Article by Rodrigo Pozo
Tourism is one of the most important industries and one with the greatest positive impact throughout the world, as it boosts the economy, fosters cultural exchange and provides enriching experiences. However, it is also a sector with several challenges that generate negative impacts. Some of these are: tourism saturation, environmental degradation, cultural exploitation and increased social inequalities.
In this context, two lists are published every year with the purpose of recommending to travelers places where they should not go and, on the other hand, little-known destinations to which travel is recommended. We are talking about Fodor’s “No list” and Intrepid Travel’s “Not Hot List”. These publications invite us to have important conversations about responsible tourism and the actions needed to safeguard emerging and less visited destinations.
What are the “No List” and the “Not Hot List”?
Fodor’s No List, published annually by the travel guide company, is a selection of destinations that travelers are advised not to visit for reasons of environmental, cultural, or social impacts or tourist saturation. Intrepid Travel’s “Not Hot List” focuses on promoting lesser-known destinations that may be an interesting alternative to the more popular ones.
For example, while Fodor may single out destinations such as Barcelona or Bali as suffering from tourist saturation or excessive plastic pollution, Intrepid Travel’s list may promote less crowded alternatives within similar regions that offer unique cultural experiences without overwhelming the local infrastructure, such as Oslo or the Rupununi Savannah in Guyana. Although these lists have different approaches, they share the goal of encouraging travelers to make thoughtful and informed decisions about the type of tourism they will undertake and what the associated impacts may be.
Main challenges highlighted in the “No List” and lessons for the development of the “Not Hot List”
1. Tourist saturation:
Over-tourism occurs when the number of visitors to a destination exceeds it carrying capacity. This phenomenon leads to overcrowding, increased pollution and overloading of local infrastructures. Destinations such as Mallorca and Dubrovnik, highlighted by Fodor, exemplify the risks associated with uncontrolled popularity and increasing visitor numbers as the main indicator of tourism management.
2. Environmental degradation:
Many popular destinations are home to delicate ecosystems that struggle under the weight of mass tourism. Coral reefs, natural habitats and pristine beaches often suffer irreversible damage due to touristic activities and construction of tourist facilities. Intrepid Travel’s approach of highlighting lesser-known locations provides an opportunity to distribute tourism more evenly, alleviating pressure on fragile environments. However, these emerging destinations must proactively implement conservation policies to safeguard their natural assets.
3. Cultural exploitation and increasing social inequalities
At times, tourism can lead to the mercantilization of local cultures, where traditions and rituals are performed solely for tourists rather than preserved as meaningful practices. In addition, the economic benefits of tourism, as great as they may seem, often do not reach local communities and benefit very few actors in the value chain. Fodor’s list highlights these risks, while Intrepid’s list encourages travelers to engage with new destinations where a model can be developed that empowers local populations and improves their quality of life. Fair distribution of tourism revenues and authentic cultural exchanges are fundamental to achieving a balance between tourism and the daily life of the host community.
A collective appeal to sustainable tourism
These lists, while different in their approaches, advocate the importance of sustainable tourism. Together, they remind us that our travel decisions have profound consequences, for better or worse. On the other hand, although their main audience is tourists, they also show us the importance of implementing public policies to correct the mistakes that have led certain destinations to the current situation and to prevent the application of this type of development models in emerging destinations. As well as the urgent need to promote responsible business models that put the local community, the environment and the tourists themselves as their priorities, instead of only maximizing economic benefits at all costs. It is imperative to move from a model based on “shareholders” to one based on “stakeholders”.
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