The following article summarizes the original event which is listed below the summary.
Who benefits from tourism, and who bears its costs?
Travel opens doors to new cultures, experiences, and perspectives, but it also raises important ethical questions. Who has the freedom to travel? Who benefits from tourism, and who bears its costs? How can we reconcile our desire to explore the world with growing concerns about inequality, climate change, and environmental sustainability?
These were among the questions Professor Arun Saldanha explored in his thought-provoking presentation for UMRA’s September 29 forum.
Drawing on his international background and research in geography, tourism, and philosophy, Saldanha challenged UMRA members to think more critically about the ethical dimensions of travel. He began by considering what it means to act ethically — to show responsibility, reduce suffering, respect differences, and consider the needs of the most vulnerable.
One particularly striking example was the Mediterranean refugee crisis of 2015–16, when tourists enjoying Greek beaches encountered thousands of refugees fleeing war and instability. The juxtaposition highlighted the profound inequalities in global mobility: while some people cross borders for pleasure, others undertake dangerous journeys out of necessity.
An ethical choice
“Overtourism is the main problem. Tourism is becoming excessive,” Saldanha said. He also examined the environmental consequences of mass tourism, including aviation emissions and the growing pressures of climate change.
He discussed emerging alternatives such as slow travel, sustainable tourism, responsible tourism, and justice tourism, while questioning whether these approaches can adequately address the challenges ahead.
His central message was that travel is never simply a personal choice; it is also an ethical one. And as global mobility continues to increase, questions about who can travel, under what circumstances, and at what cost will become increasingly important.
Saldanha encouraged UMRA members to consider the concept of “mobility justice” — the idea that access to movement, and the benefits and burdens associated with it, should be examined through the lens of fairness and equity.
“You want to learn something from your travels,” he said. “It’s not just about image sharing and likes.”
For those interested in learning more, Saldanha welcomes UMRA members to visit one of his University of Minnesota classes. Interested members may contact him directly at [email protected] to discuss opportunities for a classroom visit.
He recommended The Ethics of Tourism: Critical and Applied Perspectives by Brent and Kirsten Lovelock, as an accessible introduction to the subject. Although the book, published in 2013, predates important developments such as the Mediterranean refugee crisis and has some limitations, Saldanha said, it provides a broad overview of the major ethical questions surrounding tourism, including the philosophical frameworks that inform these debates.
He also recommended the 2000 movie “The Beach” starring Leonardo de Caprio as a young American backpacker seeking adventure in Thailand.
For UMRA members who enjoy traveling, Saldanha's presentation offered both a challenge and an invitation: to continue exploring the world, but to do so with greater awareness of our responsibilities as travelers.
—Nanette Hanks, UMRA president-elect and Program Committee chair
Watch a recording of the presentation, below, or check out the slides.
Tourism ethics in a world on the move
Tue, September 29, 2026, at 11am
Arun Saldanha
Professor
Department of Geography, Environment, and Society
Midland Hills Country Club
2001 Fulham Street
Roseville, MN 55113
For many retirees, travel is one of life's greatest pleasures. It is a chance to discover new places, reconnect with old favorites, and experience different cultures. But what does it really mean to travel in today's world? How has tourism changed, and what responsibilities do we carry as global travelers?
These are some of the questions Arun Saldanha, PhD, of the University of Minnesota's Department of Geography, Environment, and Society will explore in his presentation for the UMRA luncheon forum on Tuesday, September 29, at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville.
Saldanha brings a truly global perspective to the study of travel. Born to a Belgian and Indian family, he has lived, studied, and taught across Europe, Australia, and the United States. After earning his undergraduate degree in Belgium, he completed his PhD in geography at The Open University in the United Kingdom. In addition to the University of Minnesota, his academic career has included appointments at Lancaster University in England, Utrecht University in The Netherlands, Queen Mary University of London, and Deakin University in Australia.
Throughout his career, Saldanha has examined how movement shapes our understanding of the world. His early research focused on the international rave tourism scene in Goa, India, resulting in his book Psychedelic White: Goa Trance and the Viscosity of Race, published in 2007 by University of Minnesota Press.
His popular UMN course Going Places: Geographies of Travel and Tourism, examines travel as one form of human mobility alongside migration, pilgrimage, trade, and exploration.
Whether you have spent years exploring the globe, are planning future adventures, or simply enjoy learning about places and cultures, Saldanha's presentation will offer an opportunity to see travel from a new perspective. His talk will examine how tourism has evolved in an era shaped by pandemics, climate concerns, and changing global realities, and encourage us to think about what it means to be thoughtful, responsible, and curious travelers. You’ll come away with fresh insights into one of humanity's oldest pursuits: the desire to go somewhere new.
Please register and join us for this engaging and thought-provoking conversation about the geography, ethics, and future of travel.
—Nanette Hanks, UMRA president-elect and Program Committee chair