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Sabre is now sponsoring the Global Responsible Tourism Awards™ There are six categories in 2024: (1) Making Travel Inclusive (2) Championing Cultural Diversity (3) Nature Positive (4) What are you doing about Climate Change? (5) Increasing local sourcing- Creating shared value (6) Employing and Upskilling Local Communities. Gold winners in each regional awards programme automatically enter the Global Awards.
There is further information about the 2024 Awards here The Global Award Winners will be announced on November 4th.
The 2022 Responsible Tourism Charter points out that responsibility drives sustainability, lists the most significant issues that need to be addressed, and asserts the importance of transparent reporting to demonstrate what is being achieved and avoid greenwashing.
Responsible Tourism is about using tourism to make better places for people to live and visit. How can we “do tourism better”?
Unseen Tours is worthy of our support. They give their guides a platform to tell their own stories on their own terms. This is especially important since those with experience of homelessness are routinely sidelined and overlooked by the tourism industry. Every aspect of their tours has been co-constructed with the guides themselves, making the Unseen Tours experience a genuine joint venture from the ground up. Their training facilitates up-skilling, a pathway to paid work, social confidence and a sustained life outside of homelessness,. Their 2024 summer fundraiser is being match-funded by the Cost of Living Resilience Fund See Unseen Tours on the BBC News
The impact of climate change on tourism is getting worse 
Balancing tourism growth with housing affordability
Why do we travel?
The politics of overtourism
“GROUNDBREAKING. The New Tourist waking up to the power and perils of travel will enable you to have much better travel experiences. McClanahan understands that what we make of tourism has to do with the ways we interact and behave when we holiday in other peoples' homes. The choices we make about how, when, and where we travel make a real difference in whether we have positive or negative impacts.”
—Harold Goodwin, Professor Emeritus at Manchester Metropolitan University and Director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership - published by Porchlight
How To Be a “New Tourist,” the Powers and Perils of Tourism With Paige McClanahan interviewed for the Zero to Travel podcast.
Paige McClanahan in conversation with Aziz Abu Sarah
1. Is New Tourism emerging?
Paige McClanahan's The New Tourist has been well-promoted but it has given voice to, and in many ways shaped, a sea change in the way tourism is understood and discussed. For example, Kathleen Rellihan writing on the BBC's travel pages in a piece entitled Why it's time to rethink what it means to be a tourist accepts that she, a travel writer, is a "tourist – but while it's a label to not take lightly, it needn't always be a bad one." In a review of McClanahan's new book, she writes "in the post-pandemic travel boom – last summer in particular – tourists behaving badly seem to have reached a tipping point. ... we need to shift how we view tourism, and tourists, now more than ever."
The Times in the News Review, not the travel pages, on Sunday, July 21st, Katie Gatens, wrote a piece entitled "Continent in revolt: why tourism rage is sweeping Europe" and asked, "Is the backlash righteous or self-defeating?" Gatens reminds us that "it wasn’t until Thomas Cook developed the package tour in the 1870s — taking small groups to France, Germany and Italy — that the idea of the “holiday” was brought to the masses. It inevitably aroused snobbery among the leisure classes towards fellow “Brits abroad” that endures to this day." As Gatens points out "The vocal anti-tourism movements in Europe have a populist flavour, reflecting frustrations over the cost of living and especially housing. Younger Europeans seem especially unhappy about their continent turning into a giant museum." In Mallorca the campaign group "Less Tourism, More Life" echoes a movement in the Canary Islands.
In Gujarat mid-day published "To travel or not? Decoding the overtourism and irresponsible tourism catastrophe". In The Atlantic Chelsea Leu wrote Don’t Give Up on Tourism. Just Do It Better. The Bangkok Post
reports on Thailand's Socialgiver’s Meaningful Travel campaign. " Through the Meaningful Travel campaign, every journey to Thailand can now support the noble cause of preserving the nation’s lush landscapes and majestic trees, marking a step forward towards a more sustainable and responsible global tourism ethos."
Emer McDevitt of marketing agency Social Chain on GenZ "rejecting aspirational trips in favor of more authentic and culturally rich experiences." "They want a unique, personalized experience that won’t impact the local community.... hey’re a generation of sustainable travel seekers - 56% of Gen Z travelers believe that choosing an eco-friendly travel option is important for ensuring a positive experience for local people and tourists."
Sebastian Ebel, chief executive of TUI speaking in Madrid argues that only tourism that is accepted and supported by local people can be sustainable. "Social sustainability is particularly about the living spaces of local people – education, training, jobs, local culture, affordable housing."
2. How to be a new tourist ...
First the problem: tourists behaving badly.
Writing on BBC Travel Lynn Brown has written a long piece addressing the question "Why do tourists behave badly on holiday?" There is no pay wall – it is worth reading.
Michelle Singletary wrote in the Washington Post about "How to be a better tourist and not annoy locals ... Locals in cities around the world are getting fed up with tourists, and I don’t blame them." Nora Biette-Timmons writing in Conde Nast Traveller titles her piece "This New Book Is Reframing How We Think About Tourism" an interview review of McClanahan's book. Asked whether there are other books for people who want to read more about "thoughtful tourism" McClanahan recommends The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit, and Peril at the Beach, by Sarah Stodola. Polly Pattullo's Last Resorts, the cost of tourism in the Caribbean published in 1996, and the second edition in 2005, did not have the advantage of the mounting content about overtourism which is with us now. Claire Irvin, Travel Editor at The Times wrote on 14th July "Having a great time on holiday means choosing your destination wisely and respecting the place and people you’re visiting. Here’s how" She concludes her article "As a tourist you can help drive change by considering the effects of your choice of accommodation, and who will benefit from your money. The easiest option is to pick a hotel. Yes, it may cost more, but your choice will sustain livelihoods not only for those working on the premises but also along the entire supply chain, from towel attendants to taxi drivers. Water pistol manufacturers may be the only casualty."
In Northumberland "A responsible tourism campaign is being relaunched in Northumberland - just days after two people had to be rescued, along with a dog, when their campervan became stranded by the tide on the Holy Island causeway. ... Love It Like It’s Yours aims to ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience while minimising the impact on the environment along with clean-up costs."
Switzerland: "A new alpine garden in Zermatt aims to educate visitors about the local flora and prevent them from destroying rare plants"
Prague “Respect Prague” aims to harmonize the city’s thriving tourism sector with the preservation of its historic charm and natural environment. .. crucial for maintaining Prague’s allure amidst its growing popularity."
Copenhagen is incentivising tourists to become new tourists, rewarding climate-friendly tourists with pastries and perks. CopenPay is now closed and will be evaluated. It may relaunch in 2025. More here in the Washington Post.
The Algarve as part of its Futourism drive is asking tourists to save six suitcases of water during their stay, "using snappy catchphrases such as “fewer pools, more oceans” and “fewer showers, more diving”. According to Lídia Monteiro, a Board Member for Turismo de Portugal, “this campaign could have focused more on the more restricted issues of water availability, but we deliberately chose to encourage the adoption of behaviours in a surprising, intriguing way, with a bit of humour and that could also arouse curiosity about the Algarve destination. It seeks to highlight what is most relevant in this destination: the ocean.”
Mallorca has launched a new campaign “Diviértete con Respeto” (Have fun with respect). " The focus is on the protection, regeneration and preservation of the island."
Barcelona is rebranding from “Visit Barcelona” to “This is Barcelona”. Mateu Hernández, General Director Turisme de Barcelona: "visit” has reached its ceiling and it was time to change it." Today, Turisme de Barcelona makes an affirmation of the importance of our identity as a city and that is why we have gone from Visit to This is Barcelona. Watch the video
3. Overtourism
James, a Kiwi living in Spain with a Spanish wife, is on a mission "to help you experience this wonderful country deeply. With 253K followers, his 15-minute video addressing the question "Is Spain Sick of Tourists? is worth watching.
On July 7th the demonstration in Barcelona when residents turned water pistols on the tourists was carried in the mainstream media around the world. Isambard Wilkinson and Simon Hunter wrote in The Times about the demonstration in Mallorca "under slogans including: “Let’s change course and set limits on tourism.” Other banners read: “Stop destroying Mallorca”; “Your luxury, our misery”; and “This isn’t tourismophobia, it’s numbers: 1,232,014 residents, 18 million tourists” Demonstrators were concerned about housing, the impact on natural resources and the stretched public services. Also in The Times Katie Gatens points out that "The global middle class is flooding places that are growing resentful of their money and selfie sticks. " and asks "Is the backlash righteous or self-defeating?" As Gatens reminds us "The vocal anti-tourism movements in Europe have a populist flavour, reflecting frustrations over the cost of living and especially housing. Younger Europeans seem especially unhappy about their continent turning into a giant museum."
Nick Beake, Europe Correspondent at the BBC interviewed 25-year-old Pere Joan Femenia in Majorca, part of a movement called "Menys Turisme, Més Vida", or "Less Tourism, More Life". "“Businesses are changing from ones selling traditional products to multi-nationals selling ice cream and we are losing our identity. We want to preserve our culture," "He says it is a myth that Majorca needs ever-expanding tourism to survive and that the reality is many locals are preparing to leave for good because they can no longer afford it here.
The Tourist Trap is a series of programmes/podcasts from BBC Radion addressing the question How can we stop over-tourism and protect the planet from its impact on the environment?
4. Regulations
Barcelona: the biggest problem the city has is the housing crisis, the Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni announced plans to ban short-term rentals in the city starting in November 2028. The 10,000 apartments currently listed as short-term rentals on Airbnb and other platforms in the city will return to the housing market. Laura Hall has written on BBC Travel about how bans like this will affect how we travel.
Japan: has introduced a £5 per bag over 160cm fee on trains (locals prefer to courier their bags ahead of them); there are ¥10,000 (£50) fines for anyone taking a photo of a geisha without her consent, locals-only nights are being introduced in some restaurants and other restaurants are giving a discount to locals. In Kyoto tourist-only bus routes have been introduced and a “Mind Your Manners” campaign will remind English-speaking visitors of local customs. Mt. Fuji has capped visitor numbers at 4,000 per day and introduced a fee of ¥2,000 / £10) for those walking the Yoshida Trail. The Studio Ghibli Museum in Tokyo limits visitor numbers to 3,500 during the week and 4,000 at weekends. The Japan Rail Pass much used by tourists does not provide access to the high-speed Nozomi and Mizuho services.
Lake Tahoe is promoting “Rules to Lake By” for visitors and locals alike.
Denmark: The combination of holidaymakers seeking cooler climes and the increasing popularity of camper van breaks and “van life” culture has resulted in a 27% increase in camper vans in Denmark in the last five years, some municipalities are introducing new regulations to restrict "wild parking" with the attendant litter and dame to the view for others.
Calpe, on Spain’s Costa Blanca "setting up chairs, sunbeds and parasols before 9:30 am has been banned under a Municipal Ordinance for the Use and Management of the Coastline. The council is not looking to take sides in the night-owl versus early-bird battle royale, but it does want its beach cleaners to be able to do their job properly, it says. Leaving unattended paraphernalia on the beach “makes it difficult to clean the beaches, so the ordinance establishes that all items installed on the beaches before 9:30 am may be removed and the owners denounced. ... the new measure means anything left unattended on the beach for three hours or more at other times of day can be confiscated too.
Barcelona city councillor Jordi Coronas explains "“Barcelona, through its ‘souvenirs’, is also projected to the world. Penises with the Barcelona brand or t-shirts with sexist and homophobic messages do not project the values of the capital of Catalonia. We ask for regulatory changes to improve the image of the city and its commerce. " Jordi Valls, the city’s deputy mayor for the economy, who also supports the measure, noted another potential barrier to implementation, remarking that it will be “difficult to standardise it because what is considered in bad taste is a matter of very high subjectivity.”
Tenerife e-coli contamination in the water means visitors will not be able to go for a dip at the Playa Jardin one of Tenerife's most popular beaches
Greece 70% of beaches must be sunbed-free, a percentage that could go up depending on whether or not the area is protected (85%) or ecologically sensitive (100%). In order to allow access to the sea to everyone at all times, sunbeds also need to be placed at least 4 metres away from the shoreline, as do umbrellas. Drones are being deployed to monitor compliance and a MyCoast App enables reporting of infringements.
5. Destination Management
Taxes: Managing tourists and their impacts on destinations requires funding. The Times presented both points of view. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are bringing in from October an overnight charge of £2.40 per room "equal to less than a cup of coffee" Rosie Radwell of the Accommodation Business Improvement District in Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole points out that "We must ... maintain our reputation as a safe, clean, green and welcoming destination by improving visitors’ experiences, attracting investors to the town, driving footfall and ultimately increasing spending." Rick Everitt, the Labour leader of Thanet district council in Kent argues that bed night levies only apply to overnight tourists and not to day excursioniasts. We want people to feel that they are welcome here, not tolerated on sufferance or charged for things that add no immediate value for them. We all benefit from cleaner beaches and streets, properly managed parking and the prosperity that a thriving visitor economy can create, especially residents." Circumstances alter cases. Decisions about tourist taxes are best taken locally.
In Japan, Kyoto has introduced a levy on hotel rooms of ¥200–1,000 a night (£1-£5). Hokkaido, charges every guest an extra ¥2,000 (£9.80) per night.
Copenhagen is considering introducing a tourist tax but that would require new powers from the central government.
At €5 the day tripper fee for entry to Venice is to be doubled in 2025 to €10. Michele Zuin, the local budget councillor explains “We hope to discourage arrivals. The first experimental phase did not show major disincentive effects, but we did not expect them. The situation will change when the maximum ticket is increased to 10 euros." The €5 entry fee has applied on only 29 days but it has raised €2 million.
Barcelona is planning to raise the tourist tax on cruise passengers who visit the city for less than 12 hours.
Quality: The Express reports that the slump in visitors to Mykonos over the past three years may be due to a lack of infrastructure able to sustain the large number of visitors it received and to high prices, according to sources in the tourism industry who spoke to Greek news outlet Ekathimerini. The Express has covered overtourism extensively. In Hawaii, the Governor has signed 16 pivotal bills that expand the state’s efforts to preserve Hawai‘i’s natural resources and foster sustainable tourism practices. In an attempt to alleviate chronic traffic congestion on Tenerife, there are plans to create an extensive rail network by 2045. In Spain, Turespaña is shifting from "pursuing volume, to more recently, “quality tourism” or attracting visitors who contribute value to the destination economically, socially, and environmentally... developing new indicators that better reflect the local communities’ quality of life and the tourism industry’s quality of jobs." Spain has launched a series of talks about Caring for the Future.
The Galapagos Islands "Since 2020, an interdisciplinary research team from EHL Hospitality Business School, the Catholic University in Quito, and the Charles Darwin Research Station at the Galapagos in Ecuador have been studying the challenges associated with tourism dynamics at the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Galapagos Islands. This article summarizes the main findings of this collaboration: the carrying capacity of the islands, the sustainability transition of tourism, and the political challenges that have been affecting sustainability efforts in the archipelago."
National Policy locally focussed: The national Ministry of Tourism in India has created "a robust framework for integrated development of tourism destinations in partnership with the States/UTs and local governments for promoting sustainable and responsible tourism in the country."
Businesses are taking action too. AE Expeditions is planning to use only 130 passenger vessels on its Antarctic and Arctic itineraries next season, AE Expeditions “recognise our responsibility to protect and preserve the remote places we travel to, and we are proud to be one of the few companies visiting Antarctica and the Arctic with under 150 passengers.
Destination Marketing: Alex Lemecha-Sim of M&C Saatchi argues that "Tourism is at a turning point, with many popular spots struggling to balance visitor numbers and sustainability. Marketing and placemaking have pivotal roles to play in this balancing act. By crafting campaigns that champion responsible tourism and spotlight lesser-known destinations, we can spread the economic benefits more broadly and ease the strain on overcrowded hotspots."
6. Climate Change
Climate change demands that the travel and tourism sector respond to the consequences of failing to reduce emissions. The Washington Post reports that "We have changed our relationship to fire. We may never be the same." Extreme wildfires have doubled in frequency and intensity over the last two decades and are exacerbating the problem of climate change by emitting still more greenhouse gases. Scientists found that temperatures between July 2023 and June 2024 were the highest on record, creating a year-long stretch in which the Earth was 1.64C hotter than in preindustrial times. Cities Today reports that 83% of the world’s cities are reporting significant climate hazards, with over half of cities (56%) already being significantly impacted by these hazards.
Humanity has entered a new era of fire caused by the burning of fossil fuels and the climate change we have caused. Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) data reveals that 22nd July was the warmest day in recent history, reaching 17.15ºC. Climate Pulse provides daily charts and maps of global surface air temperature and sea surface temperature updated close to real-time, as well as an archive of past daily, monthly and annual maps. Greece and North Macedonia issued health and fire warnings. For a week most of Greece was at a “high or very high risk of fire”, this year has already seen 1,300 wildfires across the country in June alone, more than double the figure for that month in 2023. Global News published before and after photographs of wildfires in Japer and the national park.
Inside Climate News has pointed out that Houston’s first direct hit from a hurricane in decades showed how vulnerable the nation’s energy capital remains. "Beryl, which had reached category 5 strength in the Caribbean, hit Texas as a category 1 storm. It flooded hundreds of homes and knocked out power for millions of people in the muggy former swamplands of the nation’s energy capital, throwing the city into days of chaos and highlighting the vulnerability of the fourth-largest U.S. city."
The Met Office has reported that the UK is seeing a 40% increase in the number of what the Met Office describes as “pleasant” days - those with temperatures of 20C or more – and has become 9% sunnier over the last few decades. But, the UK is experiencing 20% more extremely wet days and a trebling of “very hot days” of 30C or more.
Josh Ettinger, a doctoral researcher, in the School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford encourages us to speak out. "If talking about climate change politicises the weather, so be it. The politics of climate denial and delay affected this summer’s weather, and our current decisions will shape our planet for thousands of years." We need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and adapt.
7. Responding to Climate Change
Our procrastination on greenhouse gas emissions has resulted in us having to adapt and continue to mitigate. As the Stern Report warned, procrastination has increased the cost and pain. The Geek Islands have been hit with a water crisis: wildfires, extreme heat and low rainfall and over a third of Türkiye and Greece’s heritage sites are threatened by rising sea levels. On Mallorca the small ancient town of Banyalbufar, “bathed in the water”, with around 600 inhabitants is so short of water, which now has to be tankered in, has water for only seven hours a day.
The Guardian reports that three in four (76%) European travellers are adapting their behaviour to the climate crisis, according to a new survey by the European Travel Commission (ETC). "A third (33.7%) of Europeans said they avoided destinations where extreme weather events were likely, the ETC poll found, and 17.3% said they did this by avoiding places with severe temperatures. Just more than 16% sought out holiday destinations with more stable weather conditions. Almost one in 10 (8.5%) said they were changing the months they travel, while one in 10 travellers said they worried about extreme weather."
Climate change also impacts communities through flooding and flood risk. "As climate change threatens South Carolina’s coastal riches—from sunswept resorts like Hilton Head to huge future developments—the state’s historical African American settlements are also at risk. Squeezed between luxury homes and rising water..." Abrahm Lustgarten in his new book, On the Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America explores the economic consequences of global warming and the population shifts likely to be caused in the US by the rising cost of insurance, health care and energy and declining crop yields.
Travel Weekly Asia reports that "Climate change is disrupting travel" and reports a trend toward slow travel, starting active travel earlier in the day. An American tourist has died having suffered a heat stroke while climbing the southern side of the Mount Etna volcano in Sicily. “Tourists who participate in these excursions should not underestimate the risks related to high temperatures, strong humidity, and the sudden jump in altitude”, warned Alfio Ferrara, a spokesman for the alpine rescue service.
Possible, a non-profit INGO working on climate issues, has called for an end to frequent flyer programmes " while people around the world pay the real price as they face dangerous heat waves and out-of-control wildfires. Airlines need to end this irresponsible behaviour, and stop awarding points for pollution.” Possible points out that anyone with BA or Virgin “Gold Status” would be emitting 27 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) every year, 33-fold the UK average travel footprint. On 24th July airports across Europe were blocked for several hours by climate activists of different groups, coordinated under the Oil Kills umbrella.
8. The case for Hydrogen
Demand for aviation is forecast to continue to grow. Boeing in its 2024 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) reports its plans to manufacture 44,000 aircraft by 2043, expecting passenger air traffic to increase by 4.7% annually. Responding to record-high consumer demand Carnival Cruise Line has announced the addition of three new large-scale ships by 2033 each accommodating 8,000 guests in 3,000 rooms. There is a clear need to move away from fossil fuels and the greenhouse gases they produce. The case for hydrogen is gaining strength. There is a resurgence of interest in hydrogen. Hydrogen Insight, reports that “the number of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles on the world’s roads increased by 40% in 2022, compared to 2021, totaling more than 72,000 vehicles.” FleetOwner reports that for road transport hydrogen is increasingly competitive. They report that Oxford NanoSystems’ (ONS) has developed a “nanoFlux” alloy coating that could double hydrogen production from alkaline electrolysers and halve the stack capex cost for H2 projects. Other sectors are adopting hydrogen for example Italian steelmaker Tenaris is to produce and burn green hydrogen for hot-rolled steel pipes.
Kohler Engines exhibited its latest creation, the KDH hydrogen engine. Designed to match the performance of a diesel engine the KDH is expected to be swapped into existing vehicles and not to emit greenhouse gases. A great deal of money is being invested in the race to decarbonise transport, there will be winners and losers. Hydrogen aviation pioneer Universal Hydrogen has gone bust after burning through $100m from investors
Airbus has signed an early-stage deal with green-hydrogen-based e-fuels producer HIF Global, American Airlines has placed a conditional order for 100 ZeroAvia hydrogen fuel-cell aircraft engines for electric engine systems consisting of fuel cells to generate electricity that would then be used to power electric motors that turn the propellers of small, regional aircraft. Joby’s experimental vertical take-off and landing aircraft (pictured) uses fuel cells and batteries powered by 40kg of liquid hydrogen has completed 840km test flight above California. "Hydrogen from the tank powers the H2Fly-developed ‘H2F-175’ fuel cell system, which generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction with oxygen from the air, producing water and heat as by-products. The San Francisco Bay Ferry with a group of private and public sector partners has launched the MV Sea Change, the world’s first commercial passenger ferry powered 100% by zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells.
The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)’s chief executive Dr Luiz Amaral has resigned in the wake of controversy over the past few months, since the organisation announced plans to provide revised guidance on how companies can use ‘environmental attribute certificates,’ including carbon credits, to account for their climate goals, particularly those related to Scope 3 (indirect) emissions. Edie reports that companies aligning with the SBTi can use offsets for only 10% of their total emissions across all scopes; however, surveys revealed that many firms are struggling to align with the Standard due to the challenge of reducing Scope 3 (indirect) emissions.
9. Overtourism impacts wildlife too
10. Miscellaneous
The URL www.rtp.education takes you directly to the RT Hub, which provides easy links to the RT Partnership.
Other Responsible Tourism Newsletters
GreenAir
The Sustainabilist UAE
Responsible Cape Town
Climate Change in 7 chartsResponsible Traveller, South Africa
Encounter Africa
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