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BBC OS Conversations: Mass tourism

Factual

Mass tourism

10/05/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - BBC OS Conversations, Mass tourism

Influencers and residents from popular destinations on the pros and cons of tourism

Influencers and residents from popular destinations on the pros and cons of tourism.

The pandemic stopped most of us travelling anywhere but now the United Nations predicts that international tourism will soon return to pre-Covid levels. 

While that might be welcome if you’re making money from tourism, the number of visitors can also cause problems. Some top tourist spots are even taking action to address this and people who live there are taking to protest.

Hosts James Reynolds and Lukwesa Burak discuss how you balance the tourist dollar. 

Residents of Venice, Bali and Spain’s Canary Islands discuss their concerns rising from the huge numbers of visitors, ranging from a lack of infrastructure and non-tourist housing to cultural insensitivity and the distribution of tourism income. 

“Tenerife has about one million residents and six million tourists visit every year,” says Brian. “With over 36% of the population living in or at risk of poverty, it’s obvious that mass tourism has failed the islanders.”

We also discuss the role of travel influencers who share videos and photos with a mass audience on social media. This can then lead others wanting to recreate the same experience.   

One of those in our discussion is Kristen Sarah in Costa Rica, who runs @Hopscotchtheglobe vlog. “As influencers, it’s our messaging that encourages and inspires others to follow in our footsteps,” she says. “A photo is just a photo. But if you don’t take in the place that you’re visiting, then what’s the point of even going?”

A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC OS team.

(Photo: Tourists walk in St Mark's Square on the day Venice municipality introduces a new fee for day trippers in a move to preserve the lagoon city often crammed with tourists in Venice, Italy, April 25, 2024. Credit: Manuel Silvestri/Reuters)

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