In this insightful episode of the Balancing Tourism podcast, host Ged interviews Stuart McDonald, founder of Travelfish, a comprehensive online travel resource focused on Southeast Asia. Stuart shares the evolution of Travelfish from its humble beginnings in 2004 to becoming a trusted guide for independent travelers, his journey into responsible tourism through his master's degree, and his upcoming ambitious 64-day overland journey from Bali to the UK.

Guest Profile: Stuart McDonald is the founder of Travelfish, an independent online travel guide focused on Southeast Asia. With nearly three decades of experience traveling in the region since 1993, Stuart has transformed from a backpacker and guidebook writer to an advocate for "less bad travel" - his term for more sustainable and responsible tourism practices. He recently completed a Master's degree in Responsible Tourism Management at Leeds Beckett University in the UK.

Notable Quotes

"Travel fish is like an old school guidebook, like a Lonely Planet or Rough Guide or whatever. But only online."

"The pandemic wasn't great for business. I went back to school, back to do my masters at Leeds in the UK in responsible tourism management, and that sort of turned me on to a lot more of the stuff around sustainable tourism and responsible travel."

"A lot of the issues that we face today in tourism are not new... they were writing about them in the seventies in academia... This knowledge has sort of been sitting around for perhaps 50 years, half a century. And the industry side of things, they're only just sort of starting to think about maybe getting on board with some of these concepts in the last decade."

This episode offers valuable insights into the evolution of sustainable tourism in Southeast Asia through the lens of Stuart McDonald's extensive experience. His journey from traditional guidebook writer to advocate for responsible tourism practices demonstrates how the industry is slowly shifting toward more sustainable models. Stuart's upcoming overland journey represents his commitment to "less bad travel" and provides a fascinating case study in making more responsible travel choices despite the inconveniences they may present. Listeners interested in sustainable tourism, Southeast Asia travel, or alternative modes of transportation will find this conversation both informative and inspiring.

Resources Mentioned:

• ⁠Travelfish website⁠: A comprehensive online travel guide for Southeast Asia
• ⁠Couch Fish Newsletter⁠: Stuart's regular updates on travel and tourism in the region
• ⁠Glass⁠: The photo-sharing platform Stuart now uses instead of Instagram
• ⁠Seat61⁠: Helpful resource for train travel planning
• ⁠Caravanistan⁠: Resource for travel in Central Asia

⁠Uncornered Market⁠: Development work in Uzbekistan and Central Asia

In this episode of the Balancing Tourism podcast, Ged interviews Andrea Grisdale, founder of IC Bellagio, about her vision for creating personalized travel experiences in Italy. They discuss the importance of unseen efforts in the travel industry, the role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and the significance of cultural heritage in tourism. Andrea shares insights on community-conscious travel, the challenges of overcrowding, and the benefits of slow season travel. The conversation emphasizes the need for better education and communication within the industry to promote authentic experiences and support local communities.

Sound Bites

"We have the best job in the world."

"So much of what we do, you can't see."

"It's all about the people."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to IC Bellagio and Its Vision

02:49 The Art of Creating Unseen Luxury Experiences

05:51 Personalization in Travel: Understanding Guest Needs

08:55 The Role of SMEs in Sustainable Tourism

12:01 Community Conscious Travel: Empowering Local Businesses

15:10 Addressing Overcrowding and Promoting Authentic Experiences

17:58 Cultural Heritage and Its Importance in Tourism

20:55 The Value of Low Season Travel

24:00 Future Trends in Travel and Tourism

27:08 Conclusion and Looking Ahead to the Seasonality Summit

Join us for a deep dive into the critical challenges and opportunities facing the tourism industry. In this episode, Ben Lynam, Head of Communications and Research at The Travel Foundation, unpacks the complex relationship between tourism seasonality and sustainability. Here’s what you can expect:

• Explosive Tourism Growth & Overtourism:
  Discover how steady global growth (3–4% annually) is fueling overtourism in popular destinations leading to overcrowded sites, strained local resources, and mounting environmental pressure.

• Climate Change & Shifting Patterns:
  Learn how climate change is beginning to influence traveler behavior, nudging visitors away from traditional peak seasons toward alternative, off-peak experiences.

• Destination Capacity & Real Sustainability:
  Understand why knowing a destination’s true capacity, beyond just hotel beds, is vital. Explore how capacity studies can help avoid the tipping point where visitor numbers negatively impact local communities.

• Breaking Down Silos:
  Hear why collaboration among airlines, hotels, cruise operators, and local authorities is essential to smooth out seasonal peaks and create a resilient, sustainable tourism model.

• Regulation vs. Market Forces:
  Delve into the debate over whether industry self-regulation is enough, or if stricter government regulations are needed to steer tourism towards a sustainable future.

• Controversial Topics & Cognitive Dissonance:
  Challenge conventional thinking around greenwashing as Ben discusses how some brands justify unsustainable practices. Is the current tourism model inherently unsustainable, and what can be done about it?

Whether you’re a travel industry professional or simply passionate about responsible tourism, this episode offers a candid look at the big-picture challenges—from overtourism and economic leakage to environmental impacts and fragmented industry practices. Tune in for actionable insights and provocative debates that could shape the future of travel.