Independent of country and culture, and sometimes because of it, the need and ability for a developing country to attract tourist income has reached new heights (and depths), a pace so relentless that only a pandemic and global recession could temper it.
Over the course of time, as these photographs demonstrate, there has been a rapid shift in the approach to tourism and adoption of available technology to develop local facilities with differing results. Before Covid, tourism accounted for 10% of global GDP : the sky was the limit, it seemed. Afterwards, a contraction to just under 5% has occurred in some countries, with drastic effect.
2024 has heralded unprecedented local protests against over-tourism. Common problems are illegally built roads, traffic jams around ports and towns, private swimming pools draining water supplies, rubbish dumped on quiet beaches… the complaints are limitless but valid, nonetheless. Local inhabitants fear their identity will be lost and the destination become just a luxury theme park for the rich.
Mallorca, Greece, Portugal and Spain have all demonstrated with differing results, some only serving to make the situation worse, or highlight the fact that some of these same countries cannot actually survive without the tourist dollar…or is that euro ? How could such emerging trends be tempered ? An airline tax ? An admission fee like Venice ? Watch this space…
Tourism: The Global Years, 2005-2023
1 October – 8 November 2024
The Long Gallery, Chelsea Library, Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Rd, London SQ3 5EZ, UK
Opening Hours:
Mon, Tue, Thu: 9:30 am – 8:00 pm
Wed: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fri, Sat: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Sun: 1:00 pm – 5: 00 pm