the last tourist videos

The Last Tourist

 Your browser does not support the video tag.

Rent & Buy

United states.

NEW ZEALAND

UK & Ireland

Watch the trailer

Your browser does not support HTML video.

Travel is at a tipping point. From Caribbean beaches to remote villages in Kenya, forgotten voices reveal the real conditions and consequences of one of the largest industries in the world. The role of the modern tourist is on trial.

Calgary International Film Festival 2021

Canadian Society of Cinematographers Awards 2021

Robert Brooks Award for Documentary Cinematography

Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE photo credit: Marco Grob

Copyright © (2022) 2628893 ONTARIO LIMITED

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

The Last Tourist

Travel is at a tipping point. From Caribbean beaches to remote villages in Kenya, forgotten voices reveal the real conditions and consequences of one of the largest industries in the world. ... Read all Travel is at a tipping point. From Caribbean beaches to remote villages in Kenya, forgotten voices reveal the real conditions and consequences of one of the largest industries in the world. The role of the modern tourist is on trial. Travel is at a tipping point. From Caribbean beaches to remote villages in Kenya, forgotten voices reveal the real conditions and consequences of one of the largest industries in the world. The role of the modern tourist is on trial.

• Tyson Sadler
• Alexander Ayling
• Elizabeth Becker
• 10 User reviews
• 6 Critic reviews
• 2 wins & 2 nominations

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Over 400 hours of footage was captured during production.
• Soundtracks Wander Written by Heidi Webster Performed by Heidi Webster

User reviews 10

• rovert-mccarthy
• Jun 23, 2022
• How long is The Last Tourist? Powered by Alexa
• March 15, 2022 (United States)
• Official Website - The Last Tourist
• India (Delhi)
• Born Explorer Films
• Skin and Bones Film
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 40 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

• Inspiration
• Destinations
• Places To Stay
• Style & Culture
• Food & Drink
• Wellness & Spas
• News & Advice
• Partnerships
• Traveller's Directory
• Travel Tips
• Competitions

This film will change how you travel: in conversation with executive producer and director of ‘The Last Tourist’

By Juliet Kinsman

The Last Tourist is a gripping documentary every traveller needs to watch – a lesson on how to travel better that’s all about the importance of being considerate travellers. “Travel is not only transformative for individuals, but it can also be [transformative] for the destinations we visit,” says sustainability-sensitive storyteller Tyson Sadler. His film The Last Tourist took six years to produce, and Tyson worked with fellow Canadian Bruce Poon Tip (founder of ethical small-group G Adventures). It brings breath-stoppingly honest scenes of mass tourism from Asia to South America into sharp focus and frames these eye-opening clips with wise words from industry legends such as Jane Goodall.

Below, we chat to Bruce and Tyson about making the film.

Never has a feature-length film better emphasised why we must put our money where our values are, avoid over-touristed hotspots and favour a more considerate approach to travel. Which messages are landing most meaningfully with audiences?

Tyson : “I’ve been present in screenings worldwide, and it’s been interesting: it speaks to people on several levels. One of the most powerful messages is the need for responsible and sustainable travel practices . In the film, we emphasise the importance of minimising our negative impact on local communities, preserving natural and cultural heritage, and supporting local economies.

“We explored how responsible travel can lead to meaningful connections, cross-cultural understanding, and personal growth. I hope it inspires viewers to make conscious choices when they travel and consider the long-term consequences of their actions. Of course, the message about wildlife and our impact on captive animals when we travel – particularly elephants – was an emotional and educational moment for many in the film, too.”

Bruce : ‘I’m most pleased that people also get a message of hope from the film. It astounds me how differently people respond in every country. In the UK, for example, it was all about animals, focusing on wildlife content and animal protection. Animal welfare is important, of course, but if I’m really honest, that was added in more last minute, and then it grew. There’s this one elephant scene – it’s only 10 seconds, and it’s quite harsh, and for many, it’s hard to watch.

“When the story was created, it actually wasn’t in the original storyboard to have all the wildlife – we explored it, and it became all-consuming. We had a whole section about the cruelty of dolphin excursions, which didn’t even go in – about how it takes thousands of dolphins to get tortured and die for one to become docile enough for people to pet or perform tricks. Behind the scenes, they’re seen as expendable fish. What it takes to get dolphins to jump through hoops is actually horrific – but we didn’t want to make a three-hour documentary – our aim was to tell a story about tourism. But overall, there’s this message of hope that we can do so much better if we confront the realities of where we need to go.”

What makes a successful documentary – and how have you achieved this with The Last Tourist ?

Tyson: “I think it’s one that really engages with the audience and tells a compelling story, providing valuable information in a way that imparts knowledge with the viewer, evokes emotions, and sparks conversations – and ideally prompts some sort of positive action. The best documentaries , or even dramas, inspire action, so you leave the theatre and do something. We wanted to create a documentary focussing on responsible and sustainable travel and sparked a global conversation around our relationships with travel and tourism.”

You describe it as An Inconvenient Truth for the travel industry…

Tyson : “Yes, we wanted to do for travel what Al Gore’s film [ An Inconvenient Truth ] did for the climate conversation and what Food, Inc did around food systems. And we achieved this by carefully crafting a narrative that combined personal stories, expert interviews, and immersive visuals. We conducted thorough research to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the information presented. We also presented a balanced perspective – showcasing both the positive aspects of responsible travel and the challenges we face in achieving it.”

Sophie Heawood

Sophie Prideaux

CNT Editors

Connor Sturges

You started making the film before the pandemic. As many of us paused during those times to reflect on how we might improve as an industry, you were editing a film that would give some of the most important voices a platform.

Bruce: “I don’t think travel was in a very good place pre-Covid, and I think we’re missing an opportunity as an industry to be so much better – we’re selling capacity and commodifying experience where people don’t care where they go. And as Judy Kepha-Gona put it, ‘How badly do we want sustainability and to stop [economic] leakage – because sustainability is possible – but we have to truly want it.’”

Another incredibly important point made by Judy Kepher-Gona, founder of Kenya-based Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda, is that the places we call destinations are actually people’s homes. What other profound moments await viewers?

Bruce: “I think the best part in the movie is when the volunteer talks about the orphans you can visit in Cambodia, where children are exploited in developing economies…”

Yes, it is an incredibly sobering portrayal of how so-called orphanages are explicitly created for foreigners, with babies and children taken from their families so tourists can pay money to make themselves feel better by ‘volunteering’.

Bruce: “She said: ‘They were there because I wanted to be there.’”

Was it challenging to make a film that balances the negative impacts of tourism with creating an uplifting entertaining movie?

Tyson : 'I think for us as filmmakers, it was necessary to shed light on the issues of over-tourism, environmental degradation and cultural commodification – but we also wanted to leave the audience with hope and motivation to make a positive change. The challenge was how do we convey it’s also a double-edged sword? You don’t want it to be too dark or too light. We presented the negative impacts in a factual and thought-provoking manner while also showcasing success stories, innovative solutions, and the beauty of responsible travel. By focusing on actionable steps and highlighting the positive outcomes of responsible tourism, it’s a film that educates, inspires, and entertains. You can’t fully demonstrate the beauty and wonder of responsible travel without contrasting it with its dark side. It can be a force for good if we choose – but it can be harmful if left unchecked.”

When it comes to travelling through our screens, what have been your favourite shows for letting us experience destinations vicariously?

Tyson : “I really love the BBC series Planet Earth , Our Planet and Blue Planet – all those David Attenborough documentaries combine breathtaking visuals with powerful immersive storytelling while exploring the natural wonders of our planet. Anthony Bourdain : Parts Unknown – the chef’s travel series showcased local cuisines and was a deep-dive into various destinations' cultural, political and social aspects, providing a rich and authentic travel experience. And it wasn’t just about food – that was just the vehicle to help us learn about the real culture of a destination. Long Way Round – I’m a motorcycle rider, and those travel documentaries featuring Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman take viewers on epic journeys across continents, immersing them in different cultures and landscapes.”

How can we not only watch and learn – but act?

Bruce: “It’s the basic understanding that travel is a privilege and not a right – you have a right to nothing when you travel. And just because you paid for a host to replicate the comforts of home, as soon as we understand how few people have that privilege in the world. And with this privilege comes great responsibility.”

Watch The Last Tourist now on Apple TV or Amazon

• Action/Adventure
• Children's/Family
• Documentary/Reality
• Amazon Prime Video

More From Decider

'The Golden Bachelor' Stars Gerry Turner And Theresa Nist Divorcing Three...

'The View' Reacts To O.J. Simpson's Death: "The Tragedy Was The...

'The View' Forced To Evacuate Their Studio Before Wednesday's Show After...

'X-Men '97' Gives Gambit a Hero Moment You'll Never Forget

Holly Madison Says She “Tried” Exotic Dancing But Doesn’t Have...

'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' at 10: The Movie That Made (and...

Joy Behar Says She Was "Dragged Into" Controversy Over Beyoncé's 'Jolene'...

Guy Fieri Calls Drew Barrymore "Gangster" For Talking With Her "Mouth Full...

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to copy URL

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Last Tourist’ on Hulu, A Doc Promoting Responsible Tourism Over The Excess And Ignorance Of Travel Today

Where to stream:.

• The Last Tourist
• documentaries

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th’ on Max, a Documentary Tackling the Repercussions of the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing

'brandy hellville & the cult of fast fashion': hbo doc reveals disturbing behind-the-scenes stories of teen employees at one of the biggest retailers of the 2010's, more than just an auteur’s wife: the extraordinary life and work of eleanor coppola, 'wwhl': jerrod carmichael confesses to foot fetish after "sucking some feet" in new docuseries.

The Last Tourist (Hulu) examines the effects of mass tourism on our planet, and an industry often unmoored from the land and local communities that it promotes as destinations. Written and directed by Tyson Sadler, the doc is truly global in scope, traveling to Kenya, Thailand, Peru, and the Caribbean to tell its story of an industry and its consumers facing a paradigmatic moment.  

THE LAST TOURIST : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: According to one expert in The Last Tourist , eighty percent of the world’s countries consider tourism a top revenue generator. From Thailand (39.8 million tourists annually) and Cambodia (6.2 million), to the Bahamas (7.2 million) and Jamaica (4.3 million), to France, where over 90 million annual visitors take selfies at the Eiffel Tower and herd into the Louvre, tourism is a bomb that just keeps detonating. But while numbers at that scale mean money being spent, mass tourism also puts immense strain on environments, extracts resources from local communities, and even shuts them out completely. In Kenya, for example, only fourteen percent of every dollar spent stays within the country, with the rest siphoned off to travel companies and international interests, even though it’s a region’s most vulnerable people bearing the brunt of tourism’s effect. Locals, says sustainable travel advocate Judy Kepher-Gona, “are not integrated into the tourism value chain.”

The internet is a driver here. “The advent of social media has completely changed the way we travel,” says Dr. Rachel Dodds of Ryerson University. “We’re going after a photograph.” And Last Tourist is populated with reams of millennials articulating careful camera setups before the massive 12th century bulk of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, or propping themselves up on the seamless flagstones of Machu Picchu. But beyond contemporary travel as a mechanism for Instagram posting, it’s also dominated by forces like cruise ship companies, who hawk boat-top go-kart tracks that overlook Alaskan glaciers, an intrusion only exacerbated by the companies keeping their consumers’ spending power captive aboard ship. There’s little to no connection with the local environment, and therefore a profound lack of local benefit. It’s not even travel, says Bruce Poon Tip, an adventure travel operator and a Last Tourist executive producer. “Let’s just call it a transfer of environments.”

As it transitions into its prospect for change, and profiles individuals and companies integrating the tenets of more responsible tourism into their business practices – a cab company in India that empowers women as independent drivers, or a sanctuary for elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand that powers local infrastructure with portions of its tour profits – Last Tourist also highlights some of the most tragic parts of this global conversation. In Thailand, elephants are held captive, cruelly trained, and utterly demeaned as they become entertainment fodder for tourists. And in countries like Cambodia and Kenya, where orphanages have fueled the rise of a billion-dollar industry in “voluntourism,” local children are exploited in the service of foreign visitors’ savior complexes. It amounts to neocolonialism for the sake of a selfie.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of? The 2013 documentary Vendemmia explored the ecological, cultural, and political effects of tourists in the millions descending on a small community of ancient villages in Italy, and Bye Bye Barcelona (2014) searched for coexistence between the Spanish city’s residents and its status as a destination site for tourism on a massive scale.

Performance Worth Watching: Michelle Oliel isn’t afraid to implicate herself in the exploitative nature of “voluntourism.” She explains how her experience traveling to Africa and making fleeting visits to orphanages there revealed the instability within that system, and inspired her to become an international human rights lawyer and advocate for children’s rights.

Memorable Dialogue: Arnie Weissman, Editor-in-Chief of Travel Weekly , highlights Asia, Africa, South America as destinations that represent “the critical crossroads of poverty, indiginous culture, and biodiversity” being found in one place. “And this is where tourism is going right now.”

Sex and Skin: None.

Our Take: As a consciousness-raising tool, The Last Tourist is sharp and revelatory. The average person, listlessly trolling Expedia or Kayak for hot deals on an all-inclusive in Mexico, might not pause to consider how such a resort completely walls off the local population, and prevents their economic participation. Similarly, the visitor to Thailand who buys an elephant ride down the Kawai River becomes party to the cruelty that led the animal there. Last Tourist is most crusading when it prods individual travelers to consider how and where they’re spending their money, and “leakage,” or the dissipation of tourism dollars from a local economy. “The idea we’ve had of a tourist has to end,” Bruce Poon Tip says. “We need a new tourist, a new traveler.”

It does take some time for the doc to get there. Last Tourist features some incredible scenery, from aerials of snow-covered mountains and drone cameras drifting across crimson red crags, to the slow pad through a rainforest to an ancient waterfall in the Ecuadorian Amazon. There are scenes of our built environment, too, as a woman darts her cab through the clog and tumult of New Delhi, and African grasslands give way to poor villages. But wherever on Earth it goes, the film aligns its vistas and hideaways against the inevitability of tourists. A string of figures traipsing through the foreground with backpacks and hiking boots, or a glut of camera-wielding bus trippers descending on a village. It’s a little bewildering, traveling to so many places on the scale of a nature documentary while being told how contemporary travel disconnects visitors from the place to which they’re traveling.

Will you stream or skip the tourism documentary #TheLastTourist on @hulu ? #SIOSI — Decider (@decider) June 7, 2022

Our Call: STREAM IT. The Last Tourist highlights a lot of the most glaring issues plaguing global travel today, but it also illustrates the physical wonder and sense of community that still thrives in our world.

Johnny Loftus is an independent writer and editor living at large in Chicagoland. His work has appeared in The Village Voice, All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media, and Nicki Swift. Follow him on Twitter: @glennganges

• Stream It Or Skip It

Does 'Yellowstone' Return Tonight? 'Yellowstone' Season 5, Part 2 Premiere Date, Kevin Costner Updates, And More

Is 'Civil War' Streaming on Netflix or HBO Max?

'Dune: Part Two' Comes to Digital, But When Will 'Dune 2' Stream on Max?

Are 'Chicago Med,' 'Chicago Fire' and 'Chicago P.D.' New Tonight? Here's When 'One Chicago' Returns to NBC With New Episodes

Woody Allen in Exile: 'Coup De Chance' Finally Arrives On Streaming, Where No One Will Shame You For Watching

New Movies on Streaming: 'Kung Fu Panda 4,' 'Sleeping Dogs' + More

The Last Tourist (2021)

Streaming in:

84min - English

30 Days Free

Then $7.99 / month

Subscription

7 Days Free

Then $6.99 / month

We checked for updates on 247 streaming services on April 18, 2024 at 3:27:19 PM. Something wrong? Let us know!

The Last Tourist streaming: where to watch online?

Currently you are able to watch "The Last Tourist" streaming on Hulu, Hoopla, OVID or for free with ads on The Roku Channel, Tubi TV. It is also possible to rent "The Last Tourist" on Apple TV, Amazon Video online and to download it on Apple TV, Amazon Video.

Where does The Last Tourist rank today? The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

Streaming charts last updated: 5:16:32 PM, 04/18/2024

The Last Tourist is 9292 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved up the charts by 5032 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than Ilary Blasi: The One and Only but less popular than My Dad's on Death Row.

Travel is at a tipping point. From Carribean beaches to remote villages in Kenya, forgotten voices reveal the real conditions and consequences of one of the largest industries in the world. The role of the modern tourist is on trial.

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Streaming Charts The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

Production country

Bundle offers.

People who liked The Last Tourist also liked

Popular movies coming soon

Upcoming Documentary movies

Similar Movies you can watch for free

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Civil War Link to Civil War
• Monkey Man Link to Monkey Man
• Scoop Link to Scoop

New TV Tonight

• The Sympathizer: Season 1
• Under the Bridge: Season 1
• Conan O'Brien Must Go: Season 1
• Our Living World: Season 1
• The Spiderwick Chronicles: Season 1
• Orlando Bloom: To the Edge: Season 1
• The Circle: Season 6
• Dinner with the Parents: Season 1
• Jane: Season 2

Most Popular TV on RT

• Fallout: Season 1
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• Ripley: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• Parasyte: The Grey: Season 1
• Sugar: Season 1
• Franklin: Season 1
• A Gentleman in Moscow: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• The Sympathizer: Season 1 Link to The Sympathizer: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

MGM: 100 Years, 100 Essential Movies

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

TV Premiere Dates 2024

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2024

• Trending on RT
• The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
• Play Movie Trivia
• Baby Reindeer

The Last Tourist: Trailer 1

Where to watch the last tourist.

Watch The Last Tourist with a subscription on Hulu, rent on Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Prime Video, Apple TV.

All The Last Tourist   Videos

The Last Tourist : Exclusive Interview with Director Tyson Sadler

We are all hodophiles, i.e. people who love to travel. But not all of us explore the countries we visit in a responsible way.

The piercing documentary The Last Tourist , directed by Tyson Sadler — that he co-wrote with editor Jesse Mann — discloses the unsustainable consequences that are caused by mass tourism. Among them is the exploitation of animals for entertainment shows, voluntarism that is increasing the number of children in orphanages and secluded places that are being polluted beyond control. Through it all there is a profound Westernisation of any kind of experience around the world.

On the other hand, there is a silver lining in this mass phenomenon, such as initiatives of women empowerment in developing countries and the chance for certain communities to have a livelihood that would no longer be achievable through agriculture.

The film is a wake-up call to respect locals and landscapes that welcome us in their nations. The documentary features interviews with visionaries such as Dr. Jane Goodall, Lek Chailert, George Stone, Meenu Vadera, Jonathan Tourtellot, Judy Kepher Gona, Gary Knell, Bruce Poon Tip, Costas Christ and Elizabeth Becker. Through their testimonies we witness how “ Overtourism has magnified its impact on the environment, wildlife, and vulnerable communities. ”

The Last Tourist was presented at the pre-opening event of the 22 nd Innsbruck Nature Film Festival, and has been traveling around the festival circuit from Vancouver to Santa Barbara, from Denmark to Germany and will soon be heading to the ECOCUP Green Doc Film Fest in Georgia. In the United States, the film is available on Hulu and is being distributed in Asia, Oceania and Europe.

In the Exclusive Interview, director Tyson Sadler takes us on a journey (pun intended) through the making of this eyeopening documentary:

Q: How do you travel and did that in some way inspire you to make this film?

T.S.: My personal approach to travel is one of immersive exploration, seeking to connect with diverse cultures and environments on a deeper level. This experiential journey inspired the creation of  The Last Tourist . Through my travels, I witnessed the profound impact tourism can have, both positively and detrimentally. The desire to share these insights and promote a more responsible approach to travel, one that respects the planet and its inhabitants, became a driving force behind the film.

Q: You co-wrote the script with Jesse Mann, who also edited the film, what was the process as you worked together?

T.S.: Working with Jesse Mann was an incredibly collaborative process. We shared a common vision for the film, and our partnership extended beyond traditional roles. From co-writing the script to the final editing stages, our communication was open and fluid. She demonstrated some visionary thinking in order to weave the stories together. The film would not be what it is without her input. This dynamic allowed us to create a narrative that seamlessly conveyed the urgency and complexity of responsible tourism, ensuring that our original vision remained intact throughout the editing process.

Q: With your crew you filmed in   a variety of countries, how long did it take and how much of it was planned as opposed to stories you discovered along the way?

T.S.: The filming process spanned a transformative 2 1/2 years, taking us to 14 countries. We shot over 400 hours of footage — which our editor, Jesse Mann, had to patiently analyse to bring the story to life. While we approached the documentary with a meticulously planned framework, a significant portion of the storytelling unfolded organically. Embracing the unpredictability of each location allowed us to capture authentic and unscripted narratives. The stories we discovered along the way enriched the film, offering a nuanced and comprehensive portrayal of the global impact of tourism. For example, we met a painter in Siem Reap, Cambodia who created oil paintings to sell to tourists in Angkor Wat. He invited us into his life to learn more about how tourism impacted him and his family. It’s a beautiful moment in the film that wasn’t planned prior to filming in Cambodia. 

Q: The film starts from the premise that we are born explorers, and we witness how tourists are unconscious consumers, do you think this is because we are also innate colonialists?

T.S.: The Last Tourist  invites viewers to consider whether unconscious consumerism in tourism is rooted in innate colonialist tendencies. This exploration serves as a catalyst for introspection, urging audiences to question and reassess their travel behaviours. By acknowledging our instinctual desire for exploration, the film encourages a conscious approach to tourism, fostering responsible global citizenship.

Q: Travelling is often about taking a break from daily obligations. Do you think this is why people tend to be more wasteful on holiday and disconnect with the sustainable issues we hear about in the news every day?

T.S.: The escapism inherent in travel often leads people to disconnect from daily obligations. However,  The Last Tourist  suggests that this shouldn’t be a justification for wasteful or unsustainable practices. The film advocates for a transformative mindset — one that encourages travellers to be mindful and make informed decisions, even during leisure, fostering a harmonious coexistence between exploration and environmental stewardship.

Q: Amongst the various interviewees, who surprised you the most with their insight?

T.S.: While each interviewee brought a valuable perspective, Lek Chailert left an indelible mark. Her insights challenged preconceptions and injected a distinctive layer into the documentary, offering a fresh and unexpected viewpoint that enriched the overall narrative. Lek Chailert is a renowned conservationist and the founder of the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand. Her approach to tourism is deeply rooted in ethical and responsible practices, particularly concerning the well-being of elephants and the broader ecosystems they inhabit. Lek is a vocal advocate for the rights and humane treatment of elephants, and her efforts have significantly influenced the way tourists interact with these majestic animals.

Q: Do you think social media has had an impact in transforming tourism into a status symbol?

T.S.: Social media undeniably plays a pivotal role in transforming tourism into a status symbol. The constant pressure to share aesthetically pleasing travel experiences online has contributed to the rise of “Instagrammable” destinations. This social validation-driven approach to travel magnifies issues like overtourism, emphasising the need for a more conscientious and thoughtful approach to sharing our journeys.

Q: Soul-washing is something very frequent nowadays, whether it’s greenwashing, pink-washing or rainbow-washing. Do you think voluntarism in travel is connected to this phenomenon?

T.S.: Volun-tourism in travel can, at times, fall prey to soul-washing, where individuals engage in volunteer activities more for personal fulfilment than for making a genuine positive impact.  The Last Tourist  acknowledges this potential pitfall and encourages viewers to approach voluntarism with authenticity, ensuring that their contributions genuinely benefit the communities they aim to serve.

Q: You finished filming in 2020, when the world went in lockdown and people couldn’t travel. Have you recently heard from some of the people whose livelihoods are based on tourism?

T.S.: Staying connected with the individuals we met during the production of the film has been an interesting process. Their livelihoods depend on tourism and our communication has been both humbling and enlightening. The pandemic’s profound impact on these communities has emphasised the vulnerability of their economic structures, underlining the urgency of addressing and fortifying the tourism industry against such unforeseen challenges. When tourism nearly stopped in Ecuador, one of the film’s main characters who runs a homestay lost nearly all of his income. For many, tourism supports their way of life, their families, and their children’s education. When the world went into lockdown, it was very difficult for many who are reliant on tourism to survive. 

Q: Your film has travelled around the festival circuit and has been distributed in several countries. Have you received feedback from spectators who have changed their traveling behaviour after watching it?

T.S.: The response from viewers has been deeply gratifying, with many audience members expressing a tangible shift in their approach to travel after watching the film. It’s encouraging to learn that  The Last Tourist  has not only heightened awareness but has also motivated viewers to adopt more responsible and sustainable travel practices.  The Last Tourist  is also being screened in schools and universities. It’s been incredible to see the film take on a new life and to witness the many productive conversations that follow. 

Q: The Last Tourist aims to educate the new tourist to make informed decisions when travelling, can you share the initiative that is present on the film’s website that provides online courses on the matter?

T.S.: The online courses are not yet available. They are still in development. Once complete, this series of online courses on responsible tourism will delve into practical insights, real-world examples, and actionable steps, empowering individuals to make informed decisions while traveling. By offering educational resources, we aspire to cultivate a community of conscious travellers committed to positive change.

Q: What do you think is the most urgent issue in rethinking the way we should travel?

T.S.: Undoubtedly, the most urgent issue in rethinking travel is overtourism. Immediate attention and collective efforts are needed to address this challenge. Implementing sustainable solutions, promoting responsible tourism practices, and fostering a global mindset shift are crucial steps toward ensuring that travel becomes a positive force for both the travellers and the destinations they explore. As a global travel community, we need to move towards slow tourism. Slow tourism is important for its commitment to sustainability, cultural preservation, and community support. By encouraging eco-friendly transportation, longer stays, and meaningful interactions with local communities, slow tourism minimises environmental impact and promotes authentic cultural experiences. It contributes directly to local economies, supports small businesses, and fosters a more relaxed and enriching travel experience, contrasting with the fast-paced nature of mass tourism.

It also emphasises responsible travel behaviour, contributing to the long-term preservation of both natural and cultural heritage. Overall, it’s a more mindful and sustainable alternative to traditional tourism practices.

Check out more of Chiara’s articles .

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

If you like our contents, please subscribe our news letter!

• - K-town Now

Asia-Pacific

• - Storm Tracker
• Middle East
• Map of Memorials
• Entertainment
• - Video Games
• Europe Travel
• - Quick Trips
• - After Hours
• Pacific Travel
• The Meat and Potatoes of Life
• U.S. Travel
• Storm Tracker
• Rewards for readers
• Get Stripes
• Stripes Lite
• Archives/Library
• Special Publications
• Mobile Apps
• Email Newsletters
• Digital Access
• Home Delivery
• Marine Corps
• Coast Guard
• Space Force
• Archive photo of the day
• - Schedules Europe
• - Scoreboards Europe
• - Schedules Pacific
• - Scoreboards Pacific
• - Pacific Sports Blog
• - Military Matters
• - Force for Hire
• Out of Uniform
• Communities
• Stripes Europe
• Stripes Guam
• Stripes Japan
• Stripes Korea
• Stripes Okinawa
• Our Other Websites
• In Memoriam
• Month of the Military Child
• Best of Germany
• Best of the Pacific
• Letters to Santa

Unexploded shell from WWII found at tourist destination on Okinawa

The yellow circle shows the location of 110-pound unexploded shell from World War II discovered in Onna Village, Okinawa, March 12, 2024. (Onna Village)

ONNA VILLAGE, Okinawa — Japanese authorities on Thursday night planned to remove an unexploded, 110-pound shell recently discovered at a construction site in Onna Village.

A detail from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force was scheduled to remove the ordnance, believed to be left over from World War II.

The shell was discovered March 12 by a private contractor sweeping the site for magnetic signatures, a spokesman for Onna Village’s General Affairs Division told Stars and Stripes by phone Thursday.

Eight members of the 101st Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit were assigned to remove the shell, a spokesman for the Ground Self-Defense Force 15th Brigade said by phone Thursday. The unit will deactivate the bomb by removing its fuse.

Part of the Route 58 bypass will be closed during the operation, which was expected to start at 6:45 p.m. and last about two hours, the village spokesman said.

Onna Village is a popular resort destination where many prominent hotel chains occupy the shoreline. None of the hotels will be affected by the operation.

Approximately 10,000 tons of ordnance were dropped on Okinawa during the Battle of Okinawa and nearly 2,000 tons remain undiscovered, according to the prefecture’s General Bureau website. Crews disposed of 14.7 tons between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023.

previous coverage

• Workers discover 1,000-pound bomb from Korean War at construction site
• Construction site in South Korea yields second Korean War bomb this month

related stories

• WWII incendiary bomb removed at home of US European Command
• Disposal crews remove WWII bombs found in German town near US bases

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world.

Sign Up Now

‘Fallout’ Filming Locations: Where Was the Prime Video Series Shot?

Several real-life places doubled for the Wasteland.

Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for Fallout.

The Big Picture

• The Fallout TV series features real locations like Kolmanskop in Namibia.
• Red Rocket Truck Stop, a Fallout game Easter egg, was filmed at a real gas station in Nyack.
• Wendover Air Force Base in Utah serves as the Brotherhood of Steel's headquarters in the series.

Prime Video's long-awaited Fallout TV series dropped last week, and, as expected, it was filled with twists and turns — complete with interesting Easter eggs and nods to the games. Based on the hit survival franchise of the same name, Fallout is set in a post-apocalyptic world wherein many survivors live in big underground infrastructures they call Vaults, while others have been forced to endure on the surface, which is known as the Wasteland. The F allout television series mainly focuses on three characters — Vault dweller Lucy MacLean ( Ella Purnell ), Brotherhood of Steel initiate Maximus ( Aaron Moten ), and a mysterious wanderer known only as The Ghoul ( Walton Goggins ). These three initially have their own individual missions, but as the story progresses, their paths keep on crossing.

While the show affords us a glimpse of what a typical Vault looks like in the first episode, the locations quickly change as the characters embark on their respective adventures, from an abandoned town to an Air Force base. Fallout does have its fair share of VFX and other digitally creative touches, but most of the places the characters visit are actually real locations that the series used during filming.

In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits.

'Fallout's Shady Sands Is Actually Kolmanskop, Namibia

Due to the nature of Fallout and the Great War that destroyed most of the world, it’s expected to see abandoned cities for miles on end. A prominent place shown in the show is a deserted town called Shady Sands. This town is featured heavily in the games, and its ambiance is the same as in the TV adaptation. There’s also not much left standing in the once-thriving town after it suffered a catastrophic nuclear bomb. Shady Sands also plays a part in some characters' stories, including Maximus, who grew up there and ultimately became one of the few survivors of the blast that destroyed it. Instead of relying purely on CGI to create the town, Shady Sands was recreated by filming in Kolmanskop, Namibia .

Kolmanskop has been a ghost town for many decades now. Before, it was a thriving town, but when the mining activities that transpired there got too intensive and even destructive, Kolmanskop was left depleted of its resources , causing residents and business owners to abandon it in favor of more thriving diamond mines located further to the south. These days, Kolmanskop can be visited through organized tours , which allow visitors to explore what's known as "the forbidden zone." Although Kolmanskop is located in Southern Africa's Namib Desert, it is used as the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, so many different characters are shown traversing its sandy, abandoned landscape.

'Fallout's Red Rocket Truck Stop Was Filmed at a Real Gas Station

Although the Red Rocket truck stop only plays a small part in the games, it does show up briefly in the TV adaptation, specifically in “The Radio” episode. This is basically just a mere Easter egg for the eagle-eyed viewers. In the game Fallout 4 , this truck stop is known for being the place where the player first encounters a dog named Dogmeat — an adorable but deadly NPC that players can choose to accompany them as a companion on their various adventures.

In the Fallout show, the Red Rocket truck stop is filmed in a real gas station in Nyack, New York . Nyack, situated in Rockland County, is still an inhabited village with many historic markers. The gas station already bears an amusing resemblance to Red Rocket, and the people behind Fallout just transformed it to match the atmosphere of the Wasteland even more. It’s nice to see how much care the production team took to make Red Rocket a reality, even though its appearance only provides a small impact on the series.

Utah’s Wendover Air Force Base Is the Home of the Brotherhood of Steel

The Brotherhood of Steel is a military organization featured heavily in the Fallout game series. Their mission is to essentially preserve and salvage pre-war technology, but their intentions with it are a bit more complex. Since the Brotherhood of Steel is such an organization, it makes sense that a real base camp was used for their headquarters in the Prime Video series. Over the course of filming the Fallout TV series, the Brotherhood made their home at Wendover Air Force Base , which is a real-life place in Utah.

Wendover has a long history that can be dated back to World War II . It was used as a training camp for the military, especially its bomber crew. Years later, it ceased operations and now stands as the historic Wendover Airport, open to the public as a museum. Since the Brotherhood of Steel is depicted as having more than one base camp in the games, the Fallout series clearly needed to find a setting that matched both the purpose and the aesthetic of the paramilitary organization — and what better place to film in than a former air force base?

Other Filming Locations in ‘Fallout’

Besides the aforementioned main locations, there are other places where Fallout was filmed — mostly to expand the landscape known as the Wasteland and build out the history of the show. In the first episode, we're introduced to The Ghoul when an unlucky group digs him out of his grave, leading to him turning on them and securing his own freedom, which was all filmed at Fort Totten Park in Queens, New York. Other filming in New York took place at the Brooklyn Army Terminal Building in Sunset Park, which doubled for the Enclave facility that Dr. Wilzig ( Michael Emerson ) and his dog escape from.

As for the town of Filly, where Lucy first meets Maximus, The Ghoul, and Dr. Wilzig, the show was able to craft an entryway by filming at the Pine Barrens automotive graveyard in New Jersey — an area that is not open to the public, but clearly offered access for the series to be shot there. Other scenes, like Lucy's encounter with Snip Snip ( Matt Berry ) at the Super Duper Mart, were filmed in the former location of a ShopRite grocery store in Staten Island. And while the series didn't technically film at the recognizable Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, a set was designed for Moldaver's ( Sarita Choudhury ) headquarters to resemble the popular tourist attraction.

All eight episodes of Fallout are now available to stream on Prime Video.

WATCH ON PRIME VIDEO

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

• What Is Cinema?
• Newsletters

Prince Harry Makes a Surprise Video Appearance to Talk About Responsible Tourism

By Erin Vanderhoof

On Wednesday, Prince Harry made a virtual appearance for Travalyst, a nonprofit he helped found in 2019, during its annual summit in the south of France. With the support of major tourism companies, including Expedia, Booking.com, and Tripadvisor, Travalyst aims to help consumers choose more sustainable and carbon-conscious travel options. Addressing a group gathered at travel company Amadeus’s offices in the Sophia Antipolis technology park, the prince shared a message where he spoke about some of the organization’s successes and how tourists need to do more to protect the communities they visit.

“Travel and tourism relies on destinations, held together by communities, without which we have nowhere to travel to. Communities are the beating heart of travel, and we must do better by the people who are the custodians of the places we visit,” he said. “More and more people are wanting to make informed travel choices so that the benefit of travel is felt by all.”

The video was filmed in the Montecito home he shares with wife Meghan Markle, and in the background the Gracie Award that Meghan won in 2023 for her podcast Archetypes was visible on a bookshelf behind the prince’s shoulder. According to the Mirror , Harry officially updated his permanent residence to the US in Travalyst’s filings at the UK’s Companies House earlier this week, after vacating Frogmore Cottage , his former Windsor home, last summer.

During Travalyst’s two-day summit, the group announced new additions to its Independent Advisory Group, which vets sustainability certifications for accommodation providers. In a statement , the organization said that it is planning to share a master list of those certifications to the public.

Harry also took part in a roundtable discussion, where he spoke to representatives from nonprofits addressing communities affected by tourism. In his Wednesday speech, he mentioned the conversations. “We've heard from some fantastic organizations like Invisible Cities who train people affected by homelessness to be tour guides in their own city, and Global Himalayan Expedition, whose programmes have helped electrify over 200 Himalayan villages impacting over 60,000 lives for the better,” he said.

More Great Stories From Vanity Fair

Anne Hathaway on Tuning Out the Haters and Embracing Her True Self

Deprived of His 12 Daily Diet Cokes, Trump Falls Asleep (Again) at Trial

While Melania Thinks the Hush Money Trial Is a “Disgrace”: Report

A Brief History of Royals (Not) Going Public With Their Health Issues

Behind the Scenes With Caitlin Clark on WNBA Draft Day

The 25 Best True-Crime Documentaries to Binge Right Now

From the Archive: The Devil in Bette Davis

Stay in the know and subscribe to Vanity Fair for just $2.50 $1 per month.

By Bess Levin

By Britt Hennemuth

By Erika Harwood

Erin Vanderhoof

Staff writer, royal watch.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

By Kase Wickman

By Savannah Walsh

You can still find affordable flights to Europe this summer

Airfare prices to amsterdam, brussels, prague and reykjavik are way down from last year.

Christina Saull and her husband have waited five years to take a 10-day cruise through the Norwegian fjords. The first time they planned the trip, it was postponed for a medical emergency. The second time, there was a family wedding. Now, finally, they were getting ready to go in July.

Only they needed plane tickets.

“It’s interesting to see how expensive fares have been and how they’ve fluctuated,” said Saull, a public relations executive who lives in Alexandria, Va.

The couple watched prices go from as little as $900 round trip to as much as $2,500 for flights from Washington to Edinburgh, Scotland, and back from Copenhagen. They finally settled on premium economy seats for $2,000 each on Delta Air Lines and its partner Air France.

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable for summer Europe travel,” Saull said of what they paid.

Not unreasonable is a good way to describe transatlantic air travel this summer. Even with strong travel demand, tickets are cheaper on average than they were last year.

“Airfare to Europe is less expensive than last year by 10 percent,” said Hayley Berg, the lead economist at flight-booking app Hopper . The average round trip ticket before any extra fees costs $882, according to the data.

The highest fares are in June, July and August, Berg added. Traveling in shoulder months — for example, September and October — could save travelers as much as 30 percent.

Schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium Diio shows airlines will offer 8 percent more seats on U.S.-Europe routes from May through September than last year.

Philadelphia is gaining new nonstops to Copenhagen, Naples , and Nice, France, on American Airlines. Phoenix gets its first nonstop to Paris on Air France. Washington, a new flight to Zurich on Swiss International Air Lines. And many other routes additional flights or options on larger planes.

“In the transatlantic, we are looking forward to another strong summer,” said Glen Hauenstein, president of Delta Air Lines, referring to bookings earlier in April. He added the airline sees “healthy demand” for seats to Europe.

Paris has flight deals, but hotels are pricey

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics are a bump in the finely tuned machine that is summer air travel to Europe. The Games run from July 26 through Aug. 11, and the French capital is expected to host some 15 million visitors during the event and the following Paralympic Games. Last summer, the city saw more than 6.2 million visitors in July and August.

“Paris will be like an Olympic village in July and August,” said Christine Ourmières-Widener, CEO of the French airline French Bee . All those visitors still need a way to get to the city. French Bee , which caters to leisure travelers like those going to the Games, has added flights from Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco to meet the demand.

Flight deals to Paris can still be found. Booking website Expedia recommends travelers buy tickets at least 21 days before their trip and, for international travel, look at departing on a Monday to find the best airfares.

Finding an affordable hotel in Paris during the Games is another matter. Expedia said it has seen a “massive surge” in searches for accommodations there this summer and recommends travelers look at nearby cities for more reasonably priced options.

Consider Nice, Prague and Reykjavik

Finn Vigeland, a transit planner who lives in Washington, was “quite surprised” last month when he found a good deal on flights to Nice, France, in July.

Prices on American Airlines’ new nonstop to Nice from Philadelphia were only $700 to $800 round trip, he said. That was affordable enough to make a trip to France with friends possible, and he booked the flight (with points, not cash).

Average fares to Nice from the United States are down a quarter to $907 compared to last summer, Hopper’s data shows. The city also has the distinction of being one of the few European destinations with lower airfares this summer than in 2019, 11 percent lower to be exact. That drop is, in part, thanks to a plethora of new flights on American, Delta, and United.

Amsterdam, Brussels, Prague, and Reykjavik, Iceland, are other European cities where ticket prices from the United States are down more than 20 percent from last year, according to Hopper.

Airfares are not down double-digits in all markets though. Fares to cities like Berlin and Glasgow, Scotland, are on par with last year.

Traveler after traveler said they felt like they could find reasonably priced plane tickets for trips between the United States and Europe this summer. Those who said they could not often lacked flexibility to adjust their trips to when and where fares are the cheapest.

“I felt like this was doable. It made sense,” Alexander Giess said of his plan to take his 10-year-old daughter on a three-week trip to France this summer.

After a lengthy search, in March the marketing executive paid about $1,000 each for two round-trip tickets to Nice from San Francisco on his preferred airline, Delta.

Where to go

Our favorite destinations: These 12 destinations are at the top of our wish list for where to go this year, without crowds. In 2023, we explored an Alaskan bear paradise, Brooklyn’s famous pizzerias and a hidden gem in Italy, among other highlights .

Travel like a local: Residents share their favorite places in our top city guides: New Orleans , Rome , Tokyo and Mexico City .

National parks: This comprehensive guide has details on all 63 U.S. national parks. For a deep dive into five of the most well-known, you can listen to the Field Trip podcast . Then explore tips from locals for visiting Yosemite , Glacier and Everglades .

Tales from the road: Dolly Parton has opened a new resort at her theme park complex in Tennessee, while “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have a new hotel in Waco . Road-trippers may be just as excited to see the cartoon beaver at Buc-ee’s , and bargain-hunters should consider a stop at the Unclaimed Baggage store in Scottsboro, Ala.