Tourism in upheaval: Protests demand change for international understanding!

Tourism in upheaval: Protests demand change for international understanding!

Protests against mass tourism in popular European travel destinations are increasingly perceived as a wake -up call for the entire tourism industry. In their current thesis paper, Günter Ihlau and Wolfgang Isenberg consider developments as an opportunity for more conscious use of travel. They call for a return to the original idea of ​​international understanding, which is often only lived superficially. In order to promote real understanding and encounters between travelers and locals, time, openness and structural framework conditions are necessary, according to the authors. Overcrowded roads and rising rents in cities such as Barcelona and Venice now lead to considerable resistance to tourism and illustrate the urgency of a reform of the sector.

Ihlau and Isenberg describe the current resistance as a reality check for the idea of ​​international understanding. They argue that travel is not only a way to get to know cultures, but also a mirror of international political dynamics. Visa regulations and foreign policy tensions influence travel behavior and show the need for a change of perspective in tourism. Their proposed term "international understanding 2.0" emphasizes the dynamic nature of the encounter and asks both the destinations and the travelers themselves to ensure respectful and careful interactions.

sustainable tourism as a solution

The protest against mass tourism is not an expression of a general rejection of tourism, but a call for redesign in the sense of the local population. In cities such as Mallorca and Lisbon, residents demonstrate against the destruction of ecosystems and the loss of regional identity. Experts emphasize that properly designed tourism can promote understanding between cultures, reduce prejudices and enable peaceful encounters. To achieve this, it is important to include local actors in the planning processes and create a fair economic distribution system.

The program "Tourism criticism as an opportunity: 10 points to promote tourism acceptance", published by Ihlau and Isenberg, offers a number of suggestions. This includes investments in sustainable infrastructure and strengthening regional cultures. Hotels play a key role here. The Green Pearls® initiative shows through its accommodations that responsible tourism is possible with a holistic approach.

examples of responsible tourism

In South Tyrol, for example, Green Pearls® hotels like My Arbor rely on energy-efficient construction and waste prevention in Brixen, while the Eco-Aparthotel Olm Nature Escape uses renewable energies and promotes longer stays. Vegan oriented hotels such as La Vimea and Paradiso Pure.living address animal welfare criticism by increasing animal -friendly concepts.

You can also see positive approaches in other regions. The Black Forest Panorama in Bad Herrenalb creates a common good record in cooperation with a university to measure the effects of tourism. Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol relies on 100 % green electricity and regional food. The focus is on long -term social and ecological tolerance.

The future of tourism will require new ways, the quality, responsibility and respect for the foreground. Ihlau and Isenberg are convinced that tourism should be regarded as part of the solution and not as a problem. Together, the actors in the industry can work on sustainable and accepted development that takes into account both economic and social aspects.

The complete thesis paper from Ihlau and Isenberg as well as further information can be found at trip before 9 and Green Pearls .