Travel, with care for local concerns

Tourism is one of the key things that make the world - and the world economy - go round. But there's a countercultural movement at play, especially in the major tourism-driven economies in Europe. The ₹109 bn that 85.1 million international tourists generated for Spain's economy last year, for instance, is unable to drown out increasing anxiety that many Spaniards, particularly in cities like Barcelona, are experiencing. The crescendo of 'iVete a casa!' - 'Go home!' - in some of the country's major tourist centres is as real as the nearly 13% that tourism contributes to its economy. The pushback is neither new nor limited to Spain or Europe. For tourism to remain a vibrant economic sector, it will require balancing the right to travel with respecting the rights of residents. As more and more Indians travel for leisure and bleisure (business plus leisure), we also need to keep a balancing act that requires localisation, innovation and sensitivity in mind.

UN World Tourism Organisation reported an estimated 1.3 bn international arrivals in 2023 - 88% of pre-Covid numbers. Growing affluence and burgeoning service industries make tourism a strong economic sector, particularly for local economies. In 2023, travel and tourism directly accounted for 9.1% of global GDP. But fatigue and creeping community anxiety noticeable in urban tourist destinations is a result of a failure to manage capacities and changes that servicing a growing tourist influx demands.

Problems such as outpricing residential properties need deft balancing of travellers' and residents' rights. Policies for investing in tourism must be based on supporting initiatives that also elevate local priorities beyond the likes of local merchandise sales and turnstile proceeds at tourist destinations and landmarks.