The Importance of Sustainable Travel: Insights from Todd Montgomery

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Understanding Sustainable Travel

What does it really mean to travel sustainably? For many destinations, this term has become little more than a marketing label or a tool for greenwashing. In this episode of Signal Shift, Raakhee and Sue sit down with Todd Montgomery, a leading expert and founder of the OSU Sustainable Tourism Lab.

Discover the real-world impacts of over-tourism, from local protests in Venice to residents being priced out of their homes in Hawaii. We explore the "destination life cycle" and the surprising truth behind what makes a community truly sustainable. Todd shares powerful insights on why our travel dollars matter and offers actionable advice on how to be a more responsible tourist.

For travelers who want to make better choices, this conversation serves as a guide to rethinking how and where you spend your money. It emphasizes why local ownership matters and how empathy can transform your impact on the places you visit. If you’re serious about traveling responsibly and protecting the future of the destinations you love, this episode offers practical insight and a hopeful path forward.

The Realities of Over-Tourism

Over-tourism has become a pressing issue in many popular destinations. It leads to local protests and significant changes in community dynamics. For instance, in Venice, residents have voiced their frustrations over the influx of tourists, which has altered their way of life. Similarly, in Hawaii, many locals are being priced out of their homes due to the high demand for vacation rentals.

Todd Montgomery highlights the importance of understanding these dynamics. He emphasizes that sustainable tourism is not just about reducing carbon footprints; it's about ensuring that communities can thrive alongside tourism.

The Destination Life Cycle

One of the key concepts Todd discusses is the "destination life cycle." This concept illustrates how destinations evolve over time, typically moving through stages of exploration, growth, and eventual decline. In the past, this cycle took years, sometimes decades, to unfold. However, with the rise of social media, destinations can gain popularity almost overnight.

This rapid growth can lead to unsustainable practices, as communities struggle to keep up with the demands of tourists. Todd points out that while some destinations, like Palau, have made strides toward sustainability, many others are still on a path of decline.

What Makes a Community Sustainable?

Todd argues that a truly sustainable community is one that balances the needs of residents and tourists. This balance is crucial for preserving local culture, environment, and economy. He shares that many destinations are beginning to recognize the importance of local ownership and community engagement in tourism planning.

The Role of Local Ownership

When travelers choose to support local businesses, they contribute to a more sustainable tourism model. Todd encourages travelers to seek out locally owned accommodations and restaurants. This not only helps the local economy but also fosters a deeper connection between visitors and the community.

The Need for Empathy in Travel

Empathy plays a significant role in responsible tourism. Todd urges travelers to consider the impact of their choices on local communities. When booking a hotel, for example, it's essential to research who owns the property. Often, large corporations dominate the market, and the profits do not benefit the local community.

By prioritizing local businesses, travelers can help ensure that their spending supports the people and culture of the destination. This approach can lead to a more enriching travel experience for everyone involved.

The Future of Sustainable Tourism

As we look to the future, Todd emphasizes the need for ongoing education and awareness. Travelers must understand the implications of their choices and strive to make a positive impact. Sustainable tourism is not just a trend; it's a necessary shift in how we approach travel.

Final Thoughts: How Can We Travel Responsibly?

So, what can we do to travel more responsibly? Todd suggests that education is key. Understanding the impact of our travel choices can lead to more thoughtful decisions.

If you're planning a trip, consider the following:

• Research Local Businesses: Prioritize staying at locally owned hotels or dining at local restaurants. This ensures that your money supports the community.

• Be Aware of Your Impact: Recognize that your presence in a destination has consequences. Strive to minimize your environmental footprint.

• Engage with the Community: Take the time to learn about the culture and history of the places you visit. This fosters a deeper appreciation and connection.

  
  

By embracing these practices, we can contribute to a more sustainable future for travel.

Where to Learn More:

• About the OSU Sustainability Lab:

  https://osusustainabletourismlab.com/ 

• About Todd Montgomery:

  https://osucascades.edu/directory/todd-montgomery

  
  

Episode Transcript:

Raakhee: (00:00)

Welcome to Signal Shift with me, Rocky, Sue, and our guest today, Todd Montgomery. Todd, a very warm welcome. Thank you for being here.

Todd: (00:08)

Now, pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me.

Raakhee: (00:09)

Todd is a Robin and Kurt Baney endowed professor at Oregon State University, OSU, in Bend, where he teaches hospitality management. He has worked with several Fortune 500 companies, including Hyatt, Starwood, Disney, and Avis in the past. He is the founder and director of the OSU Sustainable Tourism Lab, which focuses on economic, community, and environmental issues.

His research has been featured in over 50 media outlets, including US Today, NBC News, and a previous documentary series called Tech Track. The Sustainable Tourism Lab was developed to protect tourism destinations for future generations of residents and visitors. They do this by ensuring that in-depth research leads to effective solutions. One of the key activities of the lab is to study resident sentiment.

Now, as listeners well know, we have been focused on the future of travel and tourism this past month. We’ve explored this from many different ends of the spectrum, from innovation in travel to nocturism to Indigenous tourism. The idea of sustainable tourism is a part of all these conversations. We’ve spoken about this across so many episodes, from local protests against over-tourism,

Venice increasing tariffs for cruises once again to a town near Mount Fuji actually building a wall to block the view and deter tourists. The term sustainable is often thrown around with little understanding and sometimes little weight as a form of greenwashing. So today, with your help, Todd, and your insights, we really want to discover what sustainable tourism actually means.

What does sustainable tourism mean? Like, what is it? What is it not?

Todd: (02:11)

Well, I think your intro covered it really well. In the simplest terms, it’s a destination in balance. From our standpoint, it’s a destination that will be available for residents and visitors to experience at the same or hopefully better levels in the future. But I liked your comment about greenwashing.

I work with a lot of destinations, and it would be fair to say that if you look at it from an economic input and output standpoint, factoring in the externalities, the cost of tourism, it could be said that there is no destination that is sustainable, particularly if you factor in the travel costs to get there.

It's an idea that has yet to materialize. I spend a lot of my time on two spectrums. I look for destinations that are on the decline, having been on an unsustainable path for too long. I also look for destinations that are truly sustainable. So far, I have yet to find one. This is why that greenwashing conversation is important; it’s an idea that has yet to materialize.

Raakhee: (03:37)

I guess I’m wondering which places come close? Are we getting close in some ways? Is there hope in some spots?

Todd: (03:44)

I’ve spent many years in Micronesia. My wife is Micronesian, from the Marshall Islands. One island that I think has tried is Palau. Palau is a famous dive destination that experienced over-tourism through wholesalers and large volumes. In the 2000s, before sustainability became a widely understood phrase, they recognized that the wholesale model was destroying a fragile ecosystem. They had the foresight to cut it off, and I commend their president for taking that initiative, knowing there would be blowback.

They had an advantage as a gated destination, meaning you had to go through immigration to get there. Drivable destinations are much harder to control. Palau has done a fantastic job, and there are several locations in Alaska trying to replicate some models, but their gates are a bit harder to manage.

Raakhee: (05:26)

You mentioned the life cycle and the decline. Could you take us through that as well and what that is?

Todd: (05:33)

Sure! The destination life cycle is similar to any product or service. There’s exploration, growth, and eventual decline. When I was in Asia Pacific in the late 1990s and 2000s, we looked for the next best destination. We sought out sleepy fishing villages or pristine beaches that could be developed. At the time, I thought I was doing good by proposing economic opportunities for citizens. However, I realized that only a few, primarily landowners, benefited.

Before the internet and social media, the life cycle was long. A magazine article might mention a great destination, and only a few people would read it. It took time for that destination to develop and mature. With social media, that can happen almost overnight now. This compressed life cycle is a significant issue. Our lab's goal is to preserve that for future generations. We want to extend the life cycle to where economic viability reaches a sustainable carrying capacity.

Sue: (07:46)

Fascinating, Todd. Maybe we’ll see more of this in the paper you’re going to release. But I’m curious, has there traditionally been planning around how long the life cycle lasts until decline? You mentioned carrying capacity. What are you saying in the context of life cycle and the intention to expand that?

Todd: (08:08)

Big picture, tourism tends to happen organically. People just start visiting. Unless it’s a planned community like Disneyland, destinations are often reactive to what’s happening. In the 2000s, nobody mentioned sustainable tourism or considered community and social impacts. There was no recognition of tourism's costs or externalities.

Now, communities are slowly recognizing the need for balance. This has been evident in places like Venice and Barcelona. Hawaii has been dealing with this for 20 years. It’s a significant moment when the community demands action. In a democracy, majority rules, so they can force this balance. However, every day a destination is out of balance, the reason people are attracted to it is slowly degraded. There’s a sense of urgency because once a destination enters the decline stage, there’s no successful case of bringing it back.

In Hawaii, more native Hawaiians live outside of Hawaii than within it because they’ve been priced out. This leads to loss of culture, language, identity, and home. On the other hand, in the Marshall Islands, which is not a tourist destination yet, more Marshallese live outside than in. They lack economic viability, and tourism could potentially bring that. The implications are the same: loss of community, culture, and language.

These two extremes show that tourism can fit in the middle, preserving what’s important to the community. However, few people are thinking along those lines.

Raakhee: (10:58)

I think your point about understanding that tourism can work economically is crucial. It’s about figuring out how to do it without harming communities. We spoke about Indigenous tourism a couple of weeks back, right, Sue? It was interesting to discover what’s happening in that world, why people are attracted to it, and how it needs to grow responsibly.

This leads into the work that the lab is doing. Who is addressing these problems? Are governments or cities actively working on this as they should? I’d love to hear more about the lab and your work.

Todd: (11:58)

The long-term steward should be an indigenous member. They have a unique tie to the land and should think long-term about the community post-tourism decline. Hawaii is getting close, with native Hawaiians playing a prominent role in management and promotion.

However, the protests indicate that governments are not doing their jobs. Citizens are stepping forward to say, “This isn’t working for me or my community.” This leads to legislation that either constrains or encourages tourism. Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) are starting to recognize the need to take the lead, but it’s a fragmented process. There’s no playbook, and many profit from the status quo.

We work with communities, conducting polls and engaging residents to understand their sentiments about tourism. We aim to bring those typically not at the table into the conversation, including minorities and indigenous members. We benchmark where residents are and help them find balance, looking for low-hanging fruit. We also advocate for them during legislative processes.

Sue: (15:20)

A couple of episodes ago, we discussed a report about the increasing number of travelers from the United States and other countries. Are you seeing people consider this next wave of tourists? It seems like it will add complexity to understanding who is visiting and when.

Todd: (16:02)

We’re in unprecedented economic growth, with steady increases in disposable income. We’ll continue to see growth, and destinations will use pricing to limit tourism. For example, hidden hotel fees are influencing decisions.

There’s a trend of increasing fees, such as occupancy taxes and tourism taxes, which will impact demand. Many people may get priced out. However, visiting a place can profoundly affect and change you. I grew up in Oklahoma and never thought I’d travel overseas. My first trip to Saipan opened my eyes to the beauty of the underwater world. That experience changed my perspective on the importance of protecting the environment.

If people get priced out, that’s a problem because these experiences can educate and transform. Finding that balance will be a challenge as constraints around over-tourism and taxation increase.

Raakhee: (18:56)

There are many complexities in addressing sustainable tourism. It’s not an easy job.

Todd: (19:12)

But there are significant benefits to getting this right. For communities, the stakes are high. If we don’t get this right, we risk livelihoods. My wife’s home island, the Marshall Islands, is an exciting project because it’s in the early life cycle stage. They can learn from past mistakes.

We aim to create case studies that resonate with locals, even if they don’t speak English. Sharing stories from around the world can help communities avoid pitfalls. The early life cycle stage is crucial; if you implement zoning, policies, and planning early, you can set a sustainable path.

Raakhee: (20:48)

Todd, leading into the final question, what can we do? What should we be doing? We all want to explore the world, but we must do it responsibly. What should we consider?

Todd: (21:16)

Education is key. Know the impact you’re making. If you’re going to Hawaii, understand that the hotel you’re staying in was likely booked 80% full last year. Your stay has an impact on the environment and the community.

When I walk into a hotel, I often look at who the managers and frontline workers are. It’s essential to recognize that many of those cleaning rooms may not be locals, and the hotel may not be locally owned. If you want to make an impact, try to find out who owns the property and prioritize staying with local owners.

This changes the costs and benefits equation, capturing more positive impacts of tourism. It’s not always easy to find this information, but it’s important. If you can do this, you’re already doing better than 99% of travelers.

Raakhee: (23:38)

Fantastic! I think that’s a challenge we can take on.

Todd: (23:44)

I believe there should be a website to make this easier.

Raakhee: (23:50)

Thank you so much, Todd. We appreciate your insights today. To everyone listening, I hope you’ve learned a lot. This has been eye-opening. Be sure to check out Todd’s work. Thank you for being here, Todd, and thank you to everyone for listening and watching. Until next time, see you again.