The Toll of Overtourism: Seeking a Peaceful Balance

On this edition of Peace Talks Radio, we explore the issue of overtourism. Destinations around the globe are facing the impact of tourism on local residents, cultures, economies, and the environment. How can we ensure this impact is a positive one, and minimize the conflict and harm that our travel can cause? Correspondent Michelle Aslam speaks with tourism experts on how our travel can be a source of conflict, and a tool for peace. Journalist and author Paige McClanahan speaks about her book The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel. Dr. Kiona, founder of Reroot Travel, speaks about how her company endeavors to take a regenerative approach to tourism, as opposed to an exploitative one. Dr. Freya Higgings-Desbiolles, an academic who studies tourism’s potential to foster a more peaceful world, addresses systemic solutions to addressing the conflict caused by overtourism.