Bristol, UK - 26 March 2019: A new report published today describes how destinations must uncover and account for tourism’s hidden costs or “invisible burden” so as to stop placing ecosystems, cultural wonders, and community life at increasing risk. Authored by Megan Epler Wood, Mark Milstein and Kathleen Ahamed-Broadhurst, this concise, 40-page study titled “Destinations at Risk: The Invisible Burden of Tourism" proves beyond reasonable doubt that the tourism industry's foundation 'will crack under its own weight' unless vital destination assets are protected and managed.

Amid increasing concern about Overtourism, the report uncovers root causes for the problem and offers logical and integrated analysis of why it is transpiring, including the low ability of local government in both advanced and emerging economies. It argues that destination managers, businesses and experts must collaborate using science-based, data-driven analysis to create new local accounting systems that capture the full range of tourism costs, to build new skills and cross sector collaboration to achieve effective spatial planning, manage demand for public utilities, and evaluate the availability of local resources.

There is also a need for new valuation and financing mechanisms to tackle under-investment in infrastructure and facilitate the transition to low-carbon destination economies.

The most vulnerable destinations are those with a high risk of climate change impacts which would disproportionately affect a visitor economy such as small islands and island states, some of which are also heavily dependent on tourism.

The report draws upon academic literature, case studies, expert interviews and media reports, and provides a wealth of examples of the invisible burden. Examples are drawn from Thailand, Mexico, the Maldives, as well as Europe, Africa, and Latin America. The report also gives insights into data-driven systems, including GIS mapping tools and the Smart Cities concept.

In the meantime, tourism developers are in denial - rapid land development in coastal areas is continuing even though sea level rises, coastal erosion and more intense storms are already endangering tourists, communities and economies.

But Megan Epler Wood, the principal report author is optimistic: "With the right leadership, finance and analysis in place", she argues, "a whole new generation of tourism professionals can move forward and erase the invisible burden while benefiting millions around the globe".

This timely report, summarised in the animated infographic below, was commissioned by the Travel Foundation and co-published with Cornell University’s Centre for Sustainable Global Enterprise and EplerWood International.

It can be downloaded for free at https://www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk/invisible-burden/