News

History Bulldozed for Progress

Just days after a 1,200 year royal tomb was unearthed in Peru, a nearby pyramid that stood for thousands of years was torn down by property developers. It is one of just many historical monuments that have been irreparably destroyed over the past few months. A Mayan pyramid was flattened in Belize in May for […]

Cultural Tourism on South Dakota’s Native American Reservations

The reservations of South Dakota’s nine Native American tribes have consistently been among the poorest areas in the United States, suffering the detrimental effects of rights abuses, loss of traditional land, discrimination and harmful federal policies, both in the past and the present. Unfortunately, mainstream media have too often focused on the high rates of […]

Orangutans versus Livelihoods: The Palm Oil Debate

The seemingly relentless slaughter of orangutans and the destruction of tropical rainforests across the islands of Borneo and Sumatra are hardly breaking news, but the problems continue to intensify.. Rapid increases in the international demand for palm oil have resulted in the felling of more than half of Indonesia’s rainforest, with more than 70 percent […]

Opportunity in Despair: European Crisis Tourism

Top European tourist destinations such as Greece, Italy, and Spain are among the worst-hit by the economic crisis that has been tormenting Europe since 2008. Many people have been evicted from their houses and have lost their jobs. Yet even though the situation might seem hopeless to some, others see new opportunities and are trying […]

Beyond Sun and Sand: The Way Forward for Coastal Tourism

Coastal tourism is the most rapidly developing area of the tourism industry, and with good reason. With a large portion of the landmark one billion people who traveled internationally in 2012 flocking to beaches worldwide, it’s no wonder that developers are taking note. And with tourism becoming an ever more important industry in developing countries, […]

People Will Die: New Hunting Laws to Take Effect in Australian National Parks

Beginning later this year, any person with a recreational hunting license will be able to shoot “feral pests” across almost 80 national parks and reserves in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), including the highly popular Kosciusko, Warrumbungle and Myall Lakes National Parks. The program, which the NSW government calls “Supplementary Pest Control,” […]

To Boycott or Not to Boycott: The Ethics behind Your Travel Dollars

Ethical travel as a concept is now common discourse, with travelers increasingly asking now they can minimize the impact they have on local communities, as well as expressing growing interest in volunteerism and working with communities to enact change. Travelers hold a unique position of economic power over the whole tourism supply chain—transport, accommodation, hospitality […]