Barbarella says all travelers and aspiring travelers should see THE LAST TOURIST

Published: March 18, 2022, 3:06 PM CST by Barbarella

Hello, my friends. Barbara here. I love to travel and I do it as often as I can, which isn't as often as I would like, but you know how it is. I always feel like I have too much work to do and too little money to go to all the places I want to go.

Anyway, I was a little hesitant to watch THE LAST TOURIST because the trailer I saw looked like it would criticize tourism and make people stop traveling. However, that was not exactly the message of the documentary. Instead, he highlighted the problems of modern tourism and encouraged people to travel more responsibly. Executive producer Bruce Poon Tip said: "We've always said that travel - community tourism in particular - could be the greatest distributor of wealth the world has ever seen, and even the fastest path to peace. " The film offers some examples that show how community tourism works, and anyone who travels, or hopes to one day, could learn a lot about how to make the world a better place while discovering awe-inspiring sights and meeting fascinating people. .

Tyson Sadler's film takes a multi-pronged approach to the impact of tourism, doing an exceptional job of showing the damage tourism does to the environment, wildlife and communities where the travel industry has a huge impact. THE LAST TOURIST is absolutely worth watching, but not just for the information provided through interviews with travelers, tour operators, scholars and experts, including Dr. Jane Goodall (Jane Goodall Institute, Messenger of Peace United Nations), Lek Chailert (Save Elephant Foundation), Gary Knell (National Geographic), Meenu Vadera (Sakha Cabs For Women) and Jonathan Tourtellot (Destination Stewardship Center).

It's also worth seeing for the beautiful way cinematographer Stephen Chandler Whitehead captures the locations visited. Filmed in several countries around the world, it effectively captures the splendor, making places like Ecuador and Peru so appealing that, although I had never considered going to either country, I almost feel like I have to do it now. Again, because the pictures are so amazing, I kind of feel like I've been there before.

Apart from its jaw-dropping beauty, the film packs some emotional punches. The coverage of orphanages that welcome tourists breaks my heart. I didn't even know it was something people did, but hearing how it works and the impact on the children living there is devastating to me. On top of that, I find it difficult to witness animal abuse at one of Thailand's most popular tourist attractions. It reminds me of when I worked in a big concert hall. Every year the circus came to town, and one year I was asked to do backstage security. I witnessed firsthand the cruelty to animals in the show. To see majestic tigers so doped in their little cages and to see a dog handler abusing a dog while practicing tricks really disgusted me. I never thought of the circus the same way again. I think if more people understood what's going on behind the scenes, maybe they'd find better options for their amusement. I mean, does anyone other than serial killers think it's okay to abuse animals for entertainment?

Although the filmmakers navigate the balance between perspectives well, I find that the lack of balance regarding the tone of the film makes it difficult to watch at times. It feels heavy for much of the movie, and I feel increasingly downcast watching it. I would have preferred a little more levity injected throughout the film instead of waiting until later in the film before offering some hope in the form of suggestions for responsible travel or examples of the how community tourism can make a positive difference.

Despite that, I think it's a beautiful and important film to watch. It should be mandatory for all travellers. Even if you don't want...