The pandemic was like walking into a fluorescent-lit bathroom after being in a dark bar. It shone a harsh light on travel and its not-so-flattering features. But is the solution to stop flying, stop exploring? The G Adventures founder says no.
Bruce Poon Tip’s heroes are getting old. The Dalai Lama is 87, Jane Goodall is 88… But he’s now finding inspiration in the people and organisations “who are really committed to change”. People like Greta Thunberg (though there will be words when the two eventually meet).
“Her ability to come out of nowhere and create a movement is amazing and powerful,” he told Karryon. But Bruce has a bone to pick with Greta.
What Greta’s got wrong
At just 15 years old, Greta Thunberg began protesting for climate action outside the Swedish Parliament. She gained attention for her activism and sparked a global movement.
Thunberg also popularised the concept of flight shaming, encouraging people to reduce their air travel to combat climate change.
But at last night’s Sydney showing of The Last Tourist, a film which lists Bruce as an executive producer, Bruce took a stand against travellers being shamed out of flying.
“The global network of international lift is in place for business,” he told a wrapt audience after the filming.
“There are very few flights that are in the air strictly for tourism. Business class is what runs flights and tours are in the back of the bus.”
According to Bruce, the travel industry takes a lot of heat for something that is not entirely our fault.
“All of those flights exist for business,” he said. “They’re not there exclusively for tourism.”
“And yet now, as a travel industry, we take a lot of criticism for flights which are really having a lot less impact.”
“Unless we want to shut down the old economy, to stop business, we can’t stop flights. They’re just going to exist. So we’ve got to think of better ways in which to maintain the network of flights.”
From flight shaming to flight greening
The answer, says Bruce, is in technology that helps figure out how to deal with carbon emissions from flights, whether that be sustainable fuel or carbon capture. But how can travellers make this happen? Should we stop flying? Stop travelling?
There’s a lot to unpack in The Last Tourist. And all these stories of all these people and all these animals rams home one very strong point: we vote with our wallets. We’re always going to consume, but we should just do it consciously. We need to travel with our eyes open.
We then have to act collectively and channel this collective action with our governments to transition our economies towards sustainability. Well that’s the dream at least.
Why you need to watch The Last Tourist
There’s no denying The Last Tourist is confronting. But while it’s hitting you in the heart and slapping you across the head, it still manages to press on your wanderlust gene.
Watch it to be simultaneously inspired to travel and to travel better. And watch it for my new heroes: Judy Kepher-Gona, founder of the Kenya-based Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda (every time this woman spoke I had to stop myself from raising my hand in hallelujah) and Sangduen “Lek” Chailert, Founder of Save Elephant Foundation in Chiang Mai, Thailand (who if I could Freaky Friday body swap with I would). Seriously, these women rock.
WATCH THE TRAILER
For more, head to www.thelasttouristfilm.com.
