Peak Travel

For many travelers, Antarctica is a bucket-list destination, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to touch all seven continents. In 2023, a record-breaking 100,000 tourists made the trip. But the journey begs a fundamental question: What do we risk by traveling to a place that is supposed to be uninhabited by humans? And as the climate warms, should we really be going to Antarctica in the first place?...

For centuries, members of the B’doul Bedouin tribe lived in the caves around the ancient city of Petra, Jordan. Then, in the 1980s, the government forced the tribe to move in the name of preserving the geological site for tourists. But if the residents are forced to leave, and if their heritage has been permanently changed, then what exactly is being preserved? SHOW NOTES: Meet The Man Living in T...

Have you ever opened Instagram to see a bunch of people posting from the same place — Lisbon? The Amalfi Coast? Charleston? Japan? It’s no coincidence that every year, it feels like everyone is going on the exact same trips. In this episode, we’re going to pull back the curtain on the travel media industry and show you how a place becomes a viral destination.   SHOW NOTES: Check out Where to Next...

Salem, Massachusetts is best known for the Witch Trials of 1692. That history turned the small town into a Halloween destination, with more than 1 million people flocking there in the month of October alone. It’s so crowded that residents can’t get down the street, walk into a shop, or sit down at a restaurant. How does a small town like Salem deal with a flood of visitors in just one month of the...

Many places allow tourists to visit with little restrictions. But Bhutan is different. Nestled in the Himalayas, this tiny, land-locked country has implemented a “high-value, low-impact” tourism model, including a fee that tourists have to pay each day that they visit. As more destinations grapple with the effects of overtourism, what can Bhutan teach us about how to manage it?    SHOW NOTES: Bhut...

Cruises are coming to dominate the tourism industry, offering accessible and affordable vacations. And many local economies rely heavily on them to stay afloat. But activists, scientists, and residents worry about their impact on the community and the environment. Alaska has seen a boom in the cruise industry, and many of the communities affected are Indigenous. We visit two Alaskan towns to see w...

Many westerners associate Rwanda with the brutal genocide that overtook the country 30 years ago. But since then, Rwanda has made a huge investment in tourism — building new infrastructure, museums, music venues, and more. Now, it’s one of the most popular destinations in Africa. In this episode: Rwanda’s rebirth, how tourism has changed the country, and why this compelling narrative is more compl...

If you’re an American who likes to travel, you’ve undoubtedly been influenced by Rick Steves. He’s known for his guidebooks about visiting Europe on a budget. We sit down with the beloved travel writer and TV personality to hear about his new book — and reflect on his decades-long career, how he thinks travel media has changed, and his own impact on destinations around the world.    SHOW NOTES: Ri...

When two budget airlines collapsed in Colombia, tourism to the small island of San Andrés suddenly dropped. The travel industry makes up 90 percent of the island’s economy, and many worried this would spell a crisis for its residents. What actually happens to a popular destination when many of the tourists stop coming?  SHOW NOTES: The beautiful waters of San Andrés Stay at Cleotilde Henry’s Posad...

With an estimated 100,000 tourists heading to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX, we’re exploring a classic American pastime: the tailgate. Most people think of tailgating as a time for sharing beers and team spirit. But in this episode, we find out why tailgating motivates so many people to travel — and get to the heart of its culture.  SHOW NOTES: Your ultimate guide to Super Bowl LIX  Eagles-themed...

Travel can do amazing things: broaden horizons, build relationships, and rejuvenate the soul. But often, those experiences come at a cost.  Welcome back to Peak Travel from WHYY, the show that unpacks how travel shapes communities in hot-spots around the world. We’ll share the wonder that comes with exploring new places, as well as the harm that our worst travel habits can cause. And we’ll try to...

Social media has turned Bali’s shrines and temples into a playground for disrespectful tourists, but residents are fighting to preserve the island’s integrity.  SHOW NOTES: Bali Influencer Backlash Intensifies Eat, Pray, Love Trailer When a tourist in Bali gets arrested, this is the woman they call Will the Instagram vs. Reality Trend Affect Tourism in Bali? Navicula band webpage Learn about your...

Nashville has become the bachelorette party capital of the United States, and residents worry the influx of loud, visible tourists threatens the city’s reputation as a music city.  SHOW NOTES: Nashville Bachelorettes: A Ben Oddo Investigation How Nashville Became One Big Bachelorette Party ACME Feed and Seed Bach to Basic website Books by Beth Montemurro Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.o...

The transition of Barcelona’s historic La Boqueria market from a place filled with fishmongers and specialty mushroom vendors to chain cafés and smoothie shops has made the city feel more and more like a theme park. SHOW NOTES: The Battle for the Boqueria History of the Boqueria 6 Ways the 1992 Olympics Transformed Barcelona The Disneyfication of Cities : Historic Centers as Amusement Parks for To...

A partnership between the Mexican government and Airbnb forces generations of families out of the most desirable neighborhoods in Mexico City. SHOW NOTES: Rosalba González Loyde author page “País sin techo” by Carla Escoffie Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo elected President Learn more about Mexico City’s partnership with Airbnb ‘Gringo go home’ - El País Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-ch...

Because of inequities in passport and visa systems, Europeans and westerners can visit Africa with ease — but Africans themselves face hurdle after hurdle when trying to explore their own continent.  SHOW NOTES: Why Traveling Around Africa is Difficult for Africans “ The Popi Show ” on Instagram Southern African countries plan to expand special tourist visa Would a visa-free Africa break down colo...

While other developed countries have invested in their rail systems, the U.S. has leaned into more individualistic ways of getting around. In this episode, we ride cross-country trains in America and China to feel the difference. SHOW NOTES: The State of Highspeed Rail in the U.S. History of Amtrak Railway Age website China’s High-Speed Rail Miracle Fast Facts on U.S. Transportation Emissions  Lea...

Venice has long been considered the poster child for overtourism in Europe. As ever-growing waves of tourists aboard boats and cruise ships jeopardize the delicate city, residents hope a new entry fee will offer relief.  SHOW NOTES: The Moto Ondoso Reduction project Learn more about Venice’s tourist fee How Venice is sinking The housing crisis in Venice Responsible Tourism Partnership website Lear...

Peru’s tourism industry is best known for Machu Picchu, a wonder of the world, where adventurers go for a once-in-a-lifetime hike. But the porters who carry the industry on their backs are often abused and exploited.  SHOW NOTES: UNESCO site for Machu Picchu Evolution Treks Peru website Learn more about the Porters Law "Making Machu Picchu, the Politics of Tourism in Twentieth-Century Peru" by Mar...

The Olympics bring a burst of excitement to host cities, but in places like Rio de Janeiro, Sochi, and Atlanta, they often leave behind a legacy of displacement, worker exploitation, and blighted infrastructure. In Paris, will the 2024 games be any different? SHOW NOTES: The Long History of the Olympic Industry and Totalitarian Regimes 5 Key Issues Facing the Paris Olympics From Paris to Rio: the...

After wildfires ripped through Lahaina in August 2023, the Hawaiian government had to decide if and when to welcome tourists back to Maui — and force locals to return to work in the same industry that displaced them. SHOW NOTES: Maps of wildfire damage Lāhainā Strong website Learn more about Hawai'i’s history  University of Hawai’i’s Center for Oral History If you want to help families affected by...

Travel can do amazing things: broaden horizons, build relationships, and rejuvenate the soul. But often, those experiences come at a cost.  This is Peak Travel, a new podcast from WHYY about how travel shapes communities in hot-spots around the world. We’ll share the wonder that comes with exploring new places, as well as the harm that our worst travel habits can cause. And we’ll try to figure out...