A new global survey is aiming to answer this question, finding out whether tourism is having a positive or negative impact on the lives of local residents.
The survey, called ‘Planet Happiness’, is being conducted in World Heritage sites. It aims to show that measuring community wellbeing and happiness is just as important a metric as GDP, money and perpetually growing visitor numbers.
Planet Happiness has been launched at a time when overtourism is becoming a major concern in visitor hotspots around the world, especially World Heritage sites. At the same time, there is growing interest in happiness and wellbeing issues among individuals, communities, small and large businesses and nation states.
The Planet Happiness project encourages all residents and workers in UNESCO World Heritage destinations to take the 15-minute online survey here. The Planet Happiness website will post and regularly update results and share them with journalists, students, businesses, government officials and interested parties around the world.
Tourism consultant Dr Paul Rogers, co-founder of Planet Happiness, said: “The purpose of tourism in destinations such as Barcelona, Brasilia, Kakadu, Luang Prabang, Kyoto, Yosemite, Mt Everest, Victoria Falls and other renowned places is to strengthen and support the happiness and wellbeing of local people.
“If tourism fails to do this, it is neither responsible nor sustainable, and local policies should change accordingly. It’s a new, fresh, more responsible and holistic way of looking at tourism.”
“It’s about finding where there are deficiencies – such as having meaningful access to community fulfilment and feeling valued. The survey will show people where they are doing well compared to other tourism destinations, and possibly where they should seek to improve their lives.”
Further information: www.ourheritageourhappiness.org.
