Featured Issues
Water injustice and tourism
Tourism is a thirsty business. Peak tourist seasons are generally during the driest months of the year. Tourism development is most intense in coastal areas and on islands, where potable water is typically scarce. Vast amounts of water are needed during the construction phase, as well as once the tourists have started to arrive. However, […]
Sun, Sand, Sea and Sweatshops
Making the world’s biggest industry fair While we relax in the sunshine around the world, life is far from paradise for the waiters, cleaners, cooks, porters, drivers, receptionists and other staff working to make our holidays enjoyable. Tourism is the world’s biggest industry, employing an estimated 220 million people worldwide. It is an industry that […]
Fighting displacement
One of the most severe effects of tourism development is the forced displacement of people from their homes. In 1995 our campaigning focused particularly on the Maasai and other tribal people of East Africa. Tourism Concern was contacted by Maasai people from Tanzania asking for help, declaring quite simply in hand-written letters: “tourism is killing […]
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Tourism Concern: Closure
Following a report from our Treasurer, the trustees of Tourism Concern have taken the difficult decision to close the charity. The vote was unanimous. The charity has struggled financially for a number of years and cut costs to the barest minimum but despite the best efforts of talented executive directors and generations of enthusiastic and […]
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Causing More Harm Than Good – The Truth Behind Volunteering With Orphans
In recent years the popularity of ‘voluntourism’ has exploded and a huge number of people are now combining a holiday with the feel good factor of ‘giving back’ to the places they visit. At face value it is a hard thing to criticise – what could be wrong with giving up some of your time […]
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The Ethical Way to Go on a Safari Holiday
What is ethical tourism and how can you ensure that your safari holiday is an ethical one? Responsible travel comes in many different forms, whether it’s a positive impact on wildlife, the environment, or local communities. However, when planning and booking a safari, it can be tricky to figure out whether your tourism dollars are […]
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