Picture this: sun, sand, and selfies. Now picture the same place through the eyes of a local who can no longer afford to live there. This lesson plunges students into one of the most urgent debates of our time – the battle between the booming tourism industry and the communities it displaces.
Using two powerful video reports (from TRT World and BBC News), students explore the paradox of modern travel. They will witness the vibrant chaos of Venice, the garbage-swamped beaches of Bali, and the angry protests erupting in Barcelona and Majorca. From locals being priced out of their homes to activists demanding limits on visitor numbers, this lesson asks the critical question: How much tourism is too much?
What will your students do?
- Debate the real cost of that perfect holiday photo.
- Analyse authentic news reports to identify the social, environmental, and economic impacts of mass tourism.
- Master essential vocabulary like backlash, unprecedented, evict, impose, and price out through contextualised exercises.
- Think critically about fairness, sustainability, and the future of travel.
- Research and present the impact of tourism in their own country, connecting global issues to local realities.
Give your students the language and the confidence to join one of the most important conversations facing our world today.
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Teach English through overtourism, sustainability, and the real cost of modern travel.
