Anna Pollock is a game changer and a leading thought leader when it comes to the future of tourism. Most recently, she presented her thoughts on the future as a guest lecturer at the NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (Pollock, 2025). At the heart of the presentation was the premise that tourism is a flawed model. Why? Anna Pollock, as a prominent advocate for regenerative tourism, critiques the current tourism model for its overdependence on growth, which often leads to overtourism, environmental degradation and cultural erosion. She argues that the industry prioritises short-term economic gains over long-term ecological and social well-being, making it highly vulnerable and unsustainable. Pollock highlights systemic flaws, such as the significant carbon footprint, strain on local resources and negative impacts on local communities. She advocates for transformative change towards regenerative tourism, which aims to create positive impacts and foster resilience in both natural and human systems. Her vision is to move beyond merely reducing harm and towards actively contributing to the flourishing of destinations and their communities. At the heart of Anna Pollock’s talk, she drew upon the early writings of George Young, so let’s revisit what he said.
The tourism blight
In 1973, it was George Young, in his book Tourism: Blessing or Blight? (Young, 1973), who explored the dual nature of tourism, examining both its positive and negative impacts. He discusses how tourism can bring economic benefits, cultural exchange and development to destinations. However, he also highlights the potential downsides, such as environmental degradation, cultural erosion and the strain on local resources and infrastructure. From an environmental degradation perspective, he discusses how tourism can strain local resources, like water and energy, leading to overuse and depletion. Young highlights the pollution generated by tourism activities, including air pollution from transportation, water pollution from waste disposal and noise pollution. He also points out the issues with habitat destruction and the loss of biodiversity, resulting from the construction of tourism infrastructure, such as hotels and resorts. Additionally, Young mentions the impact on coastal areas, where tourism activities can accelerate coastal erosion and damage marine ecosystems. His viewpoint underscores the urgent need for sustainable tourism practices that minimise environmental harm and promote conservation efforts.
Thirty-seven years later, Frances Brown, in the book Tourism Reassessed: Blight or Blessing? (Brown, 2010), revisited Young’s earlier writings, highlighting the environmental degradation caused by tourism, including pollution, habitat destruction and resource depletion. Brown points out that tourism can lead to the erosion of local cultures and traditions, as destinations often cater to tourists' preferences, rather than preserving their own heritage. She also discusses how tourism can exacerbate economic disparities, with benefits often being concentrated in certain areas or among specific groups, while others may not see significant improvements. Additionally, Brown mentions the social disruption that can occur, such as changes in community dynamics and an increased cost of living for local residents. Her analysis encourages a critical examination of tourism’s impacts and advocates for more sustainable and equitable practices.
It is easy to be negative about the future of tourism
Negative views often arise because of negative events and impacts tend to be more noticeable and memorable than positive ones, a phenomenon known as the negativity bias (Norris, 2021). From an evolutionary perspective, being more attuned to negative information helped our ancestors survive by avoiding dangers and threats. Additionally, the media often focuses on negative news because it attracts more attention and engagement, reinforcing our perception of negativity. Negative events, such as environmental degradation or cultural erosion, can have long-lasting and significant impacts, making them more prominent in our minds. Furthermore, critically assessing negative aspects can lead to improvements and solutions, which is why discussions around problems are often more common (Corns, 2018). However, it’s important to balance this with positive views and recognise the benefits and opportunities that tourism and other activities can bring.
A more positive and beneficial view of the future
If we revisit George Young’s arguments from 1973, in Tourism: Blessing or Blight?, Young elaborates on several positive aspects of tourism. He highlights how tourism can significantly stimulate local economies by creating a wide range of jobs, from hospitality and transportation to retail and entertainment, thereby generating substantial income and attracting investment. Young emphasises the crucial role of tourism in fostering cultural exchange and understanding, allowing people from diverse backgrounds to interact, learn about and appreciate each other’s cultures, which can lead to greater global harmony and mutual respect.
Moreover, Young points out that tourism often drives the development of essential infrastructure, such as roads, airports and public facilities, which not only enhance the experience for tourists but also improve the quality of life for local residents. This infrastructure development can lead to better connectivity and access to services, benefiting the broader community.
Additionally, Young mentions that tourism can play a vital role in the preservation of cultural heritage and historical sites. The revenue generated from tourism can be allocated to conservation efforts, ensuring that these important landmarks and traditions are maintained for future generations. This preservation can also foster a sense of pride and identity among local communities, further enhancing the positive impact of tourism.
Frances Brown (2010), in Tourism Reassessed: Blight or Blessing?, elaborates on several positive aspects of tourism. She highlights how tourism can act as a powerful catalyst for economic development, creating a diverse range of jobs in sectors such as hospitality, transportation, retail and entertainment. This job creation leads to increased income for local communities and attracts investment, which can further stimulate economic growth and development.
Brown emphasises the significant role of tourism in fostering international relations and cultural exchange. Tourism provides opportunities for people from different backgrounds to interact, learn about and appreciate each other’s cultures, promoting global understanding and cooperation. This cultural exchange can lead to greater tolerance and mutual respect among different communities.
Moreover, Brown points out that tourism often drives the development of essential infrastructure, such as transportation networks, roads, airports and public facilities. These improvements not only enhance the experience for tourists but also benefit local residents by improving connectivity and access to services. This infrastructure development can lead to a better quality of life and increased opportunities for local communities.
Additionally, Brown mentions that tourism can play a vital role in the preservation of cultural heritage and historical sites. The revenue generated from tourism can be allocated to conservation efforts, ensuring that important landmarks and traditions are maintained for future generations. This preservation can foster a sense of pride and identity among local communities, further enhancing the positive impact of tourism.
Overall, both Young (1973) and Brown (2010) provide a balanced view, recognising the multifaceted contributions of tourism to economic growth, cultural exchange, infrastructure development and heritage preservation while also acknowledging its potential drawbacks.
Is Anna Pollock right?
It takes a brave person to argue against Anna Pollock, but some do. Dr Jim Butcher, a Reader in Tourism Geographies at Canterbury University, has often argued that regenerative tourism has benefits and challenges. In his article, “Regenerative Tourism’s Myths and Realities”, Butcher (2024) provides a critical examination of regenerative tourism, highlighting both its potential benefits and challenges. He acknowledges that regenerative tourism is beneficial for destinations that choose to focus on it and for those who can afford it. However, he raises concerns about its accessibility and practicality for the broader population.
Butcher points out that regenerative tourism is the latest ethical prefix following terms like “eco”, “sustainable”, “green”, “community” and “responsible” tourism. While regenerative tourism aims to develop within environmental limits and improve the environment, Butcher argues that it can sometimes be seen as an idealistic concept that may not be feasible for mass tourism. He suggests that the focus on high-quality, locally sourced products and experiences may limit its accessibility to a niche market, rather than being a widespread solution. Furthermore, Butcher discusses the potential for regenerative tourism to be perceived as a luxury or elitist approach, which may not address the needs and realities of all communities and travellers. He emphasises the importance of considering the broader implications and practicalities of implementing regenerative tourism on a larger scale. Butcher’s perspective encourages a critical examination of regenerative tourism, recognising its potential while also questioning its practicality and inclusivity.
Learning from the past to create a better future?
In The Future Past of Tourism (2020), Yeoman and McMahon-Beattie discuss the concept of history repeating itself in tourism by emphasising how past events and trends can offer valuable insights into future developments. Yeoman and McMahon-Beattie argue that by understanding historical patterns, we can better anticipate and prepare for future changes in the tourism industry, whether these are economic cycles, technological advancements or social changes. By studying these patterns, we can identify potential future scenarios and develop strategies to address them. This approach helps in creating more resilient and adaptable tourism policies and practices.
Yeoman also points out that certain challenges, such as environmental sustainability and cultural preservation, have been recurring themes throughout the history of tourism. Recognising these recurring issues allows stakeholders to learn from past mistakes and successes, ultimately leading to more sustainable and responsible tourism development.
So, without doubt, Pollock is right; however, we as a tourism industry need to do more and be better at it. As Butcher tells us, regenerative tourism has issues and challenges, but it is the decision-makers who have the responsibility to create change; otherwise, we simply just fail.
