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How To Be A Good Tourist

A special event organised by World Monuments Fund and Intelligence Squared

Access to the on demand video of this event can be purchased via the button below.

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From the Silk Road to the trans-Siberian railway, travellers are turning to lesser known locations for immersive authentic experiences of different cultures. These regions are happy to welcome visitors on their own terms, especially as tourism can be a great boost to the local economy. One such area is Tusheti National Park in Georgia, selected to be part of World Monuments Fund 2020 Watch Programme, a list of at-risk cultural heritage sites of major significance. Tusheti’s unblemished landscapes, medieval stone towers, and the transhumance lifestyle of the indigenous Tush community has seen it soar in popularity in recent years. But how can we ensure an influx of new visitors doesn’t overwhelm local resources and destroy the unique character of a place? 

This special event, organised by World Monuments Fund and Intelligence Squared, explored the delicate balancing act between promoting tourism in undiscovered areas, and ensuring the local inhabitants, buildings and environment are not negatively affected by increased footfall. The conversation also covered established tourist destinations such as Petra, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, and explored the ways these attractions can continue to accommodate high visitor numbers without damage to the built environment. Furthermore, as we emerge from lockdown and are allowed to travel again, people are becoming more conscious about how their holidays impact the environment. Is it ethical to get back on planes to see the wider world? Or should we continue to book the more climate-friendly staycations that the pandemic has enforced? 

We ere joined by a range of speakers, including explorer Benedict Allen, sustainability expert Juliet Kinsman and World Monuments Fund Britain Executive Director John Darlington.


Speakers

Speakers

Benedict Allen

Author, environmentalist, filmmaker and adventurer


Author, environmentalist, filmmaker and adventurer. He became established as one of the world’s leading modern-day explorers through expeditions famously achieved with no phone or GPS, but by preparation alone with remote indigenous communities. He went on to pioneer the recording of adventurous journeys for TV making programmes for the BBC, National Geographic, the History Channel and Channel 5.

Abigail King

Award-winning travel writer and broadcaster


Award-winning travel writer and broadcaster who has worked with the BBC, UNESCO, the EU, NASA and more. Founder of Inside the Travel Lab, described by National Geographic Traveler as “Essential Reading” and Lonely Planet as “one of the best travel blogs in the world.” Abigail King has broadcast live for Lonely Planet on more than 50 occasions in more than 15 countries. Locations include the chambers of Marie Antoinette in the Palace of Versailles, the highest mountain on the Arabian Peninsula, the darkness of the Arctic Circle and the twilight of the Book of Kells in Dublin.

Juliet Kinsman

Sustainability Editor at Condé Nast


Sustainability Editor at Condé Nast. She spent two and a half decades as a journalist and broadcaster writing and talking about the world’s most special places. In 2020 her book The Green Edit: Travel, Easy Tips for the Eco-Friendly Traveller was published.    
Chair

John Darlington

Executive Director at WMF Britain


Archaeologist and author. He joined World Monuments Fund Britain (WMF) in 2015 as Executive Director. Previously, he led projects for the UK’s National Trust focused on historic mansions, gardens and landscapes across North West England. He also served as County Archaeologist for Lancashire and is a specialist in medieval towns and landscapes, castles and abbeys. He runs WMF conservation projects in various north African countries and in the Caribbean.

 

Speakers subject to change.