Degrowth as a rejoinder to the problems generated by too much tourism is widely prescribed. The genesis of degrowth has a long pedigree and beyond tourism, is usually presented in opposition to wider economic growth concerns and the violation of planetary limitations. Advocacy and activism conceding the looming environmental catastrophe has hastened the prominence of degrowth narratives where climate change and decarbonisation dialogues coalesce. Degrowth advocacy is a legitimate and logical response alongside the theoretical premises of sustainable development, limits to acceptable change and social-ecological resilience. However, degrowth is multifaceted, convoluted and sticky, beyond the straightforward cutting of production. Arguably, dialogues positing degrowth narratives tend to be preoccupied with global North concerns that reference excessive consumption and over production. The call to degrow resonates globally, but notwithstanding, consumption continues on upward trajectories, oblivious to degrowth entreaties. At the same time, in line with wider international development mantras, countries in the global South pursue economic growth to obviate tensions concerning climate change effects, material poverty and underdevelopment. When it comes to tourism and degrowth, much angst has emerged in response to an exceptional period of continuous global growth. Our starting point is inspired by Sarah MacKay’s (2021, p. 2) riposte that “global inequalities bring different positions, different structures, and different priorities for the South and the North, which require different strategies and interventions for each” and that “effective strategies should target structural changes at the global level, not only at the national level or behavioral level”. In response to tourism degrowth calls, our central query and discussion asks – where to for the global South?
Mots clés : Tourism geographies|Sustainable tourism|Degrowth|Global south|International development
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