Such an important discussion of meaningful tourism! As someone born and raised on Kaua'i, I've seen my island pushed to brink but unsustainable tourism practices that ignore the realities of our nature and community. Thank you so much for sharing, it's so important to change people's mindsets and attitudes towards the concept of travel.
As a 33 year resident and with over 20 years of public service, I am thrilled to see this shift. We shall see how the future of tourism unfolds, but the plan to ho’ihi da a’ina is positive. Imua.
I think about an article I wrote years ago about the first big luxury hotel on Lani’i. It was for the rich, and the locals didn’t want it. I wonder if they could build it today without community support?
I'm so happy to read about this initiative. I've seen elements of this approach in places I have lived and visited over he years which suffer from overtourism. Places like Angkor in Cambodia, Dubrovnik in Croatia and Venice, Italy. I hope this is a lasting movement.
As Canada’s exclusive certified trainer for Meaningful Tourism Transformational Game Workshops, I’ll be doing my best to help the industry transform. And, of course, I’ll do my best to share updates, ideas, and solutions that the workshops lead to.
This is very thoughtfully written, "They don’t account for strained ecosystems, overworked locals, or cultures reduced to a caricature for the sake of guest satisfaction scores."
I genuinely want economies to thrive, and tourism offers job opportunities and economic growth, but at what cost, and how can local communities benefit?
I don't have the answers, but it seems like Hawaii is taking steps to make big improvements.
This is such a great article. I did not know the term meaningful tourism, although I had conceived a vague notion of it in my own mind. Curious, though, what makes you so sure this is on the way to becoming the dominant model. I recognize the points about sustainability and overtourism, of course. I'm just not so sure things can change so quickly. Anyway, I would be all in on reading about initiatives in this vein.
Thank you for commenting and sharing the article, Betty! There’s no guarantee that Meaningful Tourism will dominate. What I hope and believe is that by broadening the tourism industry’s views to include an understanding of and empathy for how tourism affects communities and the environment, new models of development can lead to a more beneficial and sustainable future for all.
The answer is MORE KETCHUP. Tourists are checking off items on "bucket lists". Could give two shits about "cultural understanding". Consumers gonna consume, be it plastic crap from Walmart or been-there-done-that tourism.
Such an important discussion of meaningful tourism! As someone born and raised on Kaua'i, I've seen my island pushed to brink but unsustainable tourism practices that ignore the realities of our nature and community. Thank you so much for sharing, it's so important to change people's mindsets and attitudes towards the concept of travel.
Thank you, Emma. It’s no surprise that Hawaii is one of the leaders in the drive toward permanent change in tourism strategy and policy.
As a 33 year resident and with over 20 years of public service, I am thrilled to see this shift. We shall see how the future of tourism unfolds, but the plan to ho’ihi da a’ina is positive. Imua.
Thanks for commenting and restacking, @A J. It’s reassuring to know you see value in the coming shifts.
I think about an article I wrote years ago about the first big luxury hotel on Lani’i. It was for the rich, and the locals didn’t want it. I wonder if they could build it today without community support?
I'm so happy to read about this initiative. I've seen elements of this approach in places I have lived and visited over he years which suffer from overtourism. Places like Angkor in Cambodia, Dubrovnik in Croatia and Venice, Italy. I hope this is a lasting movement.
Thank you for your comment, Lisa. I, too, hope that necessary and lasting change will replace the rush for short term, shortsighted growth.
I'll be interested what happens...
As Canada’s exclusive certified trainer for Meaningful Tourism Transformational Game Workshops, I’ll be doing my best to help the industry transform. And, of course, I’ll do my best to share updates, ideas, and solutions that the workshops lead to.
This is very thoughtfully written, "They don’t account for strained ecosystems, overworked locals, or cultures reduced to a caricature for the sake of guest satisfaction scores."
I genuinely want economies to thrive, and tourism offers job opportunities and economic growth, but at what cost, and how can local communities benefit?
I don't have the answers, but it seems like Hawaii is taking steps to make big improvements.
This is such a great article. I did not know the term meaningful tourism, although I had conceived a vague notion of it in my own mind. Curious, though, what makes you so sure this is on the way to becoming the dominant model. I recognize the points about sustainability and overtourism, of course. I'm just not so sure things can change so quickly. Anyway, I would be all in on reading about initiatives in this vein.
Thank you for commenting and sharing the article, Betty! There’s no guarantee that Meaningful Tourism will dominate. What I hope and believe is that by broadening the tourism industry’s views to include an understanding of and empathy for how tourism affects communities and the environment, new models of development can lead to a more beneficial and sustainable future for all.
The answer is MORE KETCHUP. Tourists are checking off items on "bucket lists". Could give two shits about "cultural understanding". Consumers gonna consume, be it plastic crap from Walmart or been-there-done-that tourism.