As "The Last Tourist" (2021 release; 100 min) opens, we are introduced to the dark side of mass tourism: overcrowded beached; trash everywhere, and oh, masses and masses of people. And that's just for starters. The production team then exposes the really bad stuff: in Kenya, out of every dollar spent by tourists, only 14 cents remains in the country. In other words: 86% is retrieved by airlines, foreign-owned hotels, etc. And we haven't even gotten to the animal abuse and the orphanage tourism...
Couple of comments: this is the feature-length debut of director Tyson Sadler. Filmed mostly pre-COVID, the film is nothing short of an urgent plea for more equitable and sustainable tourism going forward. Why I think I had a good understanding of the concept of "sustainable" tourism going in, the concept of "equitable" tourism is something I had never given much though about. The shocking statistic of how little the growing numbers of tourists benefit the local population was truly an eye-opener for me. Please note that the film contains scenes of heartbreak and even shock, so this is not for the faint of heart. But its message is so darned important an on point. I know that the next time I plan an international trip, I will ask some pointed questions.
"The Last Tourist" opened last year in the film festival circuit to unanimous critical acclaim, and there is good reason why this film is currently rate 100% certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. It recently premiered on Hulu, which is where I caught it. If you like a good documentary or have any interest in international tourism, I'd readily suggest you check thus out, and draw your own conclusion.