Supersize Dubai

The Costco theory of tourism—Bigger is Better!—often flies in the face of sustainable travel. And unfortunately, it's a trend that's becoming almost as prodigious as the projects it promotes.

In a recent article in The Guardian, Leo Hickman reports on growing evidence supporting the bigger-faster-better model of tourism (see: Las Vegas, Cancun, Benidorm):

"Not since the 1970s have we seen such epic tourism projects. The spark for much of this about-turn is the success of Dubai, the holiday jewel of the Middle East, that has risen rapidly out of the deserts of the eastern Arabian peninsula and, in just over a decade, become one of the world's highest-profile tourist destinations, luring six million visitors a year."

Dubai certainly epitomizes the trend: with its intention to build the latest version of the world’s tallest building, its indoor ski runs, and its plan to build a theme park twice the size of Disneyworld. But it isn’t the only place looking to cash in on this new rash of unnatural, gargantuan tourism projects—there are plans in the works for a monstrous steel and glass pyramid on top of the Alps’ Klein Matterhorn and an artificial sandy beach in Andermatt, Switzerland. Even Iran is stepping up to the plate with its $2.4 billion “Flower of the East” development, set to open on Kish in 2010 with a “seven-star” hotel.

Tricia Barnett, director of Tourism Concern, fears for the worst. Speaking to the Guardian, she echoed IT's concerns for the things that get pushed aside when these behemoths are built:

What the tourist will never see, though, is who might have been forcibly moved from their homes to make way for the new resorts and golf courses, how much biodiversity has been lost in their development, how local needs might be sacrificed—such as water—and the extent of the corruption.

Look for more coverage on sustainable destinations in the November/December 2007 issue of National Geographic Traveler. Our panel of 522 experts grade 111 islands according to their ability to avoid the dangers of too much tourism.

Photo: www.burjdubai.com

Comments

[Noah]

That building is terrifying. It reminds me of the Cairo.

[Noah]

Also, for a good example of sacrificing local needs in order to build a behemoth, IT doesn't need to look far.

[Mark]

I currently live in the British Virgin Islands and, to date, they have been a quality, low key destination but big plans are on the horizon for a large golf course and MANY new hotels...

[Marilyn Terrell]

@Mark: You live on Culebra?! Lucky! I hope they don't ruin it with mega-hotels. Thanks for the heads-up.