INTREPID’S ‘Not Host List’ spotlights some of the world’s lesser-known destinations readying to welcome more travellers, but ‘tourism readiness’ is not as easily distilled as at first glance, according to two adventure specialists.
This year’s Not Hot List includes destinations such as Sierra Leone and Kyrgyzstan, with the list factoring in infrastructure readiness and sustainable growth plans to provide for increased tourism to benefit local communities.
“I think we all need to ask better questions: what does it mean to be ready – for whom, and at what cost?”
Partnerships and community-led development are the key to tourism development, Pagotto believes.
“This year, Crooked Compass was once again the major sponsor of the Golden Eagle Festival in western Mongolia,” she explained.
“We didn’t just drop in, we built a temporary ger camp in partnership with over 50 local families, sourcing everything from iron stoves to handmade quilts within the region.”
50 Degrees North Head of Sales Operations Kieran Healy, a specialist in Greenland, said his tour operator welcomes the spate of interest and investment in the destination.
He concurred that the territory requires a more meaningful traveller than those brought in by large-scale commercial tourism.
“The new airport in Nuuk is a big step forward, it’s making access easier and opening up more possibilities, but infrastructure is just one part of the story,” he said.
“There’s been some tension in Ilulissat on the back of these developments, and it’s a reminder that growth has to be managed carefully, with the community at the centre.
“We are seeing interest in experiences that align with our values, like glamping, nature-based adventures, and cultural immersion.”
