Tourism Costs: Where are we now?

The costs related to tourism development are not new. It is 45 years since the publication of Emanuel de Kadt’s Tourism: Passport to Development? Perspectives on the Social and Cultural Effects of Tourism in Developing Countries which questioned whether the economic benefits attributed to tourism development were indeed beneficial to the people and places of tourism destinations. Despite many calls to address concerns, consider the perspective of local communities and develop sustainable tourism practices, on-going problems associated with tourism suggests that few lessons have been learned. The year 2024 witnessed a growing number of protests about tourism in various parts of the Mediterranean. There were sensationalist headlines in the UK news media about tourists being shot at by protestors with water pistols in Barcelona, Spain to reports of a councillor on the Greek island of Santorini telling its residents to stay at home to make room for tourists. News outlets sought the views of local people and that of tourists. The focus of concern was predominately about Europe and in places well known as popular tourist destinations. This seminar hears about not only the problems in the Mediterranean, but also about other places where the pressures of tourism can be keenly felt. It seeks to highlight what the destinations have in common, to ask questions about who is responsible, what the issues are, and can we learn anything from each other’s experiences?

Confirmed Speakers:

Prof Macià Blázquez Salom University of the Balearics, Mallorca

Dr Linda Osti Bangor University, Wales UK

Dr Rabindra Sapkota, University of Coventry, UK

Please register via the Eventbrite page by Thursday 24th April to receive the Teams link : https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1300795818309?aff=oddtdtcreator