Can ecotourism get us over overtourism; or, is getting over overtourism making the real tourism problem worse?

Abstract

Can ecotourism get us over overtourism; or, is getting over overtourism making the real tourism problem worse? Focusing on the contemporary issue of overtourism it is argued is convenient – the inconvenient truth is that overtourism is symptomatic moreso of overcarbon, and that instead of overtourism, dealing to overcarbon should be the tourism industry‘s focus. If tourism was a country then it would be the third biggest CO2 emitter. As such it needs to take responsibility and set carbon reduction targets – it is morally obliged to do so (even moreso if the subsector is ecotourism). Setting these targets will be challenging (and needs be supply chain focused with a focus on transport) but in turn, if implemented, deal also with overtourism and deliver benefits across social, economic and cultural measures of well-being.