To address overtourism globally, a "quality over quantity" tourism strategy can be implemented, focusing on high-spending travelers to reduce crowds and promote sustainability.

A "quality rather than quantity" tourism strategy can help address overtourism globally by promoting responsible travel and reducing negative impacts on local communities.

Addressing overtourism globally requires understanding its causes and consequences, including social, environmental, and economic impacts, and proposing strategies for responsible tourism management to protect local communities and natural resources.

Addressing overtourism globally requires a comprehensive approach that involves understanding its causes and impacts, redefining the tourism industry, promoting tourist education, and implementing sustainable tourism policies.

To address overtourism globally, it is necessary to promote quality tourism and balance tourism with city operations, rather than just adding tourist attractions.

"Sustainable tourism development should consider the negative impacts of overtourism, such as social, environmental, and economic consequences, as seen in the example of Barcelona where locals are frustrated with excessive tourist overcrowding."

"Sustainable tourism development requires considering factors such as preserving environmental integrity, managing tourist numbers, and responding to local community needs to mitigate the negative impacts of overtourism."

Sustainable tourism development should consider factors such as tourist behavior, cultural attractions, and the needs of local communities to mitigate the negative impacts of overtourism.

Sustainable tourism development should consider factors such as managing tourist seasonality and capacity to mitigate the negative impacts of overtourism.

"Sustainable tourism development requires considering factors such as tourism taxes, hotel prices, and restrictions on hotel house rental applications to manage overcrowding and preserve local quality of life."

The tourism sector is responsible for around 8% of global carbon emissions.

Taiwan's proposals for outdoor resources should focus on sustainable tourism practices that support local communities, such as choosing locally owned accommodations and promoting locally sourced produce.

Taiwan's proposals for outdoor resources should prioritize sustainable tourism development, focusing on experiential products and unique experiences that benefit local communities and economies.

Hong Kong's tourism industry is plagued by issues such as lack of product innovation, price wars, and low service quality, which can be attributed to the operation mode of travel agencies and the handling of relationships between tour guides.

Overtourism can cause social and economic problems in destinations, including high rental prices and displacement of local residents.

Overtourism causes problems such as increased rent prices pushing out local tenants, traffic congestion, and overcrowding at landmarks, ultimately creating more problems than benefits for destinations.

Overtourism can cause problems such as traffic jams, queues, and garbage, and a lack of alternative destinations or activities can contribute to this issue.

Overtourism can cause social and economic problems in destinations, including lowering residents' quality of life and pricing them out of their homes.

Overtourism in European cities like Barcelona can lead to social consequences such as unaffordable living for locals and community dissatisfaction, potentially resulting in protests.

Overtourism in European cities like Barcelona can lead to social consequences such as displacement of local communities and social unrest, as locals protest against the conversion of residential houses into hotel houses, driving up rental prices.

Overtourism in European cities leads to social consequences such as unaffordable rents, homogenization of shops, and a lack of living wage jobs, despite the creation of employment opportunities in the tourism sector.

Overtourism in European cities leads to social consequences such as displacement of local residents, increased rent prices, and degradation of quality of life, resulting in backlash from local residents and protests in cities like Barcelona, Venice, and Dubrovnik.

Overtourism in European cities has significant social consequences, including pricing local people out of the housing market, closing local amenities, and eroding local culture and social identity.

Overtourism can cause environmental degradation, strain on local infrastructure, and disruption of community life, as seen in the example of Venice, Italy, where large cruise ships were banned to preserve the city's integrity, but thousands of passengers continue to flock to the city's narrow lanes.

Overtourism causes problems such as overloading, declining quality of life, and environmental damage in tourist areas, as seen in places like Venice, Italy.

"Large numbers of tourists contribute to the climate crisis, leading to problems like excessive development and degradation of natural areas."

"Overtourism can lead to environmental pollution and tourism hazards in affected areas, highlighting the need for responsible tourism management."

"Large numbers of tourists in many areas can cause problems such as overcrowding, environmental degradation, and safety issues due to lack of understanding of local risks and poor implementation of pollution policies."

Mount Fuji in Japan is one of the places experiencing overtourism problems, as it is listed as one of the top places to avoid visiting in 2024.

Overtourism problems are most visible in areas such as Mount Fuji in Japan, as well as other locations in Asia, Europe, and the United States, due to environmental pollution and tourism hazards.

Overtourism problems are visible globally, with Mount Fuji, Japan being one of the affected areas due to the 'Instagram effect' and excessive tourism.

Overtourism is a visible issue at the University of Hong Kong campus, prompting the school to implement reservation measures.

Overtourism is a visible issue in locations such as the Beihai Sea, Guilin, and Heilongjiang snow village, where tourists are being exploited and taken advantage of.

Overtourism is a visible issue in Harbin, China, where a significant increase in tourism has led to 120 million visitors and 170 billion yuan in tourism income from November to February.

Overtourism is visible in Chinese cities like Xi'an, Changsha, Chongqing, Zibo, and Nanjing, where large crowds and ticket shortages occur during holidays.

Overtourism is a visible issue in several Chinese cities, including Xi'an, Changsha, Chongqing, Nanjing, and Zibo, which have experienced significant increases in tourist traffic.

Areas like Fuji Mountain face problems due to overtourism, and visiting quieter spots can help spread out the weight and benefits of tourism.

Areas like Fuji Mountain face problems such as excessive tourism, excessive waste generation, and impacts on water resources due to overtourism.

Areas like Fuji Mountain face problems such as overcrowding, lack of understanding of risks, and environmental degradation due to littering and unwillingness to pay for maintenance.

Areas like Fuji Mountain may face problems related to over-tourism, which can lower residents' quality of life and have negative environmental and economic impacts.

Barcelona is experiencing overtourism, leading to unrest among locals, who are protesting against the excessive tourist overcrowding in their city.

Barcelona is one of the European cities most affected by overtourism, with 7.8 million visitors in 2023, leading to high rental prices and protests from locals.

Venice, Italy, is one of the cities in Europe most affected by overtourism, with a large number of cruise passengers visiting the city despite a ban on large cruise ships.

"Venice and Barcelona are among the European cities most affected by overtourism, with local residents feeling the negative impacts and measures being taken to reduce tourist numbers and prioritize high-spending travelers."

Barcelona and Amsterdam are two European cities affected by overtourism, with officials implementing policies to reduce tourism growth.

Locals in Barcelona are affected by overtourism, with some residents taking action against tourists due to excessive overcrowding in their city.

"Overtourism affects locals in areas like Barcelona by making it unaffordable for them to live there due to high rental prices."

The local population in areas affected by overtourism, such as Spain and Venice, Italy, are impacted by the negative effects of mass tourism, including protests and environmental degradation.

Residents of Barcelona are negatively impacted by overtourism, with many feeling that it harms their city.

The residents of Barcelona are impacted by overtourism due to poorly behaved tourists.

Tourists can help reduce overtourism by avoiding visits during peak months (July to September) and opting for other times of the year.

To reduce overtourism, tourists should visit outside of peak times and explore off-the-beaten-track destinations.

Tourists can help reduce overtourism by visiting during the off-season and participating in experiential products, which can help distribute demand more evenly and support local economies.

Tourists can help reduce overtourism by visiting destinations during shoulder seasons, which helps to distribute the benefits of tourism throughout the year and alleviate the pressure of overcrowding in popular areas.

To reduce overtourism, tourists should avoid visiting during peak tourist seasons.

Popular tourist spots in China can lead to crowd control issues, particularly in areas close to residential buildings, highlighting the need for effective management strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of overtourism.

To address overtourism globally, a "quality over quantity" tourism strategy can be implemented, focusing on high-spending travelers to reduce crowds and promote sustainability.

Title:

Content: Global News
The world today - spraying with water guns..
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
You are now following the news of spraying with water guns.
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
From the World News section and now we leave you with the full details
SAHAD MOHAMMED - Abu Dhabi on Friday 19 July 2024 04: 25 PM - Spain's tourism unrest has reached its peak in the past few days, with some locals in Barcelona spraying tourists with water guns and canned drinks, asking them to go back to where they came from.
Angry residents, numbering about 3,000, blocked the entrances to hotels and cafes in the Barceloneta neighborhood in a symbolic attempt to express their indignation at the excessive tourist overcrowding in their city.
This is not the first time tourism has been highlighted as a problem in Spain, where the country, which attracted 85 million visitors in 2023, has seen a series of protests against excessive tourism in the country, especially in the city of Barcelona with a population of 1.6 million, which received more than 7.8 million visitors in 2023, leaving many locals unable to afford to live there due to high rental prices.
Fear of Protests in Europe
Spain ’ s overcrowding problem, and the decision to confront it by locals, has highlighted the potential for anti-tourist protests to spread to the rest of Europe ’ s heavily tourist-ridden cities, as UNESCO ’ s Sustainable Tourism Project chief Peter Debrin warned.
The protests will certainly spread if European officials fail to address the negative impact of mass tourism on the lives of the local population, DeBrin says, noting that the situation in Spain has become very volatile, as the coming of civil society and its attempt to bring about change is critical, after all elected officials must respond to what the residents of their cities want.
He cited the 2021 ban on large cruise ships in Venice, Italy, which was passed after protests by residents, as cruise ships no longer pass through the Grand Canal, but are now docked away from Venice, helping to preserve the city ’ s structural and environmental integrity.
But despite the decision to ban large cruise ships in Venice, passengers continue to flock to its narrow lanes in the thousands, with Venice expected to attract about 540,000 cruise passengers this year, an increase of 9 percent compared to 2023, according to the North Adriatic Ports Authority.
In a bid to reduce crowds, Venice has imposed a 5 euro ($5.45) tourist tax on peak days this year, a measure that has so far failed to rein in tourist numbers, Euronews reported.
Quality rather than quantity tourism
Like Venice, Barcelona residents have long struggled with the global popularity of their city: every year, fewer locals say tourism benefits the city, while more people feel it is harmful, according to a survey conducted by the Barcelona City Council in 2023.
UNESCO ’ s Sustainable Tourism Project Chief Officer Peter Debrin believes that Barcelona, which handles too many travelers, could join cities and countries that rely on a “quality over quantity ” tourism strategy – prioritizing high-spending travelers, rather than budget ones – a strategy that gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, when safety and employment concerns pushed destinations around the world to take in fewer affordable travelers. Instead of a lot of budget travelers.
Debrin said Barcelona ’ s reliance on a “quality rather than quantity ” tourism strategy helps correct another problem plaguing the city: tourists who behave badly, noting that for Barcelona residents, it ’ s not just about visitor numbers, but also how people behave, with Spaniards complaining for years about tourists drinking too much, throwing garbage and cigarettes on the streets.
Debrin called on tourists to be more aware in their travel decisions, suggesting focusing on beautiful cities with fascinating tourist and cultural attractions, which are in need of more tourists.
Civil Society Demands
Civil society groups are calling on Barcelona officials to implement a number of policies aimed at “declining tourism growth, ” such as increased tourism taxes, restrictions on cruise ships, and restrictions on short-term rental housing, just like the steps being explored in Amsterdam to crack down on buses, boutiques, new hotels and short-term rentals. In 2023, it asks some visitors, especially young British tourists, to“ stay away ” if they are travelling to the city for drugs or partying.
The most popular Spanish cities with tourists
The General Coordinator of the Association of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Mediterranean States (ASCAME) Anwar Zebawi, said in an interview to the site "Economy dot Gulf", that some tourist destinations in Spain already suffer from the problem of overcrowding, and these destinations are Barcelona, Malaga, Madrid and Valencia, as these four cities attract tourists more than their capacity, and the problem is that the largest number of these tourists, come in specific months of the year. Sixty percent of all tourists who visit Barcelona each year do so during the months between July and September, creating severe congestion, while the other 40 percent is spread over the rest of the year.
Amplify for protests
Zibawi stressed that what everyone should realize, is that there is a kind of amplification of the recent protests in Barcelona,   the city has not witnessed "major" demonstrations against tourists, as the problem of the local population is never with tourists, and the people who have been sprayed with water, very few and may not exceed the fingers of one hand, pointing out that what happened was directed against those who rent houses as hotel houses. Real estate, largely, deprived the local population, especially young people, of the possibility of obtaining apartments at an appropriate rental price.
Causes of tourist overcrowding in Barcelona
Zibawi explains that one of the reasons that contribute to excessive tourist congestion in Barcelona,   is to allow tourists to stay in tourist houses and chaos in this area, the city contains about 10 thousand houses that have a license to do these works, while there are about 30 thousand hotels operating without a license and in a way contrary to the law, the offer of houses for rent at competitive prices, in addition to cheap flights available in Europe make the cost of travel to Barcelona tourist destinations. This has exacerbated the phenomenon of excessive tourism.
European cities where protests could spread
According to Zibawi, the European cities that can witness objections from the local population because of their suffering from excessive tourism, are Rome, Venice, some Italian islands, Crete in Greece, and some other Greek islands, while Amsterdam in the Netherlands, suffer from the problem of excessive tourism only, in some weeks of the year, especially at the end of the year. year.
Paris found a solution.
Zibawi pointed out that Paris had a major problem with the subject of overcrowding of tourists, and therefore prevented the work of hotel houses and raised the prices of hotels, where she saw that these steps contribute to making the cost of travel high, which prevents the tourist who does not have enough money to come, and this limits the phenomenon of overcrowding, pointing out that if the principle of quality tourism instead of quantity in Barcelona, this may solve the problem of overcrowding and contribute to the distribution of tourists in other areas. Spain.
Solutions that can be resorted to
For his part, Amer Daboussi, executive partner of Eagle Travel Travel, said in an interview with Eqtisad.al-Khaleej that cities suffering from tourist congestion can face this phenomenon by adopting a policy of "quality rather than quantity", where this policy focuses on imposing high standards of hospitality to attract rich or well-resourced tourists, and get rid of the large numbers of tourists from the middle category. h its reception, which reduces the negative effects on the local community.
Dabbousi believes that cities can also resort to the solutions of imposing tourism taxes on foreign visitors, raising hotel prices, restricting the work of hotel house rental applications by imposing financial fees on these apartments and using the revenues collected to improve infrastructure in tourist areas, in addition to the need for affected countries to market new tourist destinations within them, which contributes to attracting visitors to areas outside the main tourist centers.
Excessive damage from tourism
Cities facing the challenges of overcrowding, such as Bangkok in Thailand, Paris in France and New York in the United States, as well as some Greek and Spanish cities, must take measures to manage tourism sustainably and distribute tourism pressure in a way that preserves the quality of life of local residents and respects local culture. Eat and drink, making life more expensive for local residents.
We hope that we have succeeded in conveying the full details of the spraying with water guns..
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
In God ’ s care and protection.
Advertisements
You may also read.

A "quality rather than quantity" tourism strategy can help address overtourism globally by promoting responsible travel and reducing negative impacts on local communities.

Addressing overtourism globally requires understanding its causes and consequences, including social, environmental, and economic impacts, and proposing strategies for responsible tourism management to protect local communities and natural resources.

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.
■ Articles
1.
Forum version is open park, welcome to submit.
Forum articles are limited to 2300 words. Please email to forum @ mingpao.com, fax: 2898 3783.
2. The editor of this paper reserves the right to delete the article based on the space limit, but in order to maintain the main points and positions of the article as the principle; if you do not want the article to be deleted, please indicate.
3.
Please attach the author's real name and contact information (can be published under a pen name), please do not submit one manuscript twice; if not applicable, without prior notice, except for those with postage return, this paper will not return the manuscript.
4.
Note to Contributors: Once an article is published, we have exclusive local rights to publish the article in Chinese. This right also includes the right to republish the article in local and overseas media (including electronic media, such as Internet sites).
In addition, we have the right to grant the right to use the copy of the article to the relevant copying authorizing companies and organizations.
The above rights in this paper do not affect the copyright of the contributor and their rights and interests.
(Criticism of current affairs articles published by this website is aimed at pointing out errors or deficiencies in relevant systems, policies or measures, with the aim of correcting or eliminating such errors or deficiencies, and improving them through lawful means, with no intention of inciting hatred, dissatisfaction or hostility towards the Government or other communities)
[Lin Chi-yin]
Previous / Next News

Addressing overtourism globally requires a comprehensive approach that involves understanding its causes and impacts, redefining the tourism industry, promoting tourist education, and implementing sustainable tourism policies.

To address overtourism globally, it is necessary to promote quality tourism and balance tourism with city operations, rather than just adding tourist attractions.

"Sustainable tourism development should consider the negative impacts of overtourism, such as social, environmental, and economic consequences, as seen in the example of Barcelona where locals are frustrated with excessive tourist overcrowding."

"Sustainable tourism development requires considering factors such as preserving environmental integrity, managing tourist numbers, and responding to local community needs to mitigate the negative impacts of overtourism."

Sustainable tourism development should consider factors such as tourist behavior, cultural attractions, and the needs of local communities to mitigate the negative impacts of overtourism.

Sustainable tourism development should consider factors such as managing tourist seasonality and capacity to mitigate the negative impacts of overtourism.

"Sustainable tourism development requires considering factors such as tourism taxes, hotel prices, and restrictions on hotel house rental applications to manage overcrowding and preserve local quality of life."

The tourism sector is responsible for around 8% of global carbon emissions.

Title:

Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
The Guardian: Tourism contributes significantly to the climate crisis
It is a terrible paradox of the climate crisis that some of the most beautiful – and popular – places in the world are also the most vulnerable, especially as most of them have poor infrastructure, which means that with rising temperatures, increasing weather extremes, drying up water sources and the death of natural habitats, these places face another devastating loss, especially tourists.
Tourism contributes significantly to the climate crisis – around 8% of global emissions – and hordes of visitors cause many problems, including excessive development and degradation of natural areas.
The revenue generated by tourists can bring enormous economic benefits to these destinations, and many do not own other forms of industry or otherwise rely on extractive industries such as mining or logging.
She added that tourism can also spread awareness of environmental problems, such as bleaching coral reefs or endangered animal species, and provide funding for conservation efforts.
This complex relationship was highlighted during the coronavirus outbreak, when tourism stopped, carbon emissions dropped, wildlife flourished, and leatherback turtles in Thailand laid the largest number of eggs in two decades, but all this has come at a cost, with the global tourism industry taking a heavy toll, triggering an emergency in developing countries, families struggling to find food, illegal logging in some places has increased, and overfishing has increased.
As the rebuilding of tourism begins, it has become impossible to ignore that the future of the industry is inextricably linked to the climate crisis.
Instead of becoming a major cause of the climate crisis, tourism can be used to raise awareness, increase tourism resources and improve infrastructure.

Taiwan's proposals for outdoor resources should focus on sustainable tourism practices that support local communities, such as choosing locally owned accommodations and promoting locally sourced produce.

Title:

Content: Travel expert explains how to find ‘room to breathe’ in overcrowded destinations

Some of Europe's most popular destinations have struggled to cope with surging numbers of tourists this summer. Express.co.uk spoke to an expert to find out how British tourists can avoid the crowds.

“There’s more to these places than the box office tourist sites" (Image: Getty)

Whether or , some top destinations have struggled with overcrowding this summer.

As travel restrictions fade into the past, more tourists than ever seem to be heading out to explore. Unfortunately, this means some destinations have become overcrowded.

Express.co.uk spoke to Sarah Faith, senior values writer at Responsible Travel, to find out how British tourists can escape the crowds.

Sarah told Express.co.uk : “Travelling outside of peak times is one of the best ways to avoid the crowds in popular destinations. But you could also get off the beaten track a bit.

“There’s more to these places than the box office tourist sites. Find out what the locals love, explore the surrounding villages or spend time browsing local farmer, artisan and flea markets.”

Tourists have complained of crowds in Rome (Image: Getty)

Although tourists often feel pressure to tick off a destination’s top sites, they could have a more rewarding experience heading to quieter spots.

Sarah added: “You’ll have more room to breathe, and have a more authentic experience too. Plus, you’ll help spread out the weight and benefits of tourism more. A win for everyone.”

However, when it comes to getting off the beaten track, Sarah says there are a few factors tourists should consider before booking a holiday.

She told Express.co.uk: “There are plenty of quieter destinations that offer exceptional culture and landscapes.

"You can make sure your holiday supports local people by choosing locally owned guesthouses" (Image: Getty)

“It’s important though that we don’t just transfer the problems of overtourism to another place. You can make sure your holiday supports local people by choosing locally owned guesthouses rather than Airbnbs run by out of town professional hosts, eating in restaurants that serve locally sourced produce and hiring a local guide to show you around.”

While Airbnbs can be a convenient option, locals in some top destinations have complained the properties price them out of the housing market .

Sarah said: “Places like Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik are great to visit, but they’re people’s homes too.

“When tourism takes over, it prices local people out of the housing market, closes local amenities and erodes the local culture and social identity that made us want to visit in the first place.

“Locals might be the first to lose out from overtourism but left unchecked, it kills off the tourist experience too. It’s in everyone’s interest to tackle the problem.”

France recently launched a campaign to encourage tourists to visit some of the country’s hidden gems. Leading attractions such as .

Would you like to receive notifications from this site?

Taiwan's proposals for outdoor resources should prioritize sustainable tourism development, focusing on experiential products and unique experiences that benefit local communities and economies.

Title:

Content: According to the statistics of the Tourism Bureau, the number of tourists visiting scenic spots last year was about 211 million, a decline of 35.2% compared with the previous year. Based on the recession, the annual domestic tourism output value of about 400 billion yuan was only about 270 billion yuan last year. "We need to put more effort into reimagining tourist attractions, adjusting tourism products, and building a new style," says Cheng.
After the outbreak of the epidemic, some of the lack of competition in the tourism industry is facing a tidal wave, and the market has a mechanism for exiting. For example, in terms of the frequency of travel and the level of consumption, it is likely that there will be further improvements, which will be positive factors for boosting domestic tourism as a whole after the epidemic.
In the case that the road ahead is still full of uncertainty, operators can still regard this crisis as an opportunity to adjust their physical fitness, modify the existing business direction model, and review the customer service needs.
For example, in Taitung, for example, Taitung has the advantage of abundant natural and ecological resources. However, due to its location on the border, the long-term transportation difficulties of railways and highways, expensive air tickets, and the inconvenience of overseas transportation, enterprises' investment in Taitung's tourism industry is mostly discouraged due to transportation costs, and the tourism development of Taitung County has been limited for a long time. The lack of uniqueness reduces the incentive for tourists to be willing to stop.
However, in recent years, Taitung has successfully turned hot air balloons, tourism related industries have flourished, and the surrounding livelihood industries have also risen along with the tide. How to create a reason for tourists to "come to Taitung" from the advantages of Taitung, Taitung has made hot air balloons a sustainable tourism industry, revitalizing Taitung's economy and creating real tourism value.
In the medium and long term, increasing the demand for experiential products is the most inevitable, in order to transform through a long time, the off-season will flourish.
In addition, by classifying consumption and travel product demand, emphasizing the experience culture and improving quality, you can increase the price and increase satisfaction.
In addition, for the medium and remote passenger flow, it is necessary to extend the number of days of travel, make differentiated and customized content, and optimize the development of exquisite travel.
Cheng Yuet-tsai also points out that "perfect itinerary planning can make tourists experience the beauty of the place", because tourism can not only be natural scenery, but also must be accompanied by tourism activities to complement each other. Not only can it bring tourists a deeper travel experience, but it can also achieve the goals of cultural inheritance, education and lifelong learning.
Zheng Yuecai also pointed out that many tourist hotels in China claim to be five-star, but many actually do not participate in the government's star rating, but in the media, advertising confusion, there is a suspicion of deceiving consumers, for the law-abiding investment of tourist hotels business is very unfair.
Due to the current shortage of labor in domestic hotels, the government should reward enterprises that have passed the five-star evaluation and introduce tourism migrant workers to help enterprises solve the manpower dilemma, which can indirectly promote five-star hotels to solve the labor manpower problem and pay attention to improving service quality to achieve a win-win situation.
However, it is worth considering that this phenomenon of "retaliatory travel" has caused the tourists to overload the load of tourist attractions, and the people not only do not get the tourism quality that they deserve, but also cause a serious impact on the local social, cultural and ecological environment. And...
Zheng Yuetai also with many years of experience in the operation of tourist resorts put forward suggestions, scenic spots next to do an important work is to attract domestic tourists, first of all to the domestic young ethnic tourists, and then the urban population, foreign long-distance passenger flow gradually back to the border.
He believes that counties and cities need to strengthen the marketing of tourist attractions, change the image of the reshaping attractions, establish a new image of health and vitality, and also re-establish the confidence of tourists to travel, and promote the government to help the outside world to establish a message of health and safety of domestic tourism.
At the same time, counties and cities affected by the epidemic will have more psychological sympathy after the recovery of the epidemic.
Zheng Yucai believes that whether the tourism industry can recover quickly at the end of the year, in addition to whether the government can put forward favorable policies, the most important thing for the industry is to "self-help". In addition to understanding customer needs, it should also establish its own brand value and establish a deep connection with customers.
When the tourism industry can grasp and properly express the fundamental values that are of great significance to consumers, it will ultimately create deep customer loyalty and create momentum for the sustainable growth of tourism.
Zheng Yucai also said that he hopes that the domestic tourism industry can turn the crisis into a turning point in the post-epidemic era and create new tourism peaks.
# Travel # Zheng Yue Cai # Businessman # Taitung # Tourists

Hong Kong's tourism industry is plagued by issues such as lack of product innovation, price wars, and low service quality, which can be attributed to the operation mode of travel agencies and the handling of relationships between tour guides.

Title:

Content: Tourists and groups are routed tourist cities can not withstand repeated "toss"
Font Size:
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.
LIKE Our official Facebook page for more information

Overtourism can cause social and economic problems in destinations, including high rental prices and displacement of local residents.

Overtourism causes problems such as increased rent prices pushing out local tenants, traffic congestion, and overcrowding at landmarks, ultimately creating more problems than benefits for destinations.

Title:

Content:
Menu

Sedona Film Festival presents ‘Crowded Out’

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring over-tourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts. (Image provided by SIFF)

Originally Published: September 14, 2022 8:43 p.m.

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the third film in its four-week Sustainable Tourism Film Series. “Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will show on Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre at 4 p.m. The event will also include a selection of “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” short films along with a panel discussion.

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring overtourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts.

Overtourism occurs when there are too many visitors to a particular destination. When rent prices push out local tenants to make way for holiday rentals, when narrow roads become jammed with tourist vehicles, when tourists cannot view landmarks because of the crowds – these are all signs of overtourism.

And it is the backlash from local residents that has made overtourism news. Cities such as Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik, and places once thought of as remote such as Iceland and Skye have suffered firsthand, and the protests by local residents have spread.

There has been decades of virtually uncontrolled growth, and it has crossed a threshold: in many destinations, tourism now demonstrably creates more problems than benefits.

This special event will also include a selection of short films from “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” This series includes short-form documentary films, featuring insightful stories from the global travel and tourism sector showing how they are driving sustainable travel and protecting these precious destinations.

Following the screenings, there will be a panel discussion with representatives the City of Sedona, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Keep Sedona Beautiful and the tourism and hospitality industry here.

“Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.

The final film in the Sustainable Tourism Series is:

Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. “Vendemmia”

Overtourism can cause problems such as traffic jams, queues, and garbage, and a lack of alternative destinations or activities can contribute to this issue.

Title:

Content: Thinking about deep travel from the business thinking of "terroir entrepreneurship": most people just want to punch the card, they really do not want to know the local story
Photo Credit: Central News Agency
What we want you to know is
Travellers who go to see flowers and simply punch cards fall in the second quadrant of "meaningless but useful", and they come to a place to solve the functional needs of "passing time and punching cards" rather than to understand the local story.
Text: Tseng Wing-hsiang
The "Terroir Entrepreneurship" published in June last year, for me, the biggest impact is to think about the depth of travel from the perspective of business analysis, perhaps let me from the ideal closer to reality, but also gave me the opportunity to consolidate the cultural path, anthropological perspective and the idea of tourism chaos.
Although I only read the first half of the methodology, I decided to share my thoughts and feedback, and as for the examples in the second half of the book, maybe I will see if I want to share them after reading them.
After the epidemic has locked everyone in Taiwan in the past two years, the traffic jams, queues, garbage and other chaos brought by domestic tourism and retaliatory tourism have really shocked everyone, and accelerated the development of "deep travel" that emphasizes experience and knowledge. The village, etc.
In the past, I explained the above situation: we never seriously know the land in which we live, until I read the book "Terroir Entrepreneurship", I knew that the answer above is only the result:
Will we not actually like crowded people, but do not know where to go, there is no choice, so we can only go to crowded people?
The real reason may be that the domestic tourism industry is not sufficiently innovative to satisfy consumers, and it is easy to treat travelers and tourists roughly as the same kind of people — as I know from my own mind, obviously not so — and over time, the lodging industry will only provide more single content, products, and services to satisfy the public.
The book takes Hsiao Liuchiu as an example, where the islanders, in order to make a living, exchange a large number of tourists for accommodation at low prices, and the result is that the scenic spots are bustling and bustling, while the community with culture and stories is quiet, and the split between the two worlds reminds me of the various orchid islands I once stayed in.
However, as long as it is a consumer, as long as it is a person, there will be a variety of diverse needs, and even the demand will be dynamic; since the demand is dynamic, hot spots have disappeared one day, so the solution of tourism innovation and entrepreneurship, not rely on hardware construction, can not rely too much on government subsidies, but the local needs to have a set of sustainable and clear business model to create a new meaning of tourism industry.
This may seem like a trite piece of empty nonsense, but the value of this book is that it is very specific about how to turn seemingly abstract ideas, ideals, values, and emotions into a business model that can be validated and monetized.
However, I will only share my thoughts and responses here, and I will not say too much about the details and methodology here, so people who are interested can buy a book to look at.
Balance between supply and demand
First, let ’ s look at the four elements of the business model mentioned in the book:
1.
Value Proposition: The Core Concept of the Operator
2.
Customer: TA
3.
Key Resources and Benefits: Integration and Operational Capabilities
4.
Profit Model: Value Oriented or Cost Oriented Pricing
For me, the last thing I like is the overcrowded tourists who can ’ t understand the local ticking spots and the tourists who just go out to play for the ticking, because it causes a lot of confusion and problems, and the most favorite is the hostels who provide a local story or cultural context, or the travel experience that has not yet been settled, and can only explore the story on my own.
In other words, I like businesses that offer value propositions for experience or learning, but most customers don ’ t, in economic terms: supply and demand imbalance.
This really makes me very distressed, I also try to find the answer in the book, how to make more people fall in love with deep travel, so as to solve the problem of travel chaos.
The answer is also given in the book, although not exactly as I wanted it to be.
We want customers who like Ferrari, not customers who like Toyota.
In the book, Yamaguchi uses the quadrant map of Become a New Humanity to disassemble customer types: the X axis represents whether the product or service has (emotional) meaning to the customer, and the Y axis whether it has (use or function) function.
Travellers who go to see flowers and simply punch cards fall in the second quadrant of "meaningless but useful", and they come to a place to solve the functional needs of "passing time and punching cards" rather than to understand the local story.
To do deep travel or local, is a small market.
In the book, local innovation or in-depth tourism should be looking for customers in the first and fourth quadrants, if the automotive industry analogy, is to become a Mercedes-Benz (transport function and display meaning) or Ferrari (no transport function but display meaning) brand management; we want to create a new value proposition to attract these people, and then use key resources and advantages to create reputation and create benefits.
The answer in the book, in fact, is to tell me to stop delusional for the time being, people like me, in fact, are the small proportion of that group of people; although I am not willing to accept it, but can only find answers in the future under more speculation.
Back to the perspective of entrepreneurial thinking, if the source of customers is not much, investors may question whether the market is large enough, and it is time to use higher value to create profits.
We want the meaning of innovation, not innovative solutions.
How to find the right customer to patronize or experience has just been mentioned, but the so-called value proposition, we may have to look deeper: whether it is designed for the customer, or for ourselves.
This may seem contradictory, but in fact it is only a two-sided perspective.
As said at the beginning, the needs of consumers will change, assuming that today everyone loves to punch, we will build a landmark, tomorrow everyone likes gradient drinks, we will open a beverage shop, repeatedly, you do a lot of new solutions to attract everyone, but gradually lose the soul of the place, which is also a phenomenon in many places in Taiwan.
But if we start from our own point of view, the question becomes: Why do we do this?
Clarifying your own positioning, goals, and resources, while observing the real reason why customers come to spend – and possibly demand from your own experience – can be summed up in your own value; in a nutshell, the book also proposes a formula:
We find _ _ _ _ (when & where), so we want to provide _ _ _ (service and solution, what) to satisfy _ _ _ (customer, who) _ _ (demand, why), and we do _ _ _ (innovation advantage, how).
In the case of Apple ’ s introduction of the iPhone, for example, it would become:
We found that humans can only operate with one finger when using a phone, which is too inefficient, so we wanted to provide a phone designed with human fingers, so that people can create with their hands flexibly, and our approach was to take the keyboard off and launch a full-screen smartphone.
Guess you like it.
Tags:

Overtourism can cause social and economic problems in destinations, including lowering residents' quality of life and pricing them out of their homes.

Title:

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.

Sign up for notifications from Insider! Stay up to date with what you want to know.
Subscribe to push notifications

Keep reading

Edit Series es-vitalfarms-2022 sp-2022-bm-travel

Overtourism in European cities like Barcelona can lead to social consequences such as unaffordable living for locals and community dissatisfaction, potentially resulting in protests.

Overtourism in European cities like Barcelona can lead to social consequences such as displacement of local communities and social unrest, as locals protest against the conversion of residential houses into hotel houses, driving up rental prices.

Overtourism in European cities leads to social consequences such as unaffordable rents, homogenization of shops, and a lack of living wage jobs, despite the creation of employment opportunities in the tourism sector.

Overtourism in European cities leads to social consequences such as displacement of local residents, increased rent prices, and degradation of quality of life, resulting in backlash from local residents and protests in cities like Barcelona, Venice, and Dubrovnik.

Overtourism in European cities has significant social consequences, including pricing local people out of the housing market, closing local amenities, and eroding local culture and social identity.

Overtourism can cause environmental degradation, strain on local infrastructure, and disruption of community life, as seen in the example of Venice, Italy, where large cruise ships were banned to preserve the city's integrity, but thousands of passengers continue to flock to the city's narrow lanes.

Overtourism causes problems such as overloading, declining quality of life, and environmental damage in tourist areas, as seen in places like Venice, Italy.

"Large numbers of tourists contribute to the climate crisis, leading to problems like excessive development and degradation of natural areas."

"Overtourism can lead to environmental pollution and tourism hazards in affected areas, highlighting the need for responsible tourism management."

Title:

Content: For best browsing results, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge browsers.
Please download from Edge official website, please download from FireFox official website, please download from Google official website
Limitation level
You must be at least 18 years old to view the news content you are about to enter.
In accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 3 of Article 6 of the amended Regulations on the Classification and Processing of Computer Network Content, it has been marked on the homepage of the website or each of the restricted pages in accordance with the provisions of the Taiwan Website Rating Promotion Foundation.
TICRF Website: http: / / www.ticrf.org.tw
Japan 's Mount Fuji Exposed in 2024 "9 Top Places to Avoid Visiting"
Mount Fuji, Japan. (Photo, Euronews)
2023 / 12 / 10 15: 45
Li Xinjie / Editor-in-Chief
[Real-Time News / Comprehensive Report] As 2024 approaches, many people are already excited to prepare for various plans to travel abroad.
However, the well-known American travel magazine Fodor ’ s Travel (Fodor ’ s Travel) announced next year ’ s “9 Best Places to Visit in the World ”, calling on tourists to carefully consider avoiding these famous but much-needed hot spots, and mentioning that these areas are affected by environmental pollution and tourism hazards.
Among them, Mount Fuji in Japan, which Taiwanese love, is also on the list.
According to a comprehensive foreign media report, among the nine “No List ” listed by Fodor Travel on its official website in 2024, four of them are in Asia and the rest are in Europe and the United States.
According to the official website, the original intention of the evaluation is not to deliberately suppress partial generalization, but to "respect" as the starting point of the declaration, this time to open the list of avoid visits, but also focus on tourists to nine tourist attractions and dependent local communities, resulting in "excessive tourism", "excessive waste generation", "affect water resources" these three major impacts.
At the same time, Fodor Tourism also pointed out that these nine tourist hotspots are deeply affected by the "Instagram effect", because the beauty of these places is circulating around the world, causing tourism.
Finally, Fodor Tourism also calls on tourists around the world to let go of these areas when planning their 2024 travel plans, but also to be careful to protect the local environment and culture, and to respect the people and places everywhere.
Mount Fuji, Japan
The number of climbers at the site has skyrocketed in recent years, but local authorities and people have pointed out that many do not fully understand the risks involved in climbing Mount Fuji, resulting in overcrowding at the top of the sacred mountain and putting themselves at risk.
In addition, many climbers are unwilling to pay 1,000 yen (about NT $200) for safety and environmental maintenance, and even leave a lot of garbage and urine filled bottles, which can only be cleaned by volunteers, causing headaches.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
The local waters attract a large number of international tourists to vacation, including snorkeling, water sports and fishing activities, which also lead to the local garbage load, the waters are full of garbage and diesel, and the local government ’ s poor implementation of pollution policies, it is very easy to be avoided by operators, so that the natural ecology of the area is facing unbearable pollution.
Koh Samui, Thailand
The island has been plagued by fresh water shortages for nearly a year, and the influx of tourists has consumed up to 70% of the region ’ s precious water resources, seriously exacerbating the island ’ s freshwater shortage.
Ganges, India
The river, regarded as the source of life for the people of India, has faced problems such as reduced flow, garbage pollution, and endangered freshwater dolphins in recent years, which have been exacerbated by the emerging luxury cruise industry.
Athens, Greece
The lack of a tourism hazard management plan by the local government does not mean that the world heritage is in danger of being destroyed, but also that the traditional way of life of the local people is being destroyed by a large number of tourists.
The Acropolis has already implemented a daily visitor limit, which has been reduced from 23,000 to 20,000 per day, and the Parthenon Temple to 17,000.
Italy (Venice)
Venice has long been affected by subsidence, flooding, and the damage caused by the increasing number of tourists, adding to the stress of this ancient and fragile city, and adversely affecting the local environment and residents.
Although the local government has taken several specific measures to try to reduce tourists, including charging a tourist tax of 5 euros (about NT $171) for all visitors over 14 years old who come to the city for a “day trip ” between the end of April and mid-July next year, it is still considered unlikely to improve the problem.
San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, California
This “natural oasis ” in Los Angeles County, due to the number of tourists and lack of environmental awareness, not only is the monument graffiti by tourists, but even littering everywhere, causing the local environment to suffer a lot of damage.
Lake Superior (United States – Canada border)
Lake Superior, on the border between the United States and Canada, is the largest freshwater lake on the planet, and its ecology is now exposed to a variety of hazards due to human visits, including species invasion, rapid algal blooms, and fish consumption warnings.
Chile's Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert, on the Pacific coast, is a spectacular natural beauty of deserts, geysers, lagoons, salt mines, cliffs and peaks, but the local environment is polluted by "fast fashion" and unfortunately becomes a landfill.
No need to smoke, no need to grab, now use the APP to watch the news, guarantee the daily winning point I download the APP
Related News
International hot today.
2024 Presidential Legislative Election
See more!
Please join the Free Times fan group.
Netizens respond.
This page has been idle for more than 5 minutes. Please click on the transparent black bottom or the X button at the bottom right corner.

"Large numbers of tourists in many areas can cause problems such as overcrowding, environmental degradation, and safety issues due to lack of understanding of local risks and poor implementation of pollution policies."

Mount Fuji in Japan is one of the places experiencing overtourism problems, as it is listed as one of the top places to avoid visiting in 2024.

Overtourism problems are most visible in areas such as Mount Fuji in Japan, as well as other locations in Asia, Europe, and the United States, due to environmental pollution and tourism hazards.

Overtourism problems are visible globally, with Mount Fuji, Japan being one of the affected areas due to the 'Instagram effect' and excessive tourism.

Overtourism is a visible issue at the University of Hong Kong campus, prompting the school to implement reservation measures.

Overtourism is a visible issue in locations such as the Beihai Sea, Guilin, and Heilongjiang snow village, where tourists are being exploited and taken advantage of.

Overtourism is a visible issue in Harbin, China, where a significant increase in tourism has led to 120 million visitors and 170 billion yuan in tourism income from November to February.

Title:

Content: 【 Printing 】
【 Page 1 Page 2 】
Sun Yili: Last year, the number of domestic tourists was nearly 4.9 billion.
Related LINKS http: / / www.CRNT.com 2024-03-11 17: 49: 17
Sun Ye-li, Minister of Culture and Tourism (photo by Li Zi-ning, China Review Agency)
Beijing, March 11 (Reporter Li Zining) The third session of the Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress "Minister Channel" was held at the People's Congress Hall on the 11th.
In response to a reporter's question, Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli said that the number of domestic tourists traveling last year reached nearly 4.9 billion, and the total cost of tourism is close to 5 trillion yuan.
The popularity of tourism has played a very important role in boosting domestic demand, promoting employment, activating the market and boosting confidence.
A reporter asked: Minister Sun Hello, last year Harbin tourism is hot out of the circle, further aroused everyone's concern for "cultural and tourism fever", netizens have shouted all over the Bureau of Culture and Tourism, you as the Minister of Culture and Tourism, how do you see this phenomenon? "cultural and tourism fever" will not continue?
Sun Yeli: Since the beginning of winter last year, Harbin ice and snow tourism has exploded out of the circle, Harbin people and northeastern people with their enthusiasm, with their pet treats and services to tourists to win the favor of customers, attracting guests in the south and north of the sky, forming a phenomenal level of communication, driving the entire ice and snow tourism fever.
According to local statistics, from November to February to Heilongjiang tourism reached 120 million people, tourism income reached 170 billion yuan, Harbin's tourism boom also led to the entire northeast tourism.
Like Jilin, Liaoning although not as hot as the Internet, they are also muffled and rich, a few days ago I went to Jilin delegation to listen to the representatives to speak, understand that Jilin this tourism season tourism revenue is not less than 170 billion yuan, Liaoning I am afraid it is not lower than this number.
General Secretary Xi Jinping said that the ice and snow is also the gold and silver mountain, and now look at the ice and snow is "properly" turned into the gold and silver mountain.
Not only the northeast, last year the country's tourism is very hot, a few days ago we just released the Spring Festival travel data, this Spring Festival holiday travel number reached 470 million people, the cost of travel more than 630 billion yuan.
This is only 8 days of data, if you look at the data of the whole year is more impressive.
We calculated that last year, the number of domestic tourists traveling reached nearly 4.9 billion, and the total cost of tourism was close to 5 trillion.
The popularity of tourism has played a very important role in boosting domestic demand, promoting employment, activating the market and boosting confidence.
This is what we say about tourism, its realization in the cultural tourism has been integrated, our cultural Expo is also very hot.
Perhaps the reporters can see from the station to the People's Congress Hall on the way these two days, the National Palace Museum and the National Expo Gate are always flowing, there are long queues, and popular museums around the world are probably this scene.
The market for literary and artistic performances is also very hot. Last year, there were about 440,000 commercial literary and artistic performances under our national line, and the revenue exceeded 50 billion yuan.
It is worth mentioning that the online cultural performance activities are even more popular, according to a rough estimate, the business income is about more than 200 billion, the number of participants reached 770 million.
Last year can be said that culture and tourism strong recovery, vigorous development, of course, some people said that last year's cultural and tourism fever is a kind of explosive rebound after the stable period of epidemic prevention and control, it is accidental, we analyze the contingency behind its inevitability.
From the point of view of consumer demand, after we comprehensively build a well-off society, the people's yearning for a better life is changing, the content is richer, the requirements are higher, in the past, eat not worry, wear not worry will feel good, now is not worry, wear not worry, but also have leisure money to travel.
It can be said that culture and tourism, poetry and distance have become important contents of the people's yearning for a better life.
【 Page 1 Page 2 】
【 Printing 】
Related News:

Overtourism is visible in Chinese cities like Xi'an, Changsha, Chongqing, Zibo, and Nanjing, where large crowds and ticket shortages occur during holidays.

Title:

Content: May Day Tour _ Xi 'an Changsha Chongqing continues to be popular Zibo Nanjing into a new "traffic"
Author: Fan Yuying
Published: Updated:
The domestic media "Modern Express" reported that on April 29, the first day of the May Day holiday, many mainland cities were flooded with people, and the "hard to find a ticket" situation such as tickets to attractions was repeated.
In terms of tourist destination cities, Xi'an, Changsha, Chongqing and other tourist cities continue to remain popular, and Shandong Zibo and Nanjing have become emerging tourist "traffic" cities.
It is predicted that in the May Day holiday in 2023, the number of tourists is expected to exceed the level of the same period in 2019, reaching 240 million.
According to the national ticket sales situation released by the National Railway Group during the May Day period, the main cities are Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Xi 'an, Nanjing, Changsha, Chongqing, and the main hot line areas are Beijing - Shanghai, Chengdu - Xi' an, Shenzhen - Changsha, Shanghai - Wuhan and so on.
Among the major cities to reach, Xi'an, Changsha, and Chongqing have long been popular cities, and Xi'an's Datang Night City, Changsha's Orange Island, and Chongqing's Hongya-dong are all high-frequency places for tourists to hit the cards.
According to the report, in the new hot major arrival cities, Nanjing and Zibo performed brightly.
During the May 1st period, Zibo travel orders increased 20 times year-on-year, and the travel heat also radiated to the surrounding Jinan, Qingdao, and Jining cities.
Nanjing, with its rich cultural and tourism resources, thoughtful city services, and "always come to Nanjing bar" network topics, received a total of 44,373,400 tourists in the first three months of 2023, an increase of 68.45% over last year.
Nanjing, Qinhuai River. (Photo / VCG)
Zou Guangyong, an associate professor at the School of Hotel Management at the Shanghai Business School, said that for tourist destinations, the experience of "special soldiers" should be improved, such as increasing guidance in tourist spots, increasing public services, paying attention to online reviews, and doing a good job of word-of-mouth.
Liu Chang, senior planner of the Planning and Design Co., Ltd., said in an interview that there is a significant positive correlation between the attractiveness of tourism information and tourism decision-making.
Nowadays, more and more tourists, especially young people, are willing to learn about the city and obtain tourist information through social software.
In addition, many young people take "punching" as a way of life, and are keen to upload photos in scenic spots to the Internet, which has generated secondary transmission, which has led to the popularity of many tourist places to a certain extent.

Overtourism is a visible issue in several Chinese cities, including Xi'an, Changsha, Chongqing, Nanjing, and Zibo, which have experienced significant increases in tourist traffic.

Areas like Fuji Mountain face problems due to overtourism, and visiting quieter spots can help spread out the weight and benefits of tourism.

Areas like Fuji Mountain face problems such as excessive tourism, excessive waste generation, and impacts on water resources due to overtourism.

Areas like Fuji Mountain face problems such as overcrowding, lack of understanding of risks, and environmental degradation due to littering and unwillingness to pay for maintenance.

Areas like Fuji Mountain may face problems related to over-tourism, which can lower residents' quality of life and have negative environmental and economic impacts.

Barcelona is experiencing overtourism, leading to unrest among locals, who are protesting against the excessive tourist overcrowding in their city.

Barcelona is one of the European cities most affected by overtourism, with 7.8 million visitors in 2023, leading to high rental prices and protests from locals.

Venice, Italy, is one of the cities in Europe most affected by overtourism, with a large number of cruise passengers visiting the city despite a ban on large cruise ships.

"Venice and Barcelona are among the European cities most affected by overtourism, with local residents feeling the negative impacts and measures being taken to reduce tourist numbers and prioritize high-spending travelers."

Barcelona and Amsterdam are two European cities affected by overtourism, with officials implementing policies to reduce tourism growth.

Locals in Barcelona are affected by overtourism, with some residents taking action against tourists due to excessive overcrowding in their city.

"Overtourism affects locals in areas like Barcelona by making it unaffordable for them to live there due to high rental prices."

The local population in areas affected by overtourism, such as Spain and Venice, Italy, are impacted by the negative effects of mass tourism, including protests and environmental degradation.

Residents of Barcelona are negatively impacted by overtourism, with many feeling that it harms their city.

The residents of Barcelona are impacted by overtourism due to poorly behaved tourists.

Tourists can help reduce overtourism by avoiding visits during peak months (July to September) and opting for other times of the year.

To reduce overtourism, tourists should visit outside of peak times and explore off-the-beaten-track destinations.

Tourists can help reduce overtourism by visiting during the off-season and participating in experiential products, which can help distribute demand more evenly and support local economies.

Tourists can help reduce overtourism by visiting destinations during shoulder seasons, which helps to distribute the benefits of tourism throughout the year and alleviate the pressure of overcrowding in popular areas.

To reduce overtourism, tourists should avoid visiting during peak tourist seasons.

Title:

Content: Slow travel.
How do you enjoy your vacation in 2023 in a completely different way?
Tourism and travel have recently become another way to keep up with popular trends or “trends ”, and to capture impressive images that bring in more followers.
While planning vacations, some no longer think only of the places they themselves wish to visit, as much as they observe the experiences of others on social media and think of all those wonderful places they go.
In the meantime, we seem to be surrounded by a flood of travel and tourism social media accounts, which post only minute-long "flutes" where influencers navigate between various fascinating tourist destinations.
Photos and leaflets tell you that you can travel to 10 places in seven days, and that there are 100 destinations you shouldn ’ t miss.
All of this makes us feel like we are in a race to go to as many destinations as possible in as little time as possible, and creates hunger for more experiences, drives us to jump like rabbits from one destination to another and from one experience to another, so we plan vacations filled with experiences, destinations and landmarks instead of focusing our time and budgets on what really interests us.
So, perhaps it ’ s time to rethink the way we travel from a different perspective that gives us more opportunity to relax and delve deeper into the travel experience, through “slow travel. ”
From food to travel.
In praise of slow and slow
In the 1980s, in 1986, McDonald ’ s opened a new branch in Piazza di Spagna, one of Rome ’ s most famous tourist attractions.
Italian sociologist and activist Carlo Petrini published a statement announcing the launch of the Slow Food movement as a reaction to fast food that has become permeating food cultures from one country to another, leaving its negative impact on food cultures and local cooking and turning it into a similar and unified “monster. ”
The statement sparked interest around the world, and quickly led to the emergence of a global movement and organization supported by more than 100,000 members, a movement that over time evolved into sub-ideas in other domains such as slow living, slow design, and slow travel.
Hence the term Slow Tourism, an approach to travel that offers different possibilities and ways to support sustainable tourism and low-carbon tourism, based on reducing mobility by plane and car, and relying more on bicycles or walking.
It also relies on communicating with local people and cultures and eating local folk food, with an interest in preserving the environment (2).
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, global tourism had reached a record high of 671 million international tourists.
Despite the positive effects of the boom in tourism, it has a negative aspect that cannot be ignored.
In a study published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, researchers focused on the potential of slow travel in the face of climate change challenges, with travel at the time of publication accounting for 50-97.5% of the amount of heat emission of most tourist trips.
The emerging concept of slow travel at the time was a reaction to high-carbon travel practices, so that slow travel becomes an integral part of the tourism experience and not just a difference in mode of transportation.
The negative impact of the tourism boom was not only on the increasing carbon footprint, but also on other environmental impacts of no less importance, for example, the Philippine government was forced to temporarily close the Boracay tourist area in 2018 to tourists, after it was transformed from a picturesque island to a sewage and waste sink for tourists, which affected the aquatic life there.
All these and other effects have led to the embrace of a new way of tourism, while embracing greater responsibility towards the environment and local communities, and opening up another horizon for individual enjoyment and exploration of the self and the world.
Here are a selection of slow travel mechanisms that will help you enjoy this exciting experience.
Take the least traveled routes.
Off The Beaten Path (or The Road Less Traveled) is one of the terms associated with slow travel, and is adapted from verses by the American poet Robert Frost, which means choosing unusual areas and different routes than the familiar, crowded routes, and is highly associated with the search for hidden local gems and avoiding the pattern of consumer tourism.
We advise you to stay away from peak tourist seasons, so you will be able to avoid the crowds, as well as get cheaper accommodation and transfers.
You will also be able to explore your destination slowly and quietly away from the crowds and crowds of tourists.
Nobody sees everything.
Many tourists fall into the sin of trying to see and discover everything, and you find lists such as “places not to miss if you go to such a country ” containing dozens of places that it is impossible for an ordinary person to visit all of them on a short vacation.
Take the Louvre as an example, one of the most famous and important museums in the world, with an area of   about 13 square kilometers, and its complex map makes you wonder will you be able to visit all these halls?
And see over a million pieces of art and history in one day?
Or even a few days?
Here you will have to choose between jumping from hall to hall and planning your visit so that you can see as many pieces as possible and take dozens of photos, or choose the pieces that really interest you, and look at each piece, and reflect on its meanings.
You can gasp from hall to hall, or you can settle for a few paintings, and if you go in the opposite direction, you can visit the same painting for several days and spend hours in front of it.
And what about the pictures?
The images are already on search sites, and believe me if you ’ re not an exceptional professional artist, the image you take in the Louvre has been taken by thousands of people before you.
Choose what matters to you, and build your own list based on your priorities.
If you don ’ t enjoy art, and you love outdoor adventure, why spend hours in a museum and see paintings you won ’ t be able to communicate with instead of climbing a mountain, for example.
The opposite is also true.
Think about what really interests your heart, are you a lover of architecture, nature or art and history?
And what are your priorities?
Let coincidence lead you.
Despite the importance of planning, planning every minute of your trip deprives you of a lot of coincidences that may give you irreplaceable opportunities.
Leave room for a bit of randomness, an empty space for chance, free tours in which your feet and intuition lead you towards the unknown and the adventure it carries.
You might want to skip the usual tourist attractions to enjoy other things, such as living like the locals and exploring the side streets away from the city center.
Knowing people is a treasure.
Speaking of side streets instead of renting a car, walking and using public transport will enable you to get to know the country better, as well as the chance to get to know the local population.
It is said that "the people of Mecca know its people", and so in every city, away from the popular tourist destinations, the people of the city know the best and cheapest places, restaurants and shops, and from them you can explore the city in the best possible ways.
Not only that, in movies we often see heroes change their lives after having an inspiring conversation with a passing person on the way.
Perhaps we wonder why we do not meet such inspirations, and why our lives do not change.
You may not be able to take inspiration if the ones you ’ re talking to are the hurried tourists or the tour guide.
But what about people from different cultures?
Shopkeepers and old people who sit in cafes, those who belong to a land other than your land and a time other than your time, is it not possible that if you open your heart and speak without concern, you can draw inspiration from them?
There is a hidden pleasure in talking to strangers you may never meet again.
The conversation may not turn your life upside down like in the movies, but if you allow your soul to open up enough, it could be an opportunity to explore a new aspect of yourself or the world.
Find out about local markets and food.
Instead of buying souvenirs from tourist bazaars or airports, you can try buying from local markets, where you will find unique handmade goods.
You can learn about the many handicrafts of each city, from which you explore its history, and support it in the face of counterfeit products that do not carry a soul.
Be sure to try local food as it is one of the most important experiences not to be missed when traveling.
Look for local dishes and try what works for you, visit local markets, and taste vegetables and fruits that may be unfamiliar in your country.
If you ’ re a foodie, you might want to take lessons in cooking local dishes, learn how to prepare them and understand more about the culture and history of the place.
Instead of searching for branches of international chains of cafes and restaurants drink your coffee in a small local cafe, meet the waiters and pioneers and pick up the tales scattered from their mouths, this is your real wealth from the journey, not the bright photographic image that resembles the hundreds of photos taken by tourists before you.
Get rid of travel stress
When you rush from one place to another with a full list of activities you do every minute, you usually come back from vacation with a deep sense of stress, which is called travel fatigue.
In the slow travel experience you will enjoy relaxing, walking through forests and gardens, or lying in the desert in a star-studded sky.
Ignore your phone and your desire to take pictures.
Relax a bit and enjoy your experience. (6)
You don ’ t need any more time or money.
Some may say I can ’ t travel slowly, my vacation is only 7 days.
Slow travel doesn ’ t mean long travel, it doesn ’ t have to do with time frame as much as the way you travel and your way of thinking.
So slow travel brings us back to the real and root causes of travel, why do we move from one place to another?
And what are we looking for?
Are we looking for more photos of our social media accounts, are we looking for relaxation, are we looking for more cultures and history, or do we want to dig deeper and connect with ourselves?
In terms of budget, I ’ m happy.
There are many ways to reduce your travel budget, it is possible to try work while traveling, you can work in one of the farms or small hotels in exchange for accommodation, which many places offer, especially if you decide to settle in one place for long enough.
Also, instead of looking for luxury hotels, you can opt for shared homes, live with a local resident, or look for shared accommodations and cheap local hotels.
And within your city, too.
If you don ’ t have a chance to vacation outside your city, you can apply these ideas in your city as well, instead of meeting your friends in repeated places behind glass walls, go on a tour to explore the city, the unknown areas of it, the unfamiliar streets.
Turn to the old cafes, to the trees you pass every day on your way to work without seeing or noticing its presence, to people and stones.
Remember that slow travel is not just a way to travel, but a different view of the world and a way to live and think.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Sources:
Carlo Petrini and the History of Slow Food
2. Slow Travel and Tourism
Slow travel: issues for tourism and climate
Philippines to shutdown tourist island boracay for six months
The Tourist ’ s Perception about Slow Travel – A Romanian Perspective
In light of the Krona pandemic, slow travel is the latest tourism trends
Source: The Island

Popular tourist spots in China can lead to crowd control issues, particularly in areas close to residential buildings, highlighting the need for effective management strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of overtourism.