WTTC CEO proposes communication with the local community to combat tourismphobia

17-07-24

Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), has expressed the importance of listening to and respecting the voices of local communities affected by mass tourism. In an interview with the newspaper Última Hora, Simpson has spoken out about recent anti-tourism demonstrations in the Balearic Islands and elsewhere in Spain, emphasizing the need for open dialogue with residents.

Simpson stressed that “it is very important that the community has a voice and that it is heard”. The WTTC executive stressed that working hand in hand with local communities is essential to understand their concerns and the impact of tourism on their daily lives. While acknowledging the complaints about mass tourism, Simpson also recalled the significant value that this sector brings, citing as an example the old town of Palma, which has been revitalized thanks to tourism revenues.