Tourism On the Line | Tina O'Dwyer | TEDxGalway

Summary

The speaker reflects on their childhood experience with tourism, highlighting the shift from simple travel to mass tourism and its negative effects, including over-tourism and environmental harm. Drawing from their work in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, they advocate for a model of tourism focused on sustainable practices, rooted in a love of place. The narrative explores how different regions, like New Zealand and Flanders, have embraced this 'place paradigm,' prioritizing value over volume. The speaker calls for courageous, heart-driven leadership to guide tourism towards a sustainable and meaningful future.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker reflects on their childhood memories of visiting the Cliffs of Moher and how it sparked their interest in tourism.
• 😀 The tourism industry has evolved significantly, with international visitor numbers growing from 280 million to nearly 1.4 billion in a few decades.
• 😀 The tourism industry’s growth brought about issues like over-tourism, leading to environmental degradation and local community strain.
• 😀 After COVID-19, there has been a shift in focus within the tourism industry, with more emphasis on sustainability and responsible travel.
• 😀 The key question for the future of tourism is whether we can leave behind the growth-driven model in favor of a more sustainable approach.
• 😀 Destinations like the Burn and Cliffs of Moher have been at the forefront of considering the purpose of tourism and how it can benefit both the environment and local communities.
• 😀 In the Burn region, tourism development shifted from focusing on visitor numbers to prioritizing visitor value and preserving the place itself.
• 😀 The speaker’s experience with ecotourism networks in the Burn led to the creation of a 'code of practice' for sustainable tourism that businesses could follow to help protect the region.
• 😀 Successful tourism models, such as those in New Zealand and Belgium, focus on enriching the local area and growing legacies for future generations, rather than just increasing visitor numbers.
• 😀 The true essence of tourism is rooted in a love of place, with the ultimate goal being the flourishing of that place rather than maximizing profits or visitor numbers.
• 😀 Indigenous wisdom and cultural concepts, such as 'kaitiaki' (guardianship) in New Zealand and 'mishnah' (bravery) in Celtic traditions, offer valuable insights into sustainable and responsible tourism practices.

Q & A

What was the significance of the ruler given to the speaker by Mrs. Regan?

The ruler was the speaker's first introduction to tourism. It contained images of famous sites like the Cliffs of Moher and other places in County Clare, which sparked the speaker's curiosity about traveling and exploring new places.

How did the tourism industry evolve between the speaker's childhood and their first job in tourism?

Tourism exploded from 280 million international visitors when the speaker was a child to nearly one billion by the time they entered the tourism industry. This growth signified the industry's rise as a key economic driver for many regions and countries.

What does the speaker mean by 'over-tourism'?

'Over-tourism' refers to the negative impact of mass tourism, where increased visitor numbers start to harm local communities, the environment, and the authenticity of cultural sites. It raised concerns about the sustainability of this growth model.

What shift in mindset is the speaker advocating for in the tourism industry?

The speaker is advocating for a shift from a numbers-driven tourism model to a 'place paradigm,' where the focus is on enhancing the value of the place itself and ensuring its protection and flourishing, rather than just increasing visitor numbers.

Why is 'love of place' important in tourism, according to the speaker?

'Love of place' is the core connector in tourism. It is what unites both those who want to increase tourism and those who want to limit it. The ultimate purpose of tourism should be to create conditions for a place to thrive and be preserved for future generations.

How does the speaker relate the tourism industry to sustainability?

The speaker stresses the importance of sustainability in tourism. They share examples from places like the Burren, New Zealand, and Flanders, where the tourism strategy focused on flourishing better and creating lasting benefits for local communities, the environment, and visitors.

What role does the 'Geopark code of practice' play in sustainable tourism in the Burren?

The Geopark code of practice establishes six key principles (such as landscape care, cultural heritage, and sustainable resource use) that businesses in the Burren must follow. By adhering to these principles, they ensure sustainable tourism practices that benefit both the place and the local community.

What is the 'action-based' approach in the Geopark's sustainable tourism strategy?

Instead of just setting principles, the Geopark’s code of practice includes actionable commitments for businesses, like participating in 'Leave No Trace' training, to ensure that the tourism development strategy is both tangible and effective in promoting sustainability.

How did the speaker's work in the Burren lead to broader insights about tourism?

The speaker realized that many places around the world are shifting towards a similar tourism mindset—focused on quality and sustainability, not just growth. This led them to believe that the universal truth in tourism is the love of place and its role in fostering a flourishing environment.

What cultural wisdom does the speaker reference to support a new approach to tourism?

The speaker references Celtic wisdom and the Maori concept of 'kaitiakitanga' to highlight the importance of protecting and nurturing the environment for future generations. These principles reflect leadership and guardianship over places, which aligns with the speaker’s vision for sustainable tourism.