Fostering Global Tourism Without Destroying Cities

Leaders from major cities around the world recently met in Lisbon and adoptedthe Lisbon Declaration on Cities for All, an agenda to help cities better manage tourism. "The declaration highlighted the contribution of tourism to cities’ economies but it also acknowledged some of the challenges, including pressure on infrastructure, relationships between visitors and locals and fair working conditions," writes Catarina Demony.

Low-fare airlines and a boom in new accommodation options like Airbnb are making it easier for greater numbers of people to travel. But for popular tourist destinations, the result has been higher living costs, particularly related to housing, and the displacement of residents.

The mayors and officials who signed on to the declaration came from 16 cities, including Lisbon, Barcelona, Paris, São Paulo, and Seoul, reports Demony. In Lisbon, city officials are especially concerned about rising housing costs and the effects of increased levels of tourism on historical areas.