Travel & The Experience of Otherness: Modern Travel, Is It Just An Echo Chamber?

Dear Thinkers,

I hope you all had prosperous, abundant 추석 (Chuseok) holidays. For this event, we will be discussing modern travel and experiencing otherness.

I'd say, comment va ton vravil?

The English word "travel" is believed to have its root in "*travailen" (*late 13c), meaning "take pains, suffer pains," from Old French travailler "to toil, labor," originally "to trouble, torture, torment," from Vulgar Latin.

• Travel and tourism’s contribution to global GDP is projected to be $16 trillion by 2034.
• The sector also faces complex challenges, including friction between visitors and residents, the risk of global disruptions and the pressure it puts on nature.

According to a survey, in 2024, about 48 million tourists travelled to Paris, 51 million in Rome, and 36 million in Tokyo, respectively.

More tourism means more revenue and more jobs, as a result. Precisely that is exactly what happened to those countries. France as a whole saw a record 71 billion EUR Revenue in 2024, which is about 2.5% of France’s GDP. Compared to that figure, France’s entire car industry, such as Renault, Peugeot, and Bugatti etc., is only just about double the tourism revenue, which is 135 billion EUR.

For Spain, it’s over 85 billion EUR for the annual Revenue, while its annual GDP is 1,477.66 billion EUR, making it about 6% of country’s annual GDP.

Despite the positive numbers, these arrivals don't just arrive without baggage. In fact, it raises social, economic, and environmental concerns. For instance, the friction between tourists and locals.

• “Locals with water guns have hit the streets of Barcelona as part of anti-tourism protests across Spain, Italy and Portugal. Destinations around the globe have taken measures from implementing entry fees to blocking famous views to help manage increasing numbers of holidaymakers.”

“Yet despite friction between visitors and residents – as well as threats including the risk of global disruptions and the pressure it puts on nature – travel and tourism’s contribution to global GDP is projected to be $16 trillion by 2034. The sector supports businesses and communities and has a central role in the labour market – accounting for about 1 in 10 jobs in 2024.”

[Questions]

1. Why do we travel? What is it that we are generally after when we embark on travelling? In other words, what are the conspicuous purpose of modern travel that are suggested to us?

2. What are the differences between modern way of travel and old way of travel?

3. Is travel necessary? Is it worth while to travel?

4. Is modern way of travel sustainable? What are the necessary factors and changes to make it more sustainable?

5. Should the country promote more tourism and exerts to raise more revenue in Tourist sector?

6. What are the unique phenomena being unfolded onto the experiencing self while in the foreign, alien land?

[Relevent Questioons with ChatGPT]

How has the growth of international tourism impacted local communities, particularly in cities like Paris, Rome, and Tokyo?

What are the economic advantages and disadvantages of tourism to a country's GDP, especially when comparing it to other industries like automotive manufacturing (e.g., France’s car industry)?
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In what ways can tourism be both a boon and a burden to nature and the environment? What steps are being taken to mitigate these effects?
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How do anti-tourism protests in cities like Barcelona reflect the growing tension between tourists and locals? What could be done to ease these tensions?
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What role does tourism play in the global job market, and how can it help reduce unemployment, particularly in developing regions?
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What are the potential long-term effects of over-tourism on a city’s infrastructure and local culture?
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How can countries balance the economic benefits of tourism with the social, environmental, and cultural challenges that it brings?

What ethical concerns arise from mass tourism, especially in fragile ecosystems or culturally significant areas?
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How has the definition of 'otherness' evolved in the context of modern travel, and how does tourism contribute to both embracing and perpetuating this concept?
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With the projected global contribution of travel and tourism to be $16 trillion by 2034, what policies should governments adopt to ensure sustainable growth in the sector?

Online Venue : N/A
Offline Venue : 서울 중구 퇴계로 381-1 (이디야커피)

[SocratesCafe_Group Chat] :
https://open.kakao.com/o/gcvmaI0d

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