IN FOCUS Anti-tourist graffiti
WHERE’S NOT HOT? As overtourism leaves many
travellers to rethink where, how and when they travel, they are looking to travel advisors to inspire them with alternative options to well-loved destinations. Think Albania instead of Croatia, the lakes of Austria over Italy, Paros rather than Santorini. Intrepid Travel’s annual Not Hot list, published in partnership with
travel trend agency Globetrender, spotlights destinations that
Co-director Alastair Donnelly says the operator aims to “spread the benefits of tourism more widely across the country” to boost economies in alternative destinations. “If as a business, we make issues visible, that encourages people to make different choices and want different things,” he adds.
Rising responsibility With tourism numbers projected to increase even further in 2025 across many destinations, Arredondo warns that curbing overtourism will be a “very long road”. There is no “magic wand” to fix it, he says, but rather a collective effort required by governments, hotels, travel sellers and travellers. “It’s easy to assume that tourism creates jobs and generates money for the economy, so it has always been perceived as positive. Many governments still see [high] tourism numbers as a goal, and that has to change,” he adds. That said, there has been a notable rise
in tourist boards publishing sustainable tourism strategies. One such initiative was introduced by the Greek National Tourism Organisation in 2023 with its launch of Sustainable Travel Agora – a platform to
exchange best practice and tourism models. Addison believes the sector, and agents
and operators in particular, have a “significant responsibility” both as a “duty of care” to clients and to “make sure the destinations we’re recommending continue to be as charming as they are”. This starts, she says, by creating a dialogue with clients to build understanding of the problem, something that has garnered positive reactions for the operator so far. “We’ve been really encouraged to see increasing awareness and sensitivity so hopefully that builds as people have great local and off-season experiences,” she adds. For agents who have not raised the issue
of travelling responsibly to their clients, now is the time to do so. Hazel McGuire, general manager UK and Ireland for B Corp- certified Intrepid Travel, says clients don’t need to completely change their plans. She advises: “Encourage your clients to use local guides, eat at local restaurants and stay in locally owned accommodation. This ensures tourism profit stays where it belongs, in the local economy.” Ultimately, everyone in travel has a responsibility to raise awareness and do their part.
are introducing new initiatives, developing new offerings and building more infrastructure to support tourism. “We make sure to highlight regions that have the capacity and desire to welcome visitors, and also where we are launching new trips, with the hope it will inspire a wider audience to think differently about their
future travel plans,” says Intrepid Travel’s Hazel McGuire. The list also coincides with the operator’s ethos for off-the-beaten-path trips and immersive, authentic experiences. This year, the list features 10 destinations that are often overlooked by tourists, but are ready to welcome them with open arms, including:
Cape York, Australia; Sainshand, Mongolia; Oslo, Norway; The Adirondacks, USA; and Disko Island, Greenland, among others.
Paros, Greece
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aspiretravelclub.co.uk
NOVEMBER 2024 ASPIRE
33
CREDITS: Shutterstock/Unique Shutter, Anibal Trejo World; Unsplash/Mark de Jong, Eean Jhen
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