.2 million.
At this price, the former Bulls star confirms his reputation as the king of sportswear auctions that are bought in order to keep them in a sports collection, breaking his record for sneakers ($1.4 million in 2021).
He holds the record for the most expensive shirt ($10.1 million in September 2022).
Jordan wore the black and red Air Jordan 13 shoe in the second game of the final round, at Salt Lake City Stadium, an episode narrated in the successful documentary The Last Dance released in 2020 on Netflix and ESPN.
Although the stadium stands were full of Utah Jazz fans, the Bulls won 93-88 thanks to Jordan's 37 points.
Give me a shoe.
Shotheby's estimated the price of the shoes between $2 million and $4 million, pointing out that Jordan gave the shoes after the game to one of the people collecting balls, but the latter is no longer the owner at the moment of sale.
Showbiz did not immediately disclose any information about the seller or buyer.
Basketball star Britney Grainer said on Tuesday she was preparing a book about her 10-month imprisonment in Russia until December, when she was released after a prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington.
The book, whose name is not yet known, is due to be published in 2024, according to Alfred A.
Britney Grainer describes a harsh, surreal experience and terrifying aspects of everyday life in Russia.One of the most prominent LGBT people, Grainer was arrested for drug trafficking when she arrived in Russia in February 2022 to play for the Yekaterinburg team at the end of the NFL season, a common practice among women basketball players. She was released after lengthy negotiations in exchange for the release of Russian arms dealer Victor Bout who was serving a 25-year sentence in the United States.Grainer said her arrest was the beginning of an unimaginable period in my life, so I wasn ’ t ready to talk about it until then.
The only reason I went to Russia for my job was to make my wife, family and colleagues proud of me.
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Commentators and officials debated the political implications of the case, noting that Griner’s detention illustrated how high-profile detainees can become leverage in geopolitical disputes and raised questions about the moral and strategic costs of the swap.

The U.S. had precedent for negotiated releases, such as the earlier swap to free Trevor Reed, which also involved commutations and bilateral bargaining.

After returning to the United States Griner reunited with family, was described as in good spirits, and her case remained a focal point for discussion about wrongful detention and diplomatic trade-offs.

Brittney Griner was detained in Russia in February 2022 for possession of cannabis vape cartridges, was convicted and imprisoned, and was returned to the United States in December 2022 in a prisoner swap that exchanged her for Viktor Bout; her case prompted intensive U.S. diplomatic efforts, exposed harsh conditions in Russian penal colonies, and sparked debate about the political costs and precedents of such exchanges.


Overtourism is the concentration of large numbers of tourists that overload destinations and lower residents' quality of life.

Drivers include cheaper and more accessible flights, social-media-driven hotspots, growth in short-term rentals, and tourism-led development.

Tourism creates jobs but revenues often flow to airlines, large hotel chains and cruise operators while locals face rising rents and exclusion.

Social impacts include crowding, noise, nuisance, loss of community services, and deteriorating resident‑tourist relations that can prompt protests.

Aviation contributes about 2% of global carbon emissions and flights account for roughly 80% of a vacation's carbon footprint.

Environmental harms at destinations include reef damage from harmful sunscreens, pressure on protected areas, and site degradation from concentrated visits.

Prominent hotspots cited include Venice, Barcelona, Mallorca and the Canary Islands in Europe, and locations in Japan such as Kamakura and Mount Fuji.

Policy responses used include visitor caps, entry fees, pre-registration systems, bans on new hotels, limits on cruise ships, and restrictions on short‑term rentals.

Effective management requires cross-department coordination, visitor monitoring, enforcement, prevention planning, and engagement with local communities and businesses.

Mitigation strategies promoted by experts include visiting in shoulder seasons, choosing less‑visited places, staying longer, using trains and public transit, and buying local.

Overtourism results from concentrated tourist demand and harms social, economic, and environmental systems; combined limits, management and sustainable travel practices are needed.

Overtourism is the concentration of large numbers of tourists that overload destinations and lower residents' quality of life.

Title:

Content: Point of view
Lin Chi-yin
Lin Chi-yin: "Traveling Everywhere" and "Over-Travel"
Earlier, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Hsia Baolong, advocated the concept of “travel everywhere ” to fully explore Hong Kong ’ s tourism resources.
To speed up the implementation of the concept, the authorities are planning to set up a "special class" to bring together people inside and outside the Government for in-depth discussions.
In recent days, officials and legislators have expressed their views on the development of "red tourism", exploring new spots in the community, beautifying the streets, and presenting some scenes in the movies.
Simply put, it may be the story behind the attraction, or the accumulated word of mouth on social media, and every tree and grass anywhere can become a tourist attraction.
Of course, the author hopes that the "class" can launch various new ideas; and since the task of the class is to implement the concept of "travel everywhere", then how to implement the concept is the best for Hong Kong, the industry, the community and the public, the class can not ignore.
The University of Hong Kong campus has been forced by tourists, and the school has implemented reservation measures this month.
HKU itself has a complete management structure, and the university can still implement crowd control according to the situation. However, if some scenic spots that go deep into the community or even close to residential buildings are really "red hot", it may not be easy to implement crowd control.
“Everywhere travel ” is a concept, the key to implementation lies in the ability of the authorities to foresee problems. If you rely only on“ see and see ”, it is very likely that good things will turn into bad things.
“Aggressive ” Travel
In 2018, the word “overtourism ” was chosen as the Oxford English Dictionary ’ s word of the year, referring to the negative effects of overloading the area, declining quality of life and environmental damage caused by the influx of tourists to tourist attractions.
For example, Venice, Italy, which has long been affected by “overtourism ”, is not a“ once in a lifetime ” – the local population is only 50,000, and the number of daily tourists has exceeded the local population; during peak season, the number of daily visitors has even doubled.
I have friends who visited the place more than a decade ago, and they all agreed to say that people are crowded and will not go again.
In addition to Venice, some European cities or small islands with a tourism-led economy (such as the Canarias in Spain) also face the problem of job opportunities, high prices, and a homogenization of shops. Multinational companies invest heavily in hotels and holiday cottages, which also lead to higher rents, which locals can ’ t afford.
Even if tourism brings a lot of jobs to the region, it does not mean that the average person can earn a living wage.
People in these places understand the importance of tourism to the local economy, but they do not want the tourism industry to be unlimited, resulting in the resources of the whole place are only for the service of tourists.
"Tourism Hazards" and How to Deal with them
In Japanese society after the epidemic, a similar term, "tourism nuisance", has also appeared to describe problems such as traffic, noise, nuisance, and garbage pollution caused by too many tourists.
This phenomenon, in addition to the popularity of exchange rates, affordable air tickets, and people's desire to travel after the epidemic, social media will also have the effect of focusing on specific hot spots.
In the era of image-led, everyone can follow the picture, some places that were not originally planned as tourist attractions have begun to face sudden overcrowding.
Hong Kong people who love to visit Japan will not be unfamiliar with two “attractions ”: the Daokou near Enojima Electric Railway ’ s Kamakura University Station, and a Lawson convenience store in Kawaguchi-cho.
The former is the "holy place" of the popular manga "When Men are in the bottle". In recent years, the crossing has been congested with traffic due to frequent visits by tourists to "punch", local people can not get on the electric train, and some tourists are dangerous for taking good photos. Lawson is also a "punch" attraction, and the picture is a convenience store with a beautiful view of Mount Fuji. of tourists are constantly crossing the road and parking without permission, causing local residents to feel troubled.
Too many tourists can also lead to a decline in the quality of service, even in Japan, which values the spirit of “work people ”.
When I visited Japan last year, I saw some shops find ways to deal with “tourism hazards ” on their own, such as not allowing diners to take photos in the store, so that after the photos are uploaded to social media, it will cause more people to come and see them; limiting the number of diners to the number of people that the staff can serve, even if the seats are not full.
However, some tourists always find it difficult to understand the intentions behind these arrangements, and I have heard some tourists complain: "Obviously there is still a place, why not let us sit?"
When these conflicts can no longer be handled by businesses and residents themselves, how to strike a balance between “tourism ” and“ public nuisance ” will gradually become a policy issue.
The most extreme way to deal with it is to “eliminate ” popular attractions – coincidentally, the authorities of Kawaguchiko recently erected a 20-meter-long and 2.5-meter-high“ black curtain ” in front of Lawson to drive away tourists who came to take photos.
The reason why the authorities have to take extreme measures is that management alone can not prevent tourists from rushing out of the road, which is actually to "play the spot".
In addition, there are more and more tourist cities and hotspots charging tourists "admission fees" or "admission fees", but this method can not play a large role.
In Venice, for example, the city has been charging a 5 euro entry fee (about HK $42) to “overnight ” travelers since last month.
However, these fees simply cannot curb the huge demand for tourists, and the revenue is mainly used as a financial source to cope with "excessive travel", which can only cure the symptoms, not the root cause.
The Real Meaning of “Travel Everywhere ”
At this point, some people may point out that the above problems will only become problems if we succeed in attracting tourists to Hong Kong; what we have to focus on is how to get more people to come to Hong Kong.
However, how much tourism can bring to a city depends on the management and policies of the city, not on the remedial measures that can be taken.
Although the share of tourism industry in Hong Kong's economy is far less than that of the "tourist city" mentioned above, Hong Kong can't wait to see that other places are looking for countermeasures for the "tourism nuisance", and even start to turn to attack, redefine the tourism industry from the planning level and actively promote tourist education.
In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for example, the government announced last month that it would ban new hotels and limit the number of cruise ships to return the city to a livable and tourism-friendly city. In Kamakura, Japan, people are no longer concentrated at certain points by decentralizing transportation (such as the launch of electric tricycle rental business) and proactively promoting multiple circumnavigation routes (such as the travel routes at 13 locations of Kamakura Shogunate).
The main disadvantage of post-event remediation is that the difficulty and cost of solving the problem are greatly increased, which will also affect the experience of tourists. More than 10 years ago, the North District of Hong Kong also experienced a pharmacy every few steps, and the situation of residents in the North District driving out water consignors on their own, which hurt the feelings of the people of the two places.
In particular, there are many policy issues that can be foreseen in advance, and we do not have to go through them personally before we know what the problem is (for example, the legal problems faced by cleaners under the garbage levy will not be known until the moment of trial).
Since there is a great deal of experience and policy measures in various places to refer to, the “Special Class ” must also strike a balance between tourism and city operations when formulating tourist routes and supporting packages, otherwise the attraction will only lead to losses. After the city of Kamakura solved the problem of overcrowding of tourists, the tourism industry representative of Kanagawa Prefecture (that is, the seat of Kamakura City) pointed out:“ Attraction is not tourism. ” The amount of time it takes to win is certainly not appropriate.
“Travel Everywhere ” is not just about adding tourist attractions, but promoting quality tourism in a more nuanced and proactive way to avoid problems.
The author is a public policy consultant.
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Content: Restricting Mt. Fuji Climbers: Measures Necessary to Enable Safe Ascents of Legendary Peak

Mt. Fuji has long attracted people with its majestic presence. Many people hope to stand on its summit at least once. Sufficient measures must be taken to ensure safe and comfortable climbing.

The Yamanashi prefectural government has decided to limit the number of users of the trail on its side to 4,000 per day from July 1, the opening day of the climbing season. The move is aimed at reducing congestion. A toll of ¥2,000 per person will also be collected.

A gate will be set up near the entrance to the trail at the 5th Station, and access will be closed once the number of climbers reaches the maximum limit. The toll fees will reportedly be used for maintenance and management of the gate as well as for safety measures for climbers.

The number of climbers on Mt. Fuji totaled about 220,000 last summer, recovering to levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. The mountain trails get crowded, and there have been some cases of bad manners, such as the reckless overtaking of other climbers.

To preserve the appeal of the mountain and reduce the risk of accidents, certain restrictions are unavoidable. The toll should be considered a necessary cost to ensure safe and comfortable climbing.

“Bullet climbing,” in which people try to ascend to the summit by climbing all night without staying at a mountain lodge, has become a problem. It creates a high risk for hypothermia and altitude sickness. For that reason, the gate will be closed from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. The move should help deter the dangerous climbing behavior.

The trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side has the highest number of users, accounting for about 60% of the total climbers. To avoid confusion at the site, it is necessary to thoroughly make the restrictions known to the public. Efforts should also be made to publicize the restrictions among foreign visitors, whose numbers have been growing rapidly in recent years.

On the other hand, the three routes on the Shizuoka Prefecture side do not limit the number of climbers or collect tolls. Instead, a pilot system will be introduced to ask people register their climbing itineraries in advance via smartphones or other devices, so that the number of climbers can be tracked as part of an effort to prevent people from attempting bullet climbing.

This is because there are several roads leading to the trails, making it difficult to collect tolls from all climbers. However, the routes on the Shizuoka Prefecture side may become crowded in the future with those who try to avoid paying the toll.

For the time being, it is important to analyze data from the planned pre-registration system to grasp the congestion situation. Depending on the situation, it may be necessary to consider introducing a restriction on the number of climbers.

It is also important for each climber to be aware of the issues. Even if a long-awaited climb is achieved, the effort will all come to nothing if the climber suffers injury, illness or other troubles in the process. Ideally, climbers should take all possible precautions and make a sensible plan.

Overtourism, a situation caused by the concentration of large numbers of tourists, has become a problem in many places. How can the environment of tourist destinations be protected? Society as a whole must think about the issue.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 4, 2024)

Drivers include cheaper and more accessible flights, social-media-driven hotspots, growth in short-term rentals, and tourism-led development.

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“Let the tourists go home! ” – Over-sightseeing is overwhelming the residents of Europe ’ s popular cities
Lisa Stüve
14 July 2024
Many of Europe ’ s holiday destinations are expected to see record numbers of visitors this summer.
However, local residents were deeply troubled by the development of mass tourism and took to the streets to protest.
Is there a solution?
Https: / / p.dw.com / p / 4iD5I
In many of Europe's most popular tourist cities, residents began to protest against the influx of tourists.
Venice is one of them, the local residents are plagued by tourism, the city's housing prices are rising, and the number of available housing is decreasing.
Venice ’ s Old Town also has a resident population of less than 49,000, compared to an estimated 20 million tourists visiting Venice each year.
Europe has the most visitors from all over the world, and Venice isn ’ t the only city to suffer from a surge in visitors.
In Barcelona and other tourist cities in Spain, there are increasing reports of local residents protesting against tourists.
In Lisbon, Prague and Amsterdam, large-scale tourism has led to growing tensions between tourists and locals.
Residents everywhere protested for the same reasons: rising rents, soaring property prices, and problems with access to resources.
Tourism is one of the economic sources
The EU estimates that tourism accounts for about 10 per cent of the economy's total output.
About 12.3 million people are employed in the industry.
“But these are just abstract numbers, ” says Sebastian Zenker, a tourism researcher at Copenhagen Business School.
He pointed out that if rents rise at the same time, property prices exceed residents' affordability, and restaurants are affordable only to tourists, then the income from tourism will not bring real benefits to local residents.
For locals, tourism development must provide them with the balance they feel – that is, liveability is not unduly negatively affected while benefiting from tourism.
Although a large number of people are employed in the tourism industry, "only a few have a good income or can make a living from it," Zeng said in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
He said low wages were a problem.
In Italy, where there is no legal minimum wage, the minimum hourly wage is 4.85 euros in Portugal and 6.87 euros in Spain.
Big tourist tax
Where did all the money go?
Paul Peeters, who studies sustainable tourism and transportation at the University of Breda in the Netherlands, says the money is mostly going to the airline industry, large hotel chains, international companies and cruise lines.
When calculating the flow of tourism, the choice of travel mode is crucial. Cruise tourists eat and drink on board, and passengers who order through large travel agencies usually sell their tickets, hotels, and meals in packages, which tend to spend less locally.
But at the same time, the arrival of tourists brings with it air pollution and water consumption – all at the expense of local residents.
This sense of imbalance has further exacerbated tensions between locals and tourists.
All stakeholders in the tourism industry understand that they need tourists, and the question is how to develop tourism and what kind of tourism to develop.
Copenhagen tourism researcher Zeng Ke said.
Restrictive marketing, rules and bans
The first policies are in place.
For example, new hotels are no longer allowed in Amsterdam.
In addition, the city is trying to control drug and party-themed tourism through targeted restrictive marketing measures.
“De-marketing ” refers to advertising strategies designed to reduce the demand for a product from a specific target group – for example, the city of Amsterdam.
In Lisbon and Palma de Mallorca, the housing market has long been disconnected from the needs of residents and economic realities.
Response: No new rental licenses will be issued to online short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb.
Mallorca has set a time limit for tourist rental housing.
Barcelona has taken a more radical step: the city ’ s 10,000 vacation apartment permits for tourists are set to expire in 2028.
The move aims to reduce pressure on the housing market.
Rents in Barcelona have risen by more than 60% in the past decade.
In addition, there will be further restrictions on the scope of cruise activities or additional charges.
From 2021, Venice will no longer allow large cruise ships to sail into its waters in its historic center.
Amsterdam plans to adopt a similar measure in 2026.
This will not only reduce the number of tourists, but also reduce air pollution.
Are tourists bad too?
Similar to Amsterdam, Mallorca wants to shake off the image of a party city.
They hope to reduce the overall number of tourists, and will be more willing to accept those who can afford to spend.
This is known in industry jargon as “high quality tourism ”.
But is this the solution to the problem?
“It ’ s not, ” says Macià Blázquez-Salom, a geography professor and activist.
He is also a resident of Mallorca.
He believes that excessive emphasis on “luxury tourism ” will only exacerbate inequality.
“‘ Party tours ’ and ‘ beach tours ’ are often limited to specific areas and operate on a scale and standardised basis similar to factory production lines, ” Blasker-Salon told Deutsche Welle.
Its immediate impact is often limited to a small part of the city.
In contrast, tourists with high spending power typically have higher demand, consume more water, tend to travel more excursions, and generally have the financial means to purchase property.
“This will further promote gentrification (Gentrifizierung) and with it the possibility of real estate speculation, ” explains Blaske Salon.
"This type of visitor will have a direct impact on the lives of all the residents," the statement said.
Making tourism sustainable
The tourism industry is still largely driven by pure data growth and is delighted with the growing number of visitors each year.
But for residents of places like Barcelona, Venice and Mallorca, further growth is no longer an acceptable option.
Is there a solution?
Peters says keeping visitor numbers within the limits of what cities and communities can afford or as a way to do it.
He said that ecological and social factors should be taken into account when formulating tourism development strategies and management measures.
For tourism to be sustainable, agreements must be reached with airlines, ports and airport operators, which are often driven by overcapacity – that is, by expanding growth.
© 2024 Deutsche Welle Copyright Notice: All content in this article is protected by copyright law and may not be used without special permission from Deutsche Welle.
Any misconduct will lead to recovery and criminal prosecution.

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Content: HOMEPAGE

From where you go to what you do, experts share how to travel the world without destroying it

  • Traveling sustainably is about making intentional choices to serve your destination and planet well.
  • We asked experts how to make these choices when planning a trip to be as sustainable as possible.
  • This article is part of "Better Me," a series about improving your lifestyle and helping society through sustainable efforts and eco-consciousness.

Sustainable travel can feel like an oxymoron — as Justin Francis, the cofounder and CEO of Responsible Travel, a UK-based travel company that evaluates trips and vacation providers, told Insider.

The travel industry can create jobs, or it can lead to over-tourism that lowers residents' quality of life. Flights emit harmful emissions, but transport travelers to destinations where they can support local economies and participate in positive, nature-based tourism. Lodging accommodations can boost the local economy, or price residents out of their homes.

But Francis believes people can travel "in a way that not only reduces harm but actively maximizes the benefits, for both planet and people."

Five other sustainable travel experts who spoke with Insider agree and say there are actions travelers can take to lower their negative impact, support the destinations they're visiting, and have an overall better trip. They suggest considering every aspect of your trip — from where you go to how you get there — as you plan to travel more sustainably.

Kelley Louise, the executive director and founder of Impact Travel Alliance, a nonprofit centered on informing travelers to help improve the world, told Insider that traveling sustainably takes practice and being an imperfect traveler is better than not trying.

As Louise said, "It's about asking, 'How can you make little decisions that add up over time and have a positive impact on the world?'"

If you're looking for a place to start, here's what the experts Insider spoke with recommend.

First, choose a destination with the planet in mind

Go off the beaten path

Some of the experts Insider spoke with suggest skipping top tourist destinations and opting for under-the-radar spots.

"By seeking out the less-visited destinations, you will be helping to spread the economic benefits of tourism more widely and helping to avoid the negative impacts that over-tourism has on local residents," Georgina Davies — the communications manager for The Travel Foundation, a group that advocates for sustainable tourism — told Insider.

Paloma Zapata agrees. The CEO of Sustainable Travel International — an organization that works with local governments, businesses, and nonprofits to provide sustainable travel opportunities — also recommends visiting a hidden gem. If you're going to Greece, for instance, you could skip Mykonos and head to an island like Anafi or Ios with fewer tourists.

Once you've picked your destination, Davies encourages travelers to visit the region's national parks and protected areas. Often these places have entrance fees, which support conservation efforts.

Choose a destination that embraces sustainability

Jessica Blotter, CEO and cofounder of public benefit corporation Kind Travel, told Insider she looks for destinations with tourism boards that have a dedicated sustainable travel section on their website.

She recommends avoiding areas where sustainable transportation and lodging are hard to find, and "where access to nature and the outdoors is limited."

Vacation during shoulder season

Tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain without hordes of people around or exploring Niagara Falls in the winter isn't just beneficial to travelers; experts say it also supports sustainability.

Visiting destinations during shoulder seasons "spreads the benefits of tourism locally across the year and lightens the burden of over-tourism in popular destinations," Francis said. His company, Responsible Travel, has a guide that outlines the best time to visit certain destinations

Zapata added that you're also more likely to have a stress-free and special vacation if you're visiting when there are fewer crowds. "It could be even more enriching," she said. "When you're on a beach or on a sailboat and it's just surrounded by masses of people, maybe that's not the best experience."

Visit fewer places for longer

One way to travel more responsibly is to visit fewer places for longer periods of time. For example, instead of spending a week in four European countries, plan a 10-day trip to one or two.

"Fewer but longer trips mean fewer air miles, more money in local hands, and you'll have a more relaxing trip, too," Francis said. "If you can, keep shorter trips close to home or travel by land or sea." He added that these modes of travel can be an adventure in themselves, and allow you to "see so much more of a destination."

If you must travel a long distance, Blotter recommends stretching the trip as much as possible to maximize your experience. "Booking multiple, long-haul trips per year is not sustainable or carbon-friendly," she said.

Consider how you get there

Evaluate the distance for the most sustainable way to get there

The first step in deciding how to responsibly get to your destination is considering the number of people traveling and the distance you're going.

Besides biking and walking, trains are typically one of the most sustainable ways to travel, Zapata said. If your destination is accessible by train, consider that.

If you're debating whether it's more sustainable to fly or drive, Zapata said it comes down to the distance.

"A lot of times trains are going to be more energy and carbon efficient," she said. "But when it comes to a car, there comes a moment when flying is actually more carbon efficient than driving when you're talking about very long distances."

Calculators like the ones offered by the International Civil Aviation Organization and Environmental Defense Fund can help travelers map out the least carbon-intensive way to get from A to B.

If you need to fly, opt for nonstop routes and travel in economy

Flying will likely be the most unsustainable aspect of your trip. Aviation makes up about 2% of global carbon emissions and 80% of a vacation's carbon footprint comes from the flight, according to National Geographic.

Experts suggest thinking about how much you should fly in a year. For example, maybe you take one international flight a year and prioritize having the rest of your trips close to home, Louise said.

But no matter where you jet off to, experts recommend flying nonstop in economy.

"When booking long-distance plane travel, always choose a direct flight with no layovers," Blotter said. "Direct flights use less carbon dioxide than connecting flights."

Additionally, by flying in economy, as some of the experts Insider spoke with pointed out, you maximize the number of people a flight can carry by taking up less space.

Ultimately, though, the best thing you can do is reduce your carbon footprint during your trip.

Experts like Louise and Gregory Miller, the executive director of the international nonprofit Center for Responsible Travel, agree that carbon offsets act more like a Band-Aid than a solution to sustainable travel. But if they do decide to purchase carbon offsets, which reduce or remove emissions to compensate for those made during a trip, Miller suggests purchasing through a reliable, vetted program. Groups like Zapata's Sustainable Travel say they invest people's money into carbon-reducing projects centered on clean energy and biodiversity.

Think about how you pack

Pack light

The simplest advice when it comes to being a sustainable packer is to pack less, Zapata said. "Travel light," she said.
"You don't need 20 shoes to travel."

Blotter agrees and says that by packing lighter, you'll reduce carbon emissions. That's because the lighter the aircraft, train, car, or boat, the less energy is needed.

Louise added that by packing fewer items and using a carry-on, you'll get through security faster and avoid the hassle of checking a bag.

Pack reusable items

Francis suggests adding the items you use at home to your packing list. That might include a reusable water bottle, a bag for shopping, and utensils to avoid plastic cutlery.

Louise acknowledges that it might not be feasible for every traveler to carry a reusable water bottle, so she urges travelers to consider what other meaningful swaps they could make. For example, Louise said she swapped liquid shampoo and conditioner for shampoo and conditioner bars a few vacations back. The bars are lighter than liquid soaps, which means they save carbon emissions during transportation. Plus, many are packaged in recyclable paper instead of plastic.

The switch became permanent in Louise's daily life, she said, adding that it made traveling easier since she didn't have to worry about leaks or liquids at airport security. "It's a cool example of how we can look for more sustainable experiences that are also better travel experiences," she said. "Plus it opens our eyes to new habits that can help us become more conscious consumers as well."

Pack brands you support

If you're doing some pre-vacation shopping, Louise recommends buying from brands that place sustainability at the forefront of their business.

"If you're supporting corporations and brands that are working on sustainability as well, then that's going to move the needle and create change a lot quicker than we could as individuals," she said.

For tropical getaways, pack reef-safe sunscreen

If you're heading to Aruba or planning a diving trip in Belize, experts say travelers should ensure reef-safe sunscreen is on their packing lists.

"Sunscreen can be very damaging to the environment and not everybody knows," Zapata said.

Ingredients in everyday sunscreen can harm both coral reefs and local wildlife, according to the National Ocean Service. Look for a reef-safe sunscreen that lacks harmful ingredients like oxybenzone, octinoxate, nano titanium dioxide, and nano zinc oxide.

Where you stay matters, too

Look into a hotel's claims about sustainability

Between countless certification programs and eco-friendly branding, experts agree that it can be tricky trying to evaluate whether or not a hotel is actually contributing to a destination.

When researching different accommodations, look for specifics beyond being "eco-friendly" and giving up plastic straws, Miller says. He suggests looking for hotels with written policies about how they work with local communities, prevent food waste, and help environmental initiatives like reforestation and supporting local dive sites.

If they don't have that information, Louise urges travelers to ask questions: "If they are authentically sustainable, they'll be excited to answer them."

Blotter encourages travelers to choose accommodation options that are upfront about their environmental efforts.

"Hotels that are truly eco-friendly should have a sustainability statement and clearly stated initiatives visible on their website," Blotter said. "While sustainability certifications are great and make it easier for travelers to identify sustainable lodging, not all hotels embracing eco-friendly practices will boast such certifications."

Blotter said to look for certifications from organizations that look into the foundation and practices of locations, businesses, and facilities to see if they meet their standards for sustainability and environmentalism. Some of these include the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Certified B Corporation, and Green Globe, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and WELL Building Standard.

Although some certifications indicate a hotel is sustainable, Zapata and Miller said guests shouldn't book solely based on certifications since they can be costly for smaller resorts and hotels to acquire. "If they've made a commitment to the communities, to the destination, and they understand that they're part of the community that is what's important," Miller said.

Once you arrive, Zapata said guests should look for evidence that their accommodation is following the claims it makes. Speak to housekeeping staff, check in with chefs about the food they're serving, and see if you get new towels each morning — if you do, you could help save water by skipping this service.

Stay at mom-and-pop hotels and inns

Picking a locally owned bed-and-breakfast over an Airbnb or big hotel is going to have a more positive impact on the local community, some of the experts Insider spoke with said.

"Short-term Airbnb-type holiday rentals might feel convenient, but they're having a devastating impact on some popular destinations — pricing people out of their homes and wiping out whole communities," Francis said. "Consider opting instead for a local homestay, B&B or local-owned hotel."

Make smart decisions throughout your stay

Use public transportation

If possible, experts suggest skipping a rental car. Instead, turn to the destination's public transportation.

"Don't discount your travel in the destination," Francis said. "Try and avoid internal flights, and consider ditching the private car or tour bus. There are loads of great human-powered, local-guided tours around — by foot, bike, or even kayak."

Eat local foods

Besides the flight to your destination, food waste will likely be the second-largest contributor to your vacation's carbon footprint, according to National Geographic.

"We traditionally don't think of sustainable tourism as something like, 'Oh, I can lay on the beach and have a cocktail, and that could have a positive impact on the world,'" Louise said. But if you think about where your food comes from and the story behind that, it can have a positive impact, she added.

That means seeking ingredients that are grown nearby instead of shipped across the country and checking to make sure restaurants are hiring locals and paying them fair wages. By evaluating restaurants on these items, you'll likely get "fresher and better foods that are unique to that destination," Louise said.

Seek off-the-beaten-path activities

Most experts agree that when it comes to exploring a destination, it's worth turning to locals for advice. That might mean joining a local Facebook group, sparking a conversation on a public bus, or finding a community-based tourism program.

"Look for ways to seek out local voices and to understand how they want their destination seen," Louise said. By talking to locals, you're likely to avoid contributing to over-tourism and have a more unique experience, she added.

Another way you can approach activities is by centering your plans around a cause you and your group care about, such as ocean conservation or LGBTQ rights, Louise said.

Once you've settled on a topic, look at how your actions and the activities you choose can support that cause. For example, you might eat at restaurants owned by diverse staff or seek voluntourism opportunities to protect a nearby beach.

Blotter recommends avoiding experiences that use animals as entertainment like elephant rides, and looking for charity-run activities instead.

When you're back from the activity, whether it was a volunteer job or a locally-recommended hike, Miller said travelers should "brag about it." He encourages people who are traveling responsibly to post about their experience and use word-of-mouth to inspire others.

Buy local

Pass on the manufactured magnets, mass-produced T-shirts, and generic keychains. Instead, Zapata said travelers should search for items that are unique and crafted by locals.

"If you're going to buy a memento, buy something that's actually made there," she said. That way you ensure the money spent on the souvenir is directly supporting the community.

While all of these decisions you make as an individual matter, Miller says that ultimately "the solution to everything is to get governments and major corporations to change and reduce their emissions period."

According to Miller, that's something travelers can do in the voting booth that can go a long way.

Better Me tips for sustainable living

Slide through the following cards to read more expert advice on sustainable living. Then check out the rest of the stories from Insider's Better Me series.

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Tourism creates jobs but revenues often flow to airlines, large hotel chains and cruise operators while locals face rising rents and exclusion.

Social impacts include crowding, noise, nuisance, loss of community services, and deteriorating resident‑tourist relations that can prompt protests.

Title:

Content: Tourists and groups are routed tourist cities can not withstand repeated "toss"
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Source: New Beijing News
Author: Yang Jinsong
A number of incidents involving the loss of the rights and interests of tourists have aroused widespread concern among the Chinese public.
In the Beihai Sea, tourists ate four cauliflower 1,500 yuan (RMB, the same below, about 300 Singapore dollars) in silver beach; in Guilin, tourists did not give room cards because of shopping standards, and recently, in Heilongjiang snow village, there are media reports, tourists in addition to the verbal stimulation of tour guides, the original free scenic spots are also listed by travel agencies on the charge of the item.
In the relatively concentrated period of time, across the north and south, violations of the rights and interests of tourists occurred one after another, not only hit the hearts of people eager to travel after the epidemic, but also significantly affected the local image and the recovery process of the tourism industry.
In particular, the snowy countryside, after many rectification, has now exploded such incidents that damage the rights and interests of tourists, and the damage to local tourism brands can not be underestimated.
The recovery of the tourism market, its tourism obstinate disease can not also follow the "return to the river".
At present, it is the key window for rebuilding the imagination and experience of tourism, reshaping the tourism market and industry, and it is also an important stage for the "backlog" of tourism consumption demand to start to release.
Improving the tourism experience requires all-round "strict control"
In fact, over the past three years, many changes have taken place, but the high quality requirements of tourists for tourism products and services have not changed.
Only by fully understanding and meeting the high requirements of tourists, can we form a good "first impression" after opening up, giving tourists more confidence, but also giving the tourism industry more development of the bottom and space to move.
Snow countryside and other events, is not simply to take a single measure can be completely resolved, to better curb the harm of tourists' rights and interests of the incident, should start from many aspects, with comprehensive measures to deal with.
The first basic work is the comprehensive and complete "strict control" of the whole process.
After these recent incidents that harm the rights and interests of tourists, relevant departments in various places have promptly investigated and punished illegal acts.
The management responded positively, sending a good signal and also responding to public expectations.
At the same time, the successive occurrence of these incidents also shows that there is still a lot of room for improvement in "strict control".
In particular, some places are the focus of attention, which is more likely to trigger people's associations.
For example, the scene of tourist activities is diverse, there are scenic spots, there are hotels, there are restaurants, there are stations, airports, and there are shops and theaters.
It can be said that as a foreign lifestyle, tourists inevitably involve all aspects of the destination.
Among them, no matter which aspect of the short board, it is likely to affect the experience of tourists.
This means that in addition to the tourism management department, many departments such as industry and commerce, transportation, and public security are also required to participate in it and work together for a better living space shared by residents and tourists.
Especially at a time when the proportion of individual travelers and free travel is increasing.
For the tourism sector, although it is responsible for guarding the soil, its powers are limited and it is often powerless.
There is a need for closer coordination, information-sharing and joint action among management.
In the process of supervision, it is also necessary to fight ahead of time and do a good job of prevention.
Especially before the peak season, clarify and eliminate the risk points of problems, formulate a perfect plan to quickly deal with the negative impact, and realize the allocation of sufficient resources.
The guide service evaluation should be determined by the tourists.
The operation mode of the travel agency and the handling of the relationship between the tour guide of the travel agency are also closely related to the experience of the tourists.
If the travel agency lacks product innovation ability, the product homogeneity is serious, and mainly relies on the price war to attract tourists.
At that low price, some tour guides have to earn income through tourist shopping and self-funded projects.
In order to achieve the expected revenue target, the high level of service quality is naturally impossible to talk about, and even some more extreme cases will appear.
Of course, both the Tourism Law and the Action Plan for Strengthening the Construction and Management of Tour Guides (2021-2023), issued in 2021, are committed to improving the service quality of travel agencies and improving the ecology of the tour guide industry.
It is necessary to break the "mutual injury" game between travel agencies, tour guides and tourists, on the one hand, implement the existing laws and policies, and take back the time delayed by the epidemic, and on the other hand, create a tourism evaluation system based on tourists' evaluation.
Do a good job in optimizing the employment environment, protecting legitimate rights and interests, improving the incentive mechanism and enhancing professional identity, so that tourism practitioners can truly get rid of the dependence on low-price competition and return commission as the main channel of profit.
To better protect the legitimate rights and interests of tourists and tour guides, it is also necessary to further eliminate information asymmetry, promote credit supervision, and strive to build a good tourism industry, so as to promote tourism to compete at a high level and at a high level.
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Aviation contributes about 2% of global carbon emissions and flights account for roughly 80% of a vacation's carbon footprint.

Environmental harms at destinations include reef damage from harmful sunscreens, pressure on protected areas, and site degradation from concentrated visits.

Prominent hotspots cited include Venice, Barcelona, Mallorca and the Canary Islands in Europe, and locations in Japan such as Kamakura and Mount Fuji.

Policy responses used include visitor caps, entry fees, pre-registration systems, bans on new hotels, limits on cruise ships, and restrictions on short‑term rentals.

Effective management requires cross-department coordination, visitor monitoring, enforcement, prevention planning, and engagement with local communities and businesses.

Mitigation strategies promoted by experts include visiting in shoulder seasons, choosing less‑visited places, staying longer, using trains and public transit, and buying local.

Overtourism results from concentrated tourist demand and harms social, economic, and environmental systems; combined limits, management and sustainable travel practices are needed.