From “Bad Tourism” to Tourism for Good

International Roundtable Calls for a Model That Works for Communities

Experts from the United Nations, Harvard University, Indigenous communities and the tourism and development sectors confront tourism’s double edge,and advance a policy agenda based on local prosperity, cultural stewardship, climate resilience and measurable SDG impact.

TORONTO, Canada, September 25, 2026 , Tourism can create employment, finance conservation, strengthen local businesses and bring cultures into dialogue. It can also displace residents, commercialize heritage, place pressure on land and natural resources, and leave little value in the communities receiving visitors.

The difference lies not in tourism itself, but in how it is governed, who shapes it, where its benefits remain and what it leaves behind.

This central tension framed the Global Roundtable on Tourism as a Driver of Urban Transformation and Sustainable Development, convened by the Urban Economy Forum, the World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park, powered by Daniels, and Thrive Tours Inc.

The Roundtable brought together international experts and practitioners from the United Nations, academia, Indigenous communities, tourism and development organizations to examine how destinations can move from tourism growth at any cost toward tourism for good,tourism that creates lasting value for residents, communities and places.

Reza Pourvaziry, Chair of the Urban Economy Forum, emphasized tourism’s capacity to contribute to development while strengthening cultural identity and peaceful relations:

“Tourism has an impact on the environment and cultural identity, and it has the potential to reduce the level of conflict in the world. That is why I believe it is a driver of development and urban transformation.”

Brad Robinson, CEO of Thrive Tours and a member of the Oneida Nation, grounded the discussion in Indigenous stewardship and the enduring relationship between communities and the land:

“We have occupied these lands and cared for them since time immemorial.”

His intervention underscored that tourism for good must move beyond symbolic acknowledgement by respecting Indigenous leadership, knowledge and authority, while creating meaningful and equitable benefits for communities.

Participants emphasized that the debate should not be reduced to being for or against tourism. The real distinction is between tourism that extracts value from places and tourism that strengthens them.

As Professor Wendy Purcell, Keynote speaker of this roundtable stated:

“We need to reframe this narrative around tourism bad to tourism good—and tourism for good.”

In this context, good tourism is not simply a positive message or promotional label. It must be demonstrated through measurable outcomes: better quality of life, decent employment, locally retained income, community participation, cultural continuity, environmental stewardship and greater resilience.

Monica Basile; Global Tourism & Heritage Expert observed:

“The promise of tourism is a world of shared wins; where visitors gain experience, communities gain opportunity, culture gains recognition and the places that welcome us gain a more sustainable future.”

The Roundtable concluded that tourism is neither automatically beneficial nor inevitably harmful. Its impact depends on the policies, institutions, partnerships and systems of accountability that guide it.

Bad tourism consumes places. Tourism for good enables them to flourish. The challenge now is to turn that distinction into policy, investment and action.

The Global Roundtable on Tourism as a Driver of Urban Transformation and Sustainable Development was convened as a first step toward establishing a global initiative to advance the SDGs and inform the Post-SDG agenda through tourism, culture, and place-based development. The organizers believe that, with the leadership of UN Tourism and the collaboration of governments, cities, Indigenous communities, academia, civil society, and the private sector, tourism can serve as a powerful catalyst for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities worldwide.

Media Contacts

Urban Economy Forum:
Email: info@ueforum.org

Thrive Tours :

Email : info@thrivetours.ca