{"id":2343743,"date":"2024-09-20T06:54:59","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T10:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tour-operators-turn-to-the-less-obvious-as-mass-tourism-backlash-grows-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-20T07:00:22","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T11:00:22","slug":"tour-operators-turn-to-the-less-obvious-as-mass-tourism-backlash-grows-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tour-operators-turn-to-the-less-obvious-as-mass-tourism-backlash-grows-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Tour operators turn to the less obvious as mass tourism backlash grows &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftour-operators-turn-to-the-less-obvious-as-mass-tourism-backlash-grows-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2343743&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the increasing backlash against mass \u2062tourism and how tour operators are adapting to this \u200ctrend. With concerns rising over overtourism\u2014evidenced by instances such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">cruise ships<\/a>\u200c being\u200b turned away and local protests\u2014destinations are feeling the strain of\u200b visitors. Contributing factors to mass tourism include easier online bookings, better travel\u200b infrastructure, and \u200da surge of \u2064interest following the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Tour operators \u2062are responding \u200cby shifting their \u2063focus \u200btowards more sustainable practices, emphasizing smaller group tours, off-peak travel, and longer stays in single locations.\u200c This\u200b not only aims to reduce the environmental impact but also provides travelers\u200b with more authentic experiences. For example, operators like Global Travel Moments and Savor &#038; Soak Travel are promoting\u2063 lesser-known destinations, easing pressure \u2063on popular sites\u200c and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/social-security-update-first-round-of-direct-payments-worth-up-to-4555-arrives-in-one-day\/\" title=\"Social Security update: ,555 direct payments arrive in one day.\">benefiting local economies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The situation is particularly critical in Italy, which heavily relies on tourism contributing about 10.5% to its GDP. Local initiatives, such as Tourist Italy&#8217;s\u2063 &#8220;Italy with a Twist&#8221; program, aim to \u200credirect \u2064visitors to underappreciated locales, reflecting a growing trend \u2063towards\u2063 &#8220;slow travel.&#8221; Other companies, like Japan Experience \u200band Exodus Adventure Tours, also seek to \u2063divert tourism away from over-saturated areas to promote local culture\u2062 and support communities.<\/p>\n<p>as the tourism landscape shifts, operators are recognizing \u2064the importance of \u200bbalancing \u2062traveler \u2063desires with responsible stewardship of destinations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-sacff-txt\">Magazine &#8211; Business<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Tour operators turn to the less obvious as mass tourism backlash grows<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1025351\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/cruise-ships\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Cruise ships<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Whatever the reasons behind such mass tourism &mdash; the ability to book independently online, improvements in infrastructure and communications such as cheaper airline travel, and pent-up demand following the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/coronavirus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>COVID-19<\/a> pandemic &mdash; it is clear that the backlash against it has also surged recently.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tourists visit the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy in 2023. (Andrew Medichini\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>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 big moment for the industry.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;While there are challenges, such as adapting to the shift toward independent online bookings and recovering from the pandemic&rsquo;s impact, we see this as a critical moment to reassess and refine our offerings,&rdquo; said Duncan Greenfield-Turk, chief travel designer at London-based Global Travel Moments. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about finding a balance between meeting client demand and being responsible stewards of the destinations we promote.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>For Greenfield-Turk and his company, such responsibility has translated into more sustainable travel initiatives such as smaller groups touring at off-peak times and longer stays in single locations to both minimize environmental impact and reduce strain on local communities.<\/p>\n<p>Such a change in focus can also lead to far more authentic experiences for the traveler. Off-the-beaten-path destinations can also tick off items on many people&rsquo;s bucket lists just as well while supporting the local economy, says Adeline Kuroki, owner of Colorado-based tour operator Savor &amp; Soak Travel, which focuses on tours of Japan.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This leads to better trips for my clients, as they won&rsquo;t be battling crowds, and supports the economies of smaller cities and out-of-the-way destinations that are eager to welcome inbound travelers,&rdquo; Kuroki said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Italy as a test case?<\/h2>\n<p>Arguably nowhere in the world is the challenge of mass tourism and the backlash against it bigger than in Italy, one of the world&rsquo;s most visited countries where tourism is a major factor in the country&rsquo;s economy. According to Statista data, tourism contributed approximately 10.5% of Italy&rsquo;s gross domestic product in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Hotels increasingly sell out months in advance, tickets to major attractions such as the Vatican museums and the Uffizi Art Gallery in Florence become unobtainable, and cities become overrun with crowds.<\/p>\n<p>While expert tour operators can offer tickets to such attractions as part of their selling point, there is also a move away from the more obvious hot spots. Indeed, focusing on lesser-known areas can also be a big opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>Tourist Italy, for example, launched its &ldquo;Italy with a Twist&rdquo; program in January precisely to offer more off-the-beaten-track locations. The Florence-based company&rsquo;s Tuscany day tour, for example, includes a visit to Lucca, a city described by founder Ben Julius as &ldquo;underrated&rdquo; and a &ldquo;hidden gem.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Since January, the company has seen a 43% increase in customers seeking activities and tours in Italy that go beyond the traditional route, Julius added. There are similar numbers for the Japanese arm of the business too. Just as there is increasing demand for the obvious, therefore, there also appears to be increasing demand for the less so.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is a reflection of the wider &lsquo;slow travel&rsquo; trend, which has seen a growing desire among tourists for experiences that enable them to connect with their destination&rsquo;s true, authentic culture,&rdquo; Julius said. &ldquo;This result is highly encouraging, and we see a real opportunity to change the way people travel and experience Italy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pivoting to new opportunities<\/h2>\n<p>Other tour operators contacted for this article tell a similar story.<\/p>\n<p>French operator Japan Experience, for example, said it has faced the direct consequences of local government action to attempt to defuse mass tourism such as implementing new taxes and even closing down well-known tourist streets in the country.<\/p>\n<p>The company&rsquo;s response has been to double down on its previous efforts to widen the amount of attractions and venues it can offer visitors to Japan.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We aim to make travelers to Japan discover other destinations than the ones suffering from overtourism, even working with prefectures to highlight their appeal and drive travelers further than the overused Tokyo-Kyoto axis,&rdquo; said CEO Thierry Maincent.<\/p>\n<p>U.K.-based Exodus Adventure Tours, which offers small group trips to the likes of the less well-trodden Loire Valley in France or wilderness trips to Finland that can steer clear of the popular Lapland region, says 92% of the accommodations it offers are locally owned, with 87% of the meals it offers also locally sourced.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;By prioritizing off-the-beaten-path destinations and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elon-musk-makes-tesla-superchargers-free-to-use-in-israel-amid-terror-attacks\/\" title=\"Elon Musk offers free Tesla Superchargers in Israel amidst terror attacks.\">supporting local communities<\/a>, we strive to contribute positively while acknowledging the challenges that come with travel,&rdquo; the company said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s not always an easy balance &mdash; you wouldn&rsquo;t want to stop people visiting hot spots in Italy, for example, if that was their first visit to the country, said Julius at Tourist Italy.<\/p>\n<p>But with the challenges of mass tourism growing harder, as well as the backlash against it becoming more strident, there are ethical considerations as well as opportunities for different offerings.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As a travel designer, I believe there&rsquo;s a moral responsibility to ensure that our industry does not contribute to the degradation of the very destinations that attract travelers,&rdquo; said Greenfield-Turk at Global Travel Moments. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just about making money &mdash; it&rsquo;s about preserving these places for future generations. The growing awareness of overtourism has actually encouraged us to be more creative and thoughtful in designing trips that are not only enjoyable but also sustainable.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Responsible travel planners increasingly understand they need to offer more, said Kuroki at Savor &amp; Soak Travel.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Booking clients a trip to only the most popular destinations involves less work and research for the travel planner, but I think it really does the whole profession a disservice, as it begs the question &lsquo;What value did you add to the trip?&rsquo;&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<em>Nick Thomas<\/em>&nbsp;<em>is a writer based in Denver.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1025351\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1025351\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>**Magazine &#8211; Business**<\/p>\n<p>Tour operators are exploring less conventional options as the backlash against mass tourism intensifies. Incidents of cruise ships being denied entry, local residents protesting against tourists, and cities imposing fees on visitors are becoming more common. The growing discontent with mass tourism is evident, driven by factors such as the ease of independent online bookings, enhanced infrastructure and communication (including affordable air travel), and a surge in demand following the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>In an industry already grappling with the rise of self-booking travelers and economic setbacks from the pandemic, tour operators must adapt to these new challenges. &#8220;Despite facing obstacles like adapting to independent online bookings and recovering from pandemic losses, we view this as a pivotal moment to reassess our offerings,&#8221; stated Duncan Greenfield-Turk, chief travel designer at Global Travel Moments in London. He emphasized finding a balance between fulfilling client needs while responsibly managing the destinations they promote.<\/p>\n<p>For Greenfield-Turk&#8217;s company, this responsibility translates into sustainable travel practices such as organizing smaller group tours during off-peak times and encouraging longer stays in single locations to lessen environmental impact and alleviate pressure on local communities. This shift can also lead to more authentic experiences for travelers.<\/p>\n<p>Adeline Kuroki, owner of Savor &amp; Soak Travel based in Colorado which specializes in Japan tours, noted that visiting lesser-known destinations can provide unique experiences while benefiting local economies. &#8220;This approach results in better trips for my clients since they avoid crowds while supporting smaller cities eager for visitors,&#8221; Kuroki explained.<\/p>\n<p>Italy serves as a prime example of these challenges; it is one of the most visited countries globally where tourism significantly impacts its economy\u2014accounting for about 10.5% of its GDP in 2023 according to Statista data. With hotels often fully booked months ahead and major attractions like Vatican museums becoming hard to access due to overwhelming crowds, expert tour operators are shifting focus away from traditional hotspots toward lesser-known areas.<\/p>\n<p>Tourist Italy launched its \u201cItaly with a Twist\u201d program earlier this year specifically aimed at promoting off-the-beaten-path locations. Founder Ben Julius highlighted Lucca\u2014a city he describes as \u201cunderrated\u201d \u2014as part of their Tuscany day tour offering; since January they&#8217;ve seen a 43% increase in customers seeking alternative activities beyond typical tourist routes.<\/p>\n<p>Similar trends are observed within their Japanese operations too; there\u2019s rising interest not only for popular sites but also for hidden gems that offer authentic cultural connections\u2014reflecting an overall trend towards &#8216;slow travel&#8217; among tourists seeking genuine experiences.<\/p>\n<p>Other tour companies echo this sentiment: French operator Japan Experience has responded proactively by diversifying attractions offered amid government efforts aimed at curbing mass tourism through new taxes or closing popular streets. CEO Thierry Maincent mentioned their goal is guiding travelers towards less frequented destinations beyond Tokyo-Kyoto axis by collaborating with prefectures keen on showcasing their appeal.<\/p>\n<p>U.K.-based Exodus Adventure Tours focuses on small group trips that explore less-traveled regions like France&#8217;s Loire Valley or Finland&#8217;s wilderness areas outside Lapland\u2019s tourist-heavy zones; they emphasize supporting local communities through locally owned accommodations (92%) and meals (87%).<\/p>\n<p>While it&#8217;s essential not to deter first-time visitors from iconic spots like those found throughout Italy\u2014as noted by Julius\u2014growing challenges associated with mass tourism necessitate ethical considerations alongside opportunities for diverse offerings. Greenfield-Turk stressed his belief that there&#8217;s a moral obligation within the industry not only focused on profit but also preserving these cherished places for future generations amidst increasing awareness surrounding overtourism prompting creative approaches toward enjoyable yet sustainable trip designs.<\/p>\n<p>Kuroki added that responsible travel planners recognize they need broader offerings: &#8220;Booking clients solely into popular destinations may require less effort but ultimately undermines our profession\u2014it raises questions about what value we truly add.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Nick Thomas is a writer based in Denver<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3127,"featured_media":2343744,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/BizCover-0925.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[41300,41301,41299,41303,41302],"class_list":["post-2343743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-mass-tourism","tag-sustainable-travel","tag-tour-operators","tag-tourism-backlash","tag-travel-trends"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/BizCover-0925.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3127"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2343743"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343743\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2343744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2343743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2343743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2343743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}