T here's a warm coastal breeze in the air and tourists walk around in the heat, clad in shorts and singlet tops that stick to their sides. Signs along the beach promise poke and acai bowls in Russian, and bars blast Bob Marley and house music to lure holidaygoers. The last place you might imagine this scene is the beachside town of Mirissa on the island of Sri Lanka, but this is what tourism gentrification looks like in a small town.
It might sound harmless, but tourism gentrification is insidious when left unchecked. It strips communities of their identity and dilutes it in favour of the Western palate, making a place like Mirissa just another beach town with no personality. Travel further inland, and you will see locals in the village, receive invitations to eat the best, freshly caught fish ambulthiyal in someone's home, or try some of the country's finest kottu roti at a small restaurant.
The late author and chef Anthony Bourdain encouraged people to be travellers and not tourists. It's one of the antidotes to culture loss in beautiful spots across the world. But how else do you curb this problem? And what can you do to support locals? Here are some tips on what you can do to be a more sustainable traveller the next time you head overseas.
EAT LOCAL
Denne historien er fra March 2024-utgaven av Gourmet Traveller.
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Denne historien er fra March 2024-utgaven av Gourmet Traveller.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
From personal experience
Former Hope St Radio chef ELLIE BOUHADANA invites you to gather your loved ones and enjoy an evening of good food and laughter with recipes from her new cookbook, Ellie's Table.
Kimberley Moulton
Kylie Kwong celebrates the individuals helping to grow a stronger community. This month, we applaud the international curator and Yorta Yorta woman who is shining a light on First Peoples.
Tom Wallace
We share a drop with the head winemaker for Devil's Corner, Tamar Ridge and Pirie Sparkling, a master of cool-climate grapes.
Best in class
The top drops to keep an eye out for on wine lists (and why they're worth the splurge)
A taste of refuge
Fleeing war and persecution, Australia's new arrivals push our food culture forward. DANI VALENT explores the contributions of the country's refugee communities.
BE OUR GUEST
Inspired by the sense of place conjured by Europe's Michelin-star restaurants, local restaurateurs are expanding their hospitality remit to include accommodation
Barcelona BUZZ
A popular drawcard for digital nomads and expats alike, the Catalonian capital offers equal parts sophistication and fun. Here, DANI VALENT discovers the latest dining hotspots.
HEATHCOTE BOUND
MICHAEL HARDEN hits the road to explore regional Victoria's Heathcote, home to this year's Best Destination Dining and a host of other delights.
The art of...relishing restaurants
Does working in hospitality make someone a better or worse diner
HEART AND SOUL
Not a vegetable but rather a flower bud that rises on a thistle, the artichoke is a complex delight. Its rewards are hard won; first you must get past the armour of petals and remove the hairy choke. Those who step up are rewarded with sweet and savoury creaminess and the elusive flavour of spring. Many of the recipes here begin with the same Provençal braise. Others call on the nuttiness of artichokes in their raw form. The results make pasta lighter and chicken brighter or can be fried to become a vessel for bold flavours all of which capture the levity of the season.
