Cruise ships turned away, angry locals protesting against visitors, even cities charging tourists to visit. The images and reality of the backlash against mass tourism are becoming increasingly familiar.
Whatever the reasons behind such mass tourism — the ability to book independently online, improvements in infrastructure and communications such as cheaper airline travel, and pent-up demand following the COVID-19 pandemic — it is clear that the backlash against it has also surged recently.
In an industry already challenged by the growing ability of people to book online and travel independently, not to mention the economic damage caused by the pandemic, the question arises as to how tour operators and other travel companies are reacting to such new challenges and the backlash. It is another…
