Travel is easier, more accessible,
and more tempting than ever before in today's world. But what impact is our
globetrotting having on local communities and the environment?
From his own experiences spending time in countries from Spain to Argentina
to Japan, travel writer Daniel Maurer has seen first-hand the impact of
growing cultural homogenization and anger at the tourists driving it. Speaking
to locals and immigrants, activists and protestors, he hears of the problems of
rising living costs, overcrowding, anti-social behaviour and the erosion of
local traditions and ways of life caused by overtourism. Some cities already
have plans in place to combat it, including tourist taxes, carbon emission
targets and Airbnb bans, and in the coming years, more will take drastic
measures to tackle not only a flood of tourists but of a growing worldwide
workforce of "location-independent professionals."
Technological advances are also changing the way we interact with the world,
and the future promises amazing things from flying cars to VR headsets to AI
travel influencers and chatbots. But there's a constant battle between
technology making things more easily accessible, and the need to reduce human
impact on the world.
What choices might we make when it comes to travelling in the future, and can
we become more impact-conscious, making more sustainable and thoughtful
decisions?
Paperback / softback | 176 pages | Published November 2025
