Localism: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Following the impressive recovery in 2023, the international tourism sector is on track to fully restore its pre-pandemic levels in 2024¹. In this blog post, I explore the meanings of localism, a principle that has gained significant attention in the context of tourism revival, and its positive and negative impacts on local communities and economies.

Localism, as an antidote to globalism, promotes the prioritisation of local communities, cultures, and economies, advocating for a more sustainable and equitable form of tourism². The signs of the growing importance of localism can also be seen in popular tourist destinations, as well as calls for responsible tourism online.

The concept isn't limited to consumer behaviour; it also has a political dimension. Localism³, in a political sense, favours local production and consumption of goods, local control of government, and the promotion of local history, culture, and identity. It has been embraced in various places as a pushback against centralization and as a means to strengthen local communities and economies.

The Good

Localism presents significant advantages for both local communities and visitors, weaving a tapestry of economic, environmental, cultural, and experiential benefits. For local communities, economic empowerment through the multiplier effect ensures that money spent locally circulates within the community, bolstering small businesses and keeping profits within the local economy. This economic vibrancy contributes to environmental stewardship as communities strive to reduce carbon footprints through minimized long-distance transportation of goods, fostering a direct connection to and care for their immediate natural surroundings. Moreover, localism champions cultural preservation, allowing communities to maintain their unique identities and heritage in the face of globalization's homogenizing pressures. The infusion of local economic activity further leads to improved infrastructure, enhancing the quality of life for both residents and visitors.

From a visitor's perspective, localism offers authentic experiences, granting them access to the true essence of a place through its unique cultural and social landscapes, unlike the commodified experiences in commercialized settings. This authenticity is complemented by the quality of products and services offered by local businesses, which often prioritize craftsmanship and personalization over mass production, providing visitors with memorable keepsakes and encounters. Engaging with local economies also allows visitors to support sustainable tourism practices, contributing to the preservation of destinations for future generations and aligning with the increasing preference for responsible travel. Together, these advantages underscore localism's role in fostering economically robust, environmentally sustainable, culturally rich, and authentically enjoyable communities and travel experiences.

The Bad

Localism, while nurturing economic empowerment and cultural integrity within communities, also introduces several disadvantages that can affect both local inhabitants and visitors. For local communities, the shift towards local production and consumption can lead to potential inefficiencies due to the lack of economies of scale, resulting in higher costs and limited availability of goods and services. This inefficiency can manifest in critical areas such as agriculture, where local conditions may not be as conducive to production as global agricultural hotspots, potentially leading to smaller yields and lower-quality outputs. Moreover, an over-reliance on the local economy may pose a risk of economic isolation, making communities vulnerable to downturns in local industries without the buffer provided by global trade diversification. Localism may also inadvertently exacerbate social inequalities, as the higher cost of locally produced goods places a disproportionate financial burden on lower-income residents, alongside raising questions of equitable resource distribution and land use. Furthermore, while localism can create employment within the community, it may simultaneously limit the diversity of job opportunities and career progression offered by larger companies.

For visitors, the emphasis on localism can translate into higher costs for local products and services, which may not only inflate travel expenses but also limit accessibility to authentic local experiences due to the small-scale nature of businesses and their operational constraints. This focus on localism could also foster a sense of exclusivity, potentially alienating visitors and detracting from the inclusive, welcoming atmosphere sought by many travellers. Additionally, the variability in the quality of products and services, owing to the absence of uniform standards among local businesses, poses the risk of inconsistent experiences, which could disappoint some visitors seeking reliability in their travel encounters. Collectively, these disadvantages underscore the complex balance required in embracing localism, necessitating careful consideration of its impacts on community well-being and visitor experiences.

The Ugly

The Canary Islands, a surfers' paradise and tourist hotspot, are caught in the crossfire of localism, touristification, and gentrification, each feeding into a cycle of real estate speculation that profoundly impacts local life and the environment. Touristification⁴, or the so-called "Venice syndrome," sees neighbourhoods designed more for visitor influx than resident needs, often leading to the locals' displacement. This is coupled with gentrification, where areas become "trendy," attracting those with higher incomes and displacing the original, often poorer, inhabitants. This process turns neighbourhoods into commodities, pushing real estate prices up and prioritizing investment over community needs.

In the backdrop of these challenges is the Canary Islands' economic reliance on tourism, the islands are heavily dependent on the tourism sector with almost 40% of GDP⁵ generated through trade, transportation, hotels and restaurants, and leisure activities. Despite tourism's economic input, issues of unemployment, poverty, and low incomes persist⁶, reflecting the sector's inability to address deeper socioeconomic problems. Furthermore, the rise of digital nomads and the promotion of the islands as a haven for remote workers exacerbate housing pressures and community dynamics, with public funds aimed at attracting these higher-spending visitors.

Localism in surfing⁷ adds another layer to this complex scenario. The Canary Islands' surfing culture, marked by aggressive territorialism, mirrors broader societal tensions over space, identity, and access. This surf localism, while part of a global phenomenon, highlights the unique challenges island communities face in balancing tourism, cultural preservation, and sustainable living.

Closing

As the global tourism sector bounces back, aiming to reach pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, the spotlight turns to localism—a concept that's reshaping travel. Embracing local cultures, economies, and communities, localism seeks to forge a tourism model that's sustainable and fair. It's a double-edged sword, though.

The push for localism—encouraging visitors to engage with and support local businesses and cultures—might conflict with the economic imperative to attract as many tourists as possible. This tension raises critical questions about the sustainability and authenticity of localism in practice. Can destinations afford to prioritize local values and interests if their financial health is closely tied to attracting a broad spectrum of tourists, including those who may not share the same commitment to localism?

This scenario presents a compelling challenge: crafting a tourism model that truly honours local communities while also sustaining the economic engine that tourism represents. It calls for innovative approaches to tourism management that respect local cultures and environments, provide tangible benefits to local communities, and ensure that the principles of localism are not compromised by the economic realities of tourism-driven economies.

• References

  1. “UN Tourism: Bringing the World Closer.” UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer | Global Tourism Statistics. https://www.unwto.org/un-tourism-world-tourism-barometer-data.

  2. Lundin, Emma. “Neolocalism and Tourism: Understanding a Global Movement.” Tourism Geographies 24, no. 1 (December 28, 2020): 184–86. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2020.1866058.

  3. Evans, Mark, David Marsh, and Gerry Stoker. “Understanding Localism.” Policy Studies 34, no. 4 (July 2013): 401–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2013.822699.

  4. Sánchez, Noelia. “Turistificación En Canarias. Análisis y Vías de Resistencia.” Alegando! Magazine, October 5, 2023. https://alegando.com/turistificacion-gentrificacion-y-sobrepoblacion-en-canarias/.

  5. Baquer, Oriol Carreras, Isabela Lara White, and Erik Solé Vives. “Canary Islands.” CaixaBank Research, March 13, 2024. https://www.caixabankresearch.com/en/publications/autonomous-community-profiles/canary-islands#:~:text=The%20Canary%20Islands’%20sectoral%20composition,17.8%25).

  6. Europa Press Islas Canarias. “CASI 800.000 Personas En Canarias Están En Riesgo de Pobreza, El 36,2% de La Población.” europapress.es, October 17, 2023. https://www.europapress.es/islas-canarias/noticia-casi-800000-personas-canarias-estan-riesgo-pobreza-362-poblacion-20231017135625.html.

  7. Goggans, Ashton. “In the Shadow of Giants: Searching for Surf along the Canary Islands.” Surfer.com. Accessed April 3, 2024. https://www.surfer.com/features/the-canary-islands-in-the-shadow-of-giants/.