Visitor value, values, volume: What’s good where you are?
When considering inbound tourism where you live, work, or operate, how do you feel about the value visitors bring, the values they hold, and their numbers?
Have a thought to share? Respond in the comments at any time. Or write a Bite. [The deadline for complimentary editing, layout, and preview in time for this Bites compilation has passed.]
UPDATE June 17, 2025 — Your “Good Tourism” Insight Bites
Bites menu
- In Canterbury, UK, ‘we’ve much to be thankful for’ including tourism
- In Khao Sok, Thailand, Anurak attracts like-minded guests
- In Cambodia, Cardamom guests keep the rainforest standing
- St Helena welcomes visitors who ‘respect and appreciate’ the island
- The values conundrum
- In South Australia, visitors appreciate nature-positive values
- In Spain, the unwelcome rise of the ‘Guiri’
- In Singapore, inbound tourism helps preserve cultural heritage
- Stakeholders’ values are many and contradictory
- ‘Bangkok must strike a careful balance’
- Can Lapland negotiate without rethinking global capitalism?
- What do you think?
- Previous “GT” Insight Bites
- Featured image (top of post)
In Canterbury, UK, ‘we’ve much to be thankful for, and tourism is one of those things’
Jim Butcher, Reader, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK; Tourism’s Horizon: Travel for the Millions
I’m fortunate to live in Canterbury, UK. Some 25 kilometres from Dover, the UK’s main port of entry, Canterbury welcomes lots of tourists and school groups who come to see Canterbury Cathedral and learn about the city’s amazing history.
It’s not unusual to be approached by students with clipboards testing out their English skills. They are, almost invariably, polite and interested. This dipped post Brexit, and then the pandemic put paid to all travel. It’s great to see it back.
Tourism is vital for the economy. Canterbury’s mainly excellent cafes and businesses depend on footfall. There is a cottage industry of people putting up language students too; Canterbury’s housing is expensive, so this can provide valuable extra income.
But the city does have a different feel to it compared to 25 years ago.
We have a modern shopping centre, Whitefriars, which encourages retail tourism, and prestigious new businesses such as The Ivy restaurant. We also have more shops that have their place, but, in my opinion, detract from the city: vape shops, take-aways, nail bars …
We have motorised bikes buzzing up and down what we assumed was a pedestrianised high street, delivering restaurant and take-away food to people’s homes; the restaurants themselves are hardly brimming with customers. Eating in is the new eating out.
Progress?
I know the above makes me sound like a grumpy old git. But it’s wrong to outsource any decline in public values and culture to tourists. We ought to look closer to home.
As I write, the sun is shining, the high street is busy and the cafes are doing good business. As ever, the Cathedral provides an incredible focal point. Even the buskers sound great.
We’ve much to be thankful for, and tourism is one of those things.
Tourism’s Horizon: Travel for the Millions is a valued “Good Tourism” Partner.
In Khao Sok, Thailand, Anurak Community Lodge attracts like-minded guests
Chris Kittishinnakuppe, Head of Marketing & Sales, VHG Hospitality Asia, Thailand
Inbound tourism, when thoughtfully managed, can be a powerful force for positive change in and around Anurak Community Lodge.

Visitors contribute significantly to the local economy in southern Thailand, and, by choosing to stay with us, our guests help:
- Create stable employment for local staff, guides, and suppliers;
- Support community-based initiatives, such as cultural performances by local schools and temple programs.
- Generate revenue to reinvest in ecological restoration (e.g., Rainforest Rising) and infrastructure.
- Encourage cross-cultural exchange, bringing appreciation, understanding, and a global spotlight to Khao Sok’s natural and cultural heritage.
We are heartened by the fact that more and more travellers have values aligned with ours:
- They care about nature conservation;
- They seek authentic local experiences, not just passive sightseeing; and
- They respect local cultures, traditions, and environmental limits.
These shared values strengthen our mission. Many of our guests tell us they’ve been inspired to change their habits at home after seeing what responsible tourism looks like.
While tourism brings opportunity, volume matters. We are cautious of over-tourism and its threat to ecosystems and the community. We focus on:
- Quality over quantity: guests who stay longer, spend locally, and engage deeply;
- Off-peak visitation to spread economic benefits year-round and reduce environmental pressure; and
- Collaboration to build regenerative models that restore the natural and cultural fabric of Khao Sok.
We are fortunate that our guests choose Anurak not just as a place to stay, but as a place to learn, connect, and contribute.
When rooted in respect, education, and sustainability, inbound tourism brings immense value to our region. Our role — as a regenerative lodge and community partner — is to ensure that the benefits are mutual, meaningful, and lasting.
We welcome visitors not just as tourists, but as partners in our mission.
Anurak Community Lodge is a valued “Good Tourism” Partner.
In Cambodia, Cardamom Tented Camp guests keep the rainforest standing
Chris Kittishinnakuppe, Head of Marketing & Sales, VHG Hospitality Asia, Thailand
At Cardamom Tented Camp, located deep within Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains rainforests, we see inbound tourism as a vital tool for conservation and education, and sustainable development. Each visitor directly supports the protection of one of Southeast Asia’s last great rainforests.

Cardamom Tented Camp guests help:
- Fund forest patrols and ranger salaries, thereby preventing illegal logging, poaching, and land encroachment across 18,000 hectares of protected forest; and
- Create alternative jobs for local people in ecotourism, guiding, catering, and operations (many of whom once relied on forest extraction for income).
Beyond the financial contributions, visitors bring global attention to the urgent need for forest preservation. By travelling to visit Cardamom Tented Camp, they also demonstrate to locals that biodiversity has value.
Our guests are eco-conscious adventurers who believe in leaving a light footprint and making a difference through their travel choices. They:
- Appreciate our solar-powered accommodations and waste-reducing operations;
- Are curious about Cambodia, its ecology, culture, and conservation challenges; and
- Embrace the opportunity to learn from rangers and local staff about the threats facing the rainforest.
The fact that most of our guests have values aligned with our mission is incredibly encouraging; it helps keep our model of ‘tourism for conservation’ strong and resilient.
Cardamom Tented Camp is not built for mass tourism. It is designed to host just a few guests in a low-impact, immersive setting. We focus on:
- Deeper guest experiences, with conservation education, guided hikes, kayaking, and ranger station visits;
- Minimising our environmental impact; and
- Encouraging longer stays.
Inbound tourism is not just welcome here, it is essential. Every Cardamom Tented Camp guest plays a role in keeping the forest standing.
By blending sustainable accommodation with active conservation, the Cardamom Tented Camp model positions tourism as the driving force for preservation, pride, and purpose.
Cardamom Tented Camp is a valued “Good Tourism” Partner.
St Helena welcomes visitors who ‘respect and appreciate’ the island
Marcella Mittens, economic development official, St Helena Government, St Helena
When considering inbound tourism on St Helena, I believe it’s important to recognise that tourist numbers aren’t everything. What truly matters is the value visitors bring, not only economically, but culturally and environmentally, and whether their values align with ours.
St Helena is a unique and largely untouched sub-tropical island in the South Atlantic. Its appeal lies in its remote, off-the-beaten-track character and its breath-taking natural beauty; a haven of tranquillity wrapped in blue and green.
Mass tourism is not our aim, as large visitor numbers could compromise the very essence that makes St Helena special.
That said, we are by no means opposed to tourism.
In fact, we welcome visitors who respect and appreciate the island’s serenity, heritage, and ecosystems. Our goal is to attract the kind of tourism that sustains and uplifts; the kind of tourism that supports our local economy, celebrates our culture, and preserves our environment for generations to come.
In short, we want to share the magic of St Helena but in a way that honours both our community and the land we call home.
The values conundrum
K Michael Haywood, publisher, ‘Destinations-in-Action’, Canada
In 1989, I was privileged to learn how values-laden tourism in New Zealand had become. (Tourism New Zealand had invited me to give a talk for its ‘Grow For It’ initiative).
I mention this because visitors, exposed to places rich in culture, nature, and adventure, generally do their best to be receptive to a diversity of values; values projected not just as an image or brand, but of the people, in this case the Māori.
While in NZ the following year, I noticed how committed the government and industry associations were to inviting inspiring luminaries to share their knowledge, wisdom, and values, to be used as a springboard to identify new opportunities, possibilities, and values.
Less so for tourism elsewhere. Little thought is given to the values visitors bring, or their influence. It’s the money, honey.
No wonder tourism’s hosts and guests fail to fully benefit from tourism’s hierarchical values, particularly those that are life-enhancing and provide social impact.
Therein lies a conundrum.
Juxtaposing the differing moral and cultural values of people with economic values is always angst-inducing due to:
- Over-saturation (managed partially through restriction and limitation, diversion and dispersion, abundance and acceptance);
- Feelings of being overwhelmed and over-run, usurped and displaced; and
- Adverse behaviors that are visibly and audibly grating.
Rectification is possible but only when decisions are made to ‘flip the script’ from acquiescence to:
- Revision and clarification of tourism’s purpose;
- Optimisation of opportunities for communities and citizen hosts, designed to preserve identity and dignity, create and capture hierarchical value;
- Development of a strategic choice structure that identifies possibilities and pathways to values-protective growth;
- Alignment among all partners and parties; and
- Revitalisation of marketing, branding, and place repositioning that is ‘of the community’ and what it values, beyond economics.
In Hindmarsh Valley, South Australia, visitors appreciate nature-positive values
Angela McLean, owner/operator, Old Coach Road Estate, Australia
While day-tripping remains popular in our region, being just an hour from Adelaide’s CBD, it’s the visitors who choose to linger longer who bring the most significant value to Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia.

When visitors take the time to explore local markets, connect with community events, and support regional producers, they also leave with a deeper connection to place.
At Old Coach Road Estate, most of our guests are initially drawn by our expansive views over Victor Harbor and the sense of seclusion in nature; the chance to wake to kangaroos outside the window or watch wedge-tailed eagles gliding overhead is part of what makes our place so memorable.
Many guests tell us how much they appreciate the values that underpin what we do. Learning about our regenerative farming practices, nature-focused landscaping, and commitment to renewable energy, adds depth to their stay. It’s not always what draws guests here, but it’s often what they remember.
Winning an Australian Tourism Award in 2024 was an honour, but even more meaningful to us is the feedback we receive from our guests. People often tell us they leave feeling lighter, calmer, and more connected. That, to me, is real value.
Ultimately, we measure success not by numbers alone, but by the kind of tourism we help shape; thoughtful, restorative, and grounded in place.
In Spain, the unwelcome rise of the ‘Guiri’
Saverio Francesco Bertolucci, Business Development Specialist, VDB Luxury Properties, Spain
Tourism is a matter of policy, destination management, and marketing. In this context, Spain has been consolidating its position as an aspirational destination thanks to its lovely coastal attractions, cultural heritage, and varied traditions.
Managing volume quality is probably the hardest problem to solve in the current tourism economy. In 2024, more than 80 million foreigners flocked to Spanish beaches, towns, and villages to eat marvellous food and enjoy the Iberian and Canarian lifestyle.
Although the vast majority of tourists want to immerse themselves into the culture of the place, and appreciate it, there are frequent clashes in places that offer the nightlife and activities that tend to attract young groups and partygoers; a demographic that is less keen on traditional culture and more likely to disrupt public order.
Noise pollution and bad behaviour from specific groups of tourists has led to an increase in the use of the word Guiri, used by Spaniards to refer to “uncouth foreign tourists, usually those with Northern European looks”.
Obviously, you can’t tar everyone with the same brush: Northern European and Anglophone peoples are also culture lovers, and many have bought second homes in Spain. However, the most recent case of tourists pushing rocks off a cliff in Ibiza shows how potentially destructive, dangerous, and irreparable some tourists’ actions can be.
The loud and disrespectful minority damages the image and reputation of the many good tourists who just want to spend a lovely time in Spain. Their bad behaviours also fuel resentment for an industry that contributes much to the nation’s prosperity and wellbeing.
In Singapore, inbound tourism helps preserve cultural heritage
Kevin Phun, Founder & Director, The Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore
It is not common here in Singapore for people to talk about the value tourists bring with them when they visit. Hence it makes for a potentially interesting discussion.
Singapore is one of the most populous places after Macau and Monaco. We are used to (although some are still trying to get used to) having outsiders in our midst.
Traditionally, most visitors would be found in the tourist attractions, most of which are located in or near the town area.
However, interestingly, some visitors are now heading for less touristy spots, including the heartlands, where most local Singaporeans live.
Seeing visitors in the heartlands is becoming more common. On any given day, one can see a small handful of “non-local looking” people walking around and gazing at things we take for granted in our neighbourhoods, including traditional shops that reflect our different ethnic groups.
Indeed shopkeepers are now working with tour operators and destination management companies to welcome visitors into their establishments.
In a way, inbound tourism is helping to extend the shelf life of these shops and the profile of the districts they are in, and we are happy with that.
It reminds us locals of the value of having these businesses around; businesses that deal in old traditions we probably do not always cherish.
In Singapore, inbound tourism helps preserve and protect cultural heritage that Singaporeans themselves can sometimes take for granted.
The Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore is a valued “Good Tourism” Partner.
Stakeholders’ values are many and contradictory
Edwin Magio, PhD researcher, Leeds Beckett University, UK
One’s assessment of values is context- and goal-dependent. In most tourism destinations, the values held by the various stakeholders’ are many and often contradictory
Tourists tend to visit destinations that offer experiences that align with what they would value in the holiday time they have available. Young tourists might, for example, seek out fun and excitement. In contrast, a small community that values peace and quiet will neither be very attractive to them nor very welcoming of them.
No matter a tourist’s demographic or destination, problems arise when their presence and behaviours conflict with local values and negatively affects local ways of life.
And, regardless of individual bad behaviour, the potential negative impacts of unmanaged tourism, such as heavier congestion and inflated prices, are unlikely to be welcomed anywhere.
To achieve sustainable tourism development, we must strike a balance between conflicting values; ensuring tourists’ needs are satisfied while protecting the environment and the economic, social, and psychological well-being of host communities.
We can create this balance by recognising trade-offs and weighing each value against all the others. This involves respecting different values, finding ways to accommodate them, and making choices on what matters most. By doing so, we can create a sustainable and harmonious tourism environment that works for everyone.
‘Bangkok must strike a careful balance’
Peter Semone, Chair, Pacific Asia Travel Association, Thailand
Having lived and worked in Bangkok, Thailand for over two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how tourism has shaped the city’s evolution.
Tourism has prompted public authorities to tackle complex urban challenges, leading to transformative improvements such as the BTS (Bangkok Transit System) Skytrain and MRT (Metropolitan Rapid Transit), a dynamic culinary scene, and world-class entertainment and shopping venues.
I value Bangkok’s relaxed, open-minded spirit; an attitude that reflects the city’s role as an urban hub for the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region and the Greater Mekong Subregion.
Economically, visitors are a powerhouse. Bangkok consistently ranks among Asia’s top cities for tourism GDP contribution, with combined domestic and international visitor spending exceeding US$ 20 billion per annum.
Beyond revenue, tourism catalyses broader civic benefits: safer streets, improved public services, and a rich cultural life that serves both residents and travellers. This affirms the idea that ‘a good place to live is a great place to visit’.
Still, scale matters. Pursuing growth without limits risks over-tourism, environmental degradation, and cultural dilution.
Like many destinations in Asia, Bangkok must strike a careful balance. Without that balance, the city may bear ‘invisible burdens’, where residents shoulder the hidden costs of tourism reducing local meaningfulness.
To avoid this, we must redefine what tourism success looks like.
Instead of focusing solely on visitor numbers or spending, we should measure how well tourism contributes to community well-being, cultural continuity, and environmental resilience. Only then can tourism give back more than it takes, and help ensure that Bangkok remains not only a great place to visit, but a thriving place to live.
Can Lapland negotiate value, values, volume without rethinking global capitalism?
Vilhelmiina Vainikka, geographer, post-doctoral research fellow, Tampere University, Finland
Lapland, with its capital Rovaniemi, is facing overtourism.
While record visitor numbers are seen by some as a success, many locals express concern over disruptions to daily life and housing shortages during the winter high season.
The Finnish region’s appeal — Santa Claus, winter activities, pristine nature, and reindeer — draws global attention, but also raises tensions around land use and ownership, especially among locals and the Indigenous Sámi people.
For visitors, tourism holds diverse meanings, e.g. nature, relaxation, culture, or family time.
Vast and sparsely populated, Lapland has long been treated as a “resource periphery” by tourism, mining, and forestry. This clashes with Finland’s Jokaisenoikeudet (“Everyman’s Rights”), which allow public access to most land for walking and foraging, excluding private yards. As volumes grow, local access is increasingly restricted, and environmental degradation and privacy concerns grow.
Large-scale developments promise jobs and may be inclusive of different socio-economic groups but often lack cultural sensitivity, sustainability, and local economic benefit. Many are externally financed, limiting local control.
While niche, high-spending tourists are often favored for their perceived appreciation of local culture, this assumption is idealised. Niche tourism is not inherently more sustainable, especially when reliant on air travel or shopping.
Ethical questions arise: Who is welcomed? Who is excluded?
Rising volumes are driven not only by infrastructure but also by global publicity and platforms like Airbnb.
In addition, luxury tourism is growing in Lapland, often in exclusive, remote locations, with helicopter transfers from private jets distancing it from sustainability. While celebrity sightings may excite locals, the long-term value to communities is questionable.
Ultimately, the volume, value — and values — of tourism are constantly negotiated. But can these truly shift without rethinking the global capitalist system that drives modern tourism?
What do you think?
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Featured image (top of post)
Earth image by NASA (CC0) via Unsplash.












