Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism

by Elizabeth Becker

Tourism, fast becoming the largest global business, employs one out of twelve persons and produces $6.5 trillion of the world’s economy. In a groundbreaking book, Elizabeth Becker uncovers how what was once a hobby has become a colossal enterprise with profound impact on countries, the environment, and cultural heritage. This invisible industry exploded at the end of the Cold War. In 2012 the number of tourists traveling the world reached one billion. Now everything can be packaged as a with the high cost of medical care in the U.S., Americans are booking a vacation and an operation in countries like Turkey for a fraction of the cost at home. Becker travels the world to take the measure of the France invented the travel business and is still its leader; Venice is expiring of over-tourism. In Cambodia, tourists crawl over the temples of Angkor, jeopardizing precious cultural sites. Costa Rica rejected raising cattle for American fast-food restaurants to protect their wilderness for the more lucrative field of eco-tourism. Dubai has transformed a patch of desert in the Arabian Gulf into a mammoth shopping mall. Africa’s safaris are thriving, even as its wildlife is threatened by foreign poachers. Large cruise ships are spoiling the oceans and ruining city ports as their American-based companies reap handsome profits through tax loopholes. China, the giant, is at last inviting tourists and sending its own out in droves. The United States, which invented some of the best of tourism, has lost its edge due to political battles. Becker reveals travel as product. Seeing the tourism industry from the inside out, through her eyes and ears, we experience a dizzying range of travel options though very few quiet getaways. Her investigation is a first examination of one of the largest and potentially most destructive enterprises in the world.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Economics, Business, China, History, Sociology

466 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Elizabeth Becker is a former New York Times correspondent and the author of When the War Was Over.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at the travel industry around the world. The author spent years researching and visiting different cities and countries. There are chapters on France, Venice, China, Dubai, Zambia, Costa Rica, Cambodia, and the United States. I think my favorite sections were about how mass tourism can destroy a region, the rising trend of eco-tourism, the cruise ship industry, the problems China has faced with travelers, and African safaris.

The book is a blend of the author's personal travel experiences and her more serious reporting. Most of the time this worked well, but occasionally the book dragged in sections. For the most part, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those interested in the travel industry.

[Peggy Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are there no editors anymore? This book is packed with great information -- shocking information -- about mass tourism and its impact on the great places of the world (and the better forgotten places like Dubai) so well worth the read. But the writing is SHOCKINGLY bad - disorganized, banal, redundant, sloppy, downright lousy writing. This person is a professional writer? I found myself so distracted by rewriting her sentences that I had to constantly go back to read for content! Are our standards really so low? Read it for the good reporting, but if you yearn for decent writing, you will be gritting your teeth the whole way. Come on, does anyone edit this stuff? Shame on the skinflint publisher.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of really interesting, well-researched and balanced (for the most part, although the China part felt a little...really? you think the 2008 Beijing Olympics went off without a hitch? what about those gymnasts?) information about tourism around the world--from the U.S. to African safaris to ecotourism to Bordeaux & the Eiffel tower.

Four stars instead of five because I felt like her thesis was weak--"tourism is great sometimes but not so good other times!" just feels a bit lacking to me. Organization could've been stronger, but the information itself--especially for someone who loves to travel & would like to do so responsibly--was great.

[Judy Colprubin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an avid traveler I was looking forward to reading this book, a disparate collection of observations about the history and trends within the travel industry.
I found the beginning chapters very interesting -- how France became a tourism superpower and how Venice is going under (and not from the water). As others have noted, the section on the cruise industry is fascinating and might do more to deter tourists than any Titanic film.
The explosion of Chinese tourism, both in and out of the country, is well-observed and timely. Chapters about Costa Rica ecotourism and safari in Zambia were less colorful and too bogged down in facts, a problem with this book overall that makes this less than a breezy read. But it's the end of the book, the chapters about America, that most rankled me as Becker takes a hatchet to the Bush Administration and travel restrictions following September 11. (Although a journalist she felt no compunction to explain the other side).

[Ashlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me just start this review by saying that I am not the target reader for this book. I could honestly care less about this subject. While I do enjoy business books, I am not a big nonfiction travel book reader unless it's a book for my 4-year-old. I specifically read this book for a challenge and have no plan to ever read this book ever again. Yes, I did learn from this book. Which is always what you want when you read nonfiction. However, there was a lot of information. Which, if that's something you are looking for, then this book is for you. It goes into detail and had detailed sections about different parts of the world and the tourism business there, which was interesting to a degree. But then again, I'm not interested at all in this and it felt like I was back at school reading something because I had to, not because it interested me. Overall, if you are looking for this subject specifically, then by all means, this book is probably for you. However, if you are like me and have zero interest in this subject, you probably won't like it.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hm, a potentially very interesting topic dumbed down and made somewhat boring by the author. The author comes off as preachy and elitist at times and she has a tendency to selectively pick information and conform it to her sometimes fanciful assertions.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was well-researched and the information so important, but it needed better editors. The messiness lost points with me, which is a shame because the reporting here is so solid. 3.5

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a frequent traveler I approached this book with some trepidation. The title made me fear that I'd be made to feel guilty--not fun. Plus, this is a big book on what sounds like a pretty dry topic. So I was hesitant. But, having traveled over a lot of the planet in the past few years, I wanted to learn more about the business of travel, who benefits, who doesn't, and why. And I'm very glad I did read this book. From the beginning the author's thesis is a powerful one, that travel and tourism are an industry that most of us don't consider as such. And we should, because it's a huge industry with a huge impact that we tend to be blind to. Like it's hiding in plain sight. For example, in the first chapter she points out that, with the exception of the New York Times, the "travel" sections of our newspapers are never critical of travel, never say "this was a bad trip, best to avoid." Only positive, glittery stories are printed. The reason? Unlike the rest of the newspaper, travel sections have no firewall between editorial and advertising. In fact, the trips that newspaper travel writers take are paid for by the industry itself, again, with the exception of the NY Times. So, unlike movie reviews, where you may be warned away from a terrible movie, there are no articles describing terrible trips, places to be avoided. None at all. I had never noticed this! Cynics might say that the travel section is actually just one big advertisement.

The author spent five years researching the book, including taking numerous trips that she paid for herself. She gamely covers the immense range of the topic, from mega cruise ships to Cambodia, from ecotourism in Costa Rica to the rise of China. There is so much to say that each chapter or section could be a book in itself. Why has Las Vegas changed from casinos to conventions? What is the effect of so many tourists landing on the Galapagos Islands? Why did Newt Gingrich lead the charge to eliminate the United State Office of Tourism? Read the book and find out! I'm glad she managed to put together this overview. It is a good way to get a sense of the industry that we typically only view through the lens of "how much is that plane ticket going to cost?". I will definitely think about my next trip differently!

(This would be a 5-star review but some of the language is a little unwieldy, needed a stronger edit. Still a very good read.)

[Dеnnis]

I can clearly see why this book wasn't rated higher in spite of tons of interesting information, relevant and enlightening statistics and a number of appropriate interviews and perspectives offered. The book is a curious cross between a thorough study of the industry and a travelogue, penned, at times, in a rather annoying style. I'm glad she interviewed all those people from all walks of tourist life, but I'd be thankful, if I could be left in the dark as per how she managed to obtain those interviews and how she and her husband traveled to such and such destination. Don't take me wrong - I enjoy travelogues, but I opened the book for what it promised to be, unequivocally printed on its cover. I got this, no doubts, but with it came this tiny caboose attached :) That's what draws down ratings for this otherwise much demanded snapshot of the industry and a source of unique information.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I now have a good list of where NOT to travel!

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Tourism" in the early years was the great tours conducted by the nobility and wealthy as they had the time and money to travel. To explore the countries of Europe and the Middle East. Eventually spreading out through the Far East and Africa and the Americas. But things changed after World War II as Europe lured Americans overseas for economic reasons - most were recovering from war damage and needed funds to flow into their still handicapped economies.

Then came vacations and specialty markets - retired seniors, culinary and wine tours, the macabre, sports events, taking courses in a variety of subjects and the newest - medical treatments that can be far less expensive in another country than in the United States.

In 2000, the United Nations Tourism organization defined tourism as 'an industry involved in the production, supply and consumption of tourism commodities: Transportation, accommodation, food, entertainment (sports activities, gambling, movies, theme parks, live theater), tour operators and agencies.' Covers quite a variety and in 2007, it was worth over $7 trillion dollars to the world economy and 250 million jobs (largest employer in the world) and those stats didn't include those who travelled within their own country.

The author reports on her own experiences in various locations - Venice, Dubai, Thailand, Costa Rica, Zambia, France, the United States. Ecocruise verses the commercial cruise. Flags of convenience, which are used to evade taxes, environmental regulations, and minimum wage requirements while taking in billions through additional charges/costs while paying employees token wages for 10-12 hour work days and little time off for months at a stretch. The differences between local government verses national oversight. Focus on tourism money while ignoring corruption, the sex trades and environmental repercussions.

Some of her experiences provide interesting insights into how other countries look at the tourists who may visit and their impact. Zambia safari camps worked with locals to protect/preserve animal species which are vital attractions for tourism. Costa Rica which is the center of conservation and ecotourism with a few stumbles over the decades when searching for the most sensible improvement to economy was weighed - beef or conservation. Venice where commercial hotels and luxury stores have driven all the locals out of the city - rental prices are far too high for Venetians to live anywhere near their jobs and their beloved sinking city. China who was slowly opening its doors to outsiders and releasing its citizens to travelling the world and was the largest increase in travelers BUT those visiting China get scripted guides no matter which part they experience.

And then there is the U.S. which was once the premier tourist destination especially with the national parks verses the gambling capital of Las Vegas to the shopping centers of New York and Los Angeles. But it was after 9/11 with its increased focus on security measures drove foreign tourists and students away. Annoying, disrespectful, humiliating, and rude are some of the declarations made by visitors when discussing the customs officials, the state department when it took months to get approval for a visa but no guarantee they would be allowed into the country. And if they did enter the country, fear was a constant companion for any departure date errors as they could be arrested and deported after spending time being fiercely interrogated in jail. So foreign tourists walked with their feet - and the U.S. economy took a harsh blow as did government taxation income. Policies and budget reduction eventually caused the federal tourism agency to close in 1996 so there was no money or oversight to promote the U.S. hosted Olympics in Atlanta. And that can also point to why Chicago was rejected as a possible site for the 2016 summer Olympics which was held in Rio de Janeiro.

Note that this was published in 2013 and a lot has happened to impact travel and tourism across the world what with new concepts (Airbnb for example) and the devastating toll that Covid-19 took on lives and the industry. Although it is interesting that some governmental tourism directors were planning on how increased tourism would affect their future economies as well dealing with future climate change. . . yes, even then being discussed especially in locations near water - tropical beaches and low-lying cities. Then there is social media and influencers that sway followers to fragile locations and interact with wild animals that see them as a source of dinner or merely defend themselves.

I wonder what Becker's book would read like if she ever updated the information to include the past decade.

2023-032

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first flipped through Overbooked, I was rather disappointed that neither Singapore nor Japan got their own chapter. Now that I'm done, however, I feel rather relieved. I like to think that these two countries are doing tourism right, but what if they aren't?

Overbooked is a look at the economy of tourism, and how it's affecting different countries. It's grouped according to a theme, and within each theme, a certain country is highlighted as a case study. The result is an easy to read book that doesn't feel like it's crammed with too much information - on the contrary, the amount of information feels just right.

The themes are:
1. Cultural Tourism
- France sort of does it right
- Venice is probably going to die from tourism
- Cambodia is definitely not doing tourism right and Ankor Wat is at risk (but then again, they do need the tourist money...)

2. Consumer Tourism
- On how big cruise ships suck your money, don't need to follow very high standards (and hence pay terribly low wages and pollute everywhere) and don't really contribute to the economies of the countries they visit. But they'll never admit that
- Dubai: artificially made shopping destination.

3. Nature Tourism
- Zambia is still free of the crowds of tourists (for now)
- Costa Rica seems to be doing it right
- Can Sri Lanka use tourism to help rebuild its economy? (maybe)

4. The New Giant: China
- The government is very, very involved

5. The Old Giant
- Strict visa regulations turn visitors away.

I must say, this book was eye-opening in a rather bad way. I've been on cruises, I've been to China and Dubai (and Cambodia on a volunteer trip) and I never really knew how my actions impacted the countries. Especially Cambodia, where my school friends and I went to teach in an orphanage for a day and participated in "dark tourism" (although it was technically an educational trip) - I now wonder if the kids that I taught were orphans, or if they were just bought/taken from their families for the tourist dollar.

The tourist industry is something that is only going to grow bigger, and all of us will be participating in it in one way or the other. I think that it makes sense that we read this book to spark a conversation (if not within a group than within ourselves) on the type of tourism industry that we want in our countries and that we want to participate in.

This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those books that really opened my eyes to an issue I had never given much thought to before. I've been fortunate in my life to be able to travel a relative amount - I have been half a world away; I have visited some countries numerous times; I cannot think of a year in my life when I've not been out of the country somewhere. But I've never really stopped to think about travel, about tourism as an industry before, and its positives and negatives. So this book was a real eye-opener.

Tourism as a collective industry, encompassing airlines, hotel chains, restaurants and others, is the single largest industry in the world. In 2012 more than one billion trips were made across foreign borders. Tourism is the largest earner for a huge number of countries around the world; it is the best source of funds for developing countries to support the creation of the infrastructure needed in the modern world; it contributes to peace and democracy around the world, each tourist an individual ambassador for their own country and the countries they visit. And yet tourism is a largely neglected topic - whilst the oil industry, for example, comes under immense scrutiny, tourism is still seen as a 'soft' issue and is relegated to the travel pages, which focus largely on the top 10 beaches of the world and which is the best luxury resort. Few countries have dedicated government departments or ministers for tourism, and yet the amount these countries' economies rely on tourism is staggering.

Elizabeth Becker focuses particularly on a number of countries, using them as representatives of the larger issue - medical tourism in Turkey and Brazil, ecotourism in Costa Rica, the slow death of Venice through lack of control, the damage cruise ships do to the environment and the lack of any oversight, China's state control of tourism, Dubai and Abu Dhabi's creation of a major tourism destination from nothing but oil and desert sand, and France as an example of how to do things right, a counterpart to America which, as Becker argues, seems to have been doing it all wrong for quite some time.

As I said before, this was a real eye-opener. It would be a sad sad world if we all stopped travelling, a far much insular and unenlightened world, but it is time we as tourists started thinking about the impact of our travels and perhaps making choices that took into account more than the cost to our wallets and credit cards.

[Kemp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. I was twice disappointed. Firstly, by myself for so enthusiastically diving into a 2013 book on tourism. This near decade, longer since her statistics lag the book by three or four years, is like comparing travel on a camel with train travel. So much has changed that the comparisons are almost meaningless.

Secondly, by Becker. Did she really not realize the plethora of concrete apartment houses in Xi’an are part of China’s ghost towns? That tourism in Cambodia is dominated by Chinese tourism and Chinese dollars – not Thai and Vietnamese? Not one mention of millennials emerging as a traveling force with the desire to experience various events. The Airbnb trend, zip. Ultra-low-cost air travel, nada. I think she wrote the book so her travels could be tax deductible! And laughed all the way to the bank as royalty checks rolled in.

Of course, a second edition must be in the works. While I knew it wouldn’t be covered in this book the impact of Covid-19 on travel is interesting speculation right now and will be the topic de jour tomorrow.

I heard about the book while reading “In the Dragon’s Shadow” and it caught my attention as it covers several places of interest. I could compare my experiences in France, Venice, Zambia, Costa Rica, and China with Becker’s perceptions and insights. I was also interested in Cambodia as we researched it for a trip that was ultimately scuttled by Covid-19.

I absolutely agree with Becker’s comments that France has done well promoting tourism and Venice is being decimated by them. Some interesting factoids on profits and leakage in Venice along with influx of chain stores and restaurants. Costa Rica has done well in promoting ecotourism, recognizing how it can support their economy. She is spot on that cruising has a horrible impact on our oceans.

Read the book if you don’t mind decade old statistics. Read the book if you have connections with her focus countries. Skip it if you want something relevant to a post Covid-19 world. Maybe she’ll come out with a revised edition.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Elizabeth Becker first published an article in the Washington Post at the beginning of her research for this book, a reader commented as follows:

"I was starting to wonder if I was the only one, in a society of liberal-eco-concerned-travel maniacs, who saw the contradiction in travel."

I know for fact that prior to reading this book, I, like many other members of my wander-lusting generation, knew nothing of the expansive and often destructive nature of the tourism industry, and could (albeit still) be considered one of those liberal-eco-concerned-ravel maniacs. This book does a very good job at utilizing history, economics, and the detail of good journalism to tell the story of one of the world's largest, though oft-forgotten, industries. One in ten people around the world is involved in the tourism industry. National economies, especially those of nations emerging from previously impoverished or war-torn conditions, can rise or plummet on the backs of a strong tourist sector. From relatively new fads such as Eco and Medical Tourism, to the disreputable nature of the cruise industry and the disastrous outcome of the "destination anywhere" vacations so many culturally-rich countries are now marketing, this book covers many diverse and unexpected aspects of the tourism industry. At the heart of it all, Becker is quick to remind us that "All of our innocent vacations and trips have changed lives and the fortunes of nations."

Recommended for all would-be conscientious travelers!

[LeeAnn Heringer · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's hard for me to put my finger on why I disliked this book. There was a whole attitude of, well, I lived in Paris for years, I went to Angkor Wat right after the war when no one knew about it, I went here and there before it was a thing, I refused to pay extra to hold a baby panda, that just set my teeth on edge. There was a whole, I traveled at the right time, the right way, and you're just making a mess of it and ruining the planet, that I found annoying. But at the same time, she's very rah-rah about the Chinese traveling overseas, that we need to do more to attract the Chinese.

Yes, travel is hard on the places we go to, we can over-love destinations. Yes, we need to think about where we're going and why and where our travel dollars end up. Yes, there are a lot of corrupt governments that we can do nothing about.

So, this book was a combination of not terribly new facts, pedantic lecturing, and just plain bragging that distills the worst of the I'm-an-expert-because-I-talked-to-these-3-people-in-France attitude that you get in a journalist. This book gives you neither real tools to help improve things or a deep understanding of how to navigate the worst abuses. It's a superficial list of complaints.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the author was very thorough and complete in her description of the travel and tourism industry, I found her writing style very clinical. I thought this book could have doubled as a university textbook or encyclopedia for a class in tourism and travel.

I found her observations, especially about the Chinese very interesting, but forgive me for saying this, she is a travel snob and came across as extremely high maintenance. I would start sharpening my axe if we traveled together.

Her detailed accounts of the places and countries she was fortunate enough to being traveling in, instead of inspiring me, annoyed me because of her lack of passion . Without passion you don't have energy, without energy you have nothing. Instead of seeing the travel experiences for what they were, she chose to find fault with a majority of her destinations. I see people traveling like this and I feel sorry for them - just stay home next time.

She also overlooked an emerging segment of the market which is sports tourism (World Cup, Superbowl, etc).
Thus, the two stars.

[Katherine Lavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if this is the best book to read before summer vacation time, but it's really interesting to think about how tourism works from an economic perspective. I really enjoyed reading this book and it encouraged me to think more critically about how tourism works, what impact it has on the local economy, and what impact I have as a traveler.

[Vijay Chengappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers a wide variety of topics and crams in a load of information about every facet of the travel industry.

Her slightly elitist and holier than thou attitude (as pointed by other reviewers) comes across several times, but can be easily forgiven for this encyclopediac tome, a fascinating read for anyone interested in tourism.

[Katherine Woo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, the topics raised in this book were very interesting. However, it was kind of dry and difficult to get through.

The author highlights number of countries (e.g. France, Costa Rica, China) and how their governments have shaped tourism in their countries, and the collaborative impact the individual traveler has in determining how corporations and governments respond to tourism policy and development. In her concluding chapter, beware that she does have a specific agenda to push regarding the tourism industry in the US.

This book is great if you want to learn more about the tourism industry. It just took me awhile to get through!

[Tamara]

Interesting, but I felt ended a little weakly, at the chapters on China and the USA, where tourism-to and tourism-from were mixed together haphazardly. Becker seems to have arrived at a conclusion about the list of pros and cons of global travel by then and everything was just being balanced against that list. Particularly there, it felt far too journalistic, boiling down to a few interviews, sometimes a little too fawning, with a few boutique hotel owners and tour guides and missing the questions and nuances of the way 1 billion border crossings per year are shaping the world, that the book seemed initially to set out to answer.

Then, choosing to have the side of the tourist, so to speak, represented almost entirely by her own (and her husband's) experiences also made it feel a bit underbaked. There's a lot more to be said about the motivations, experiences and types of travel from the side of the traveller. Her slightly cliched, captivated travel writing counters oddly with the somewhat more hard-headed, critical assessment of the impacts of tourism from the side of the destination and leave the whole thing awkward. As always - less descriptions of elephants, please. More economics.

[Katie]

Part travelogue, part industry overview, this book offers insights into the international travel industry and reminds us why it's important. By no means comprehensive, it will still change the way you view travel--from newspaper travel coverage to the cruise industry to China's rise and America's fall and beyond. It will also make you want to book a trip to Bourdeaux (as if you didn't want to already).

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

While its fascinating from a historical perspective, I found this book disappointing because it was entirely backwards looking with no insights shared regarding the growth or future of this industry. The description implies it is current/forward looking and it should really provide a better indication of its historical focus.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

21st century tourism is a massive industry that can support or destroy cultural treasures, the environment and economic prosperity. Becker's analysis spans the globe from China to Costa Rica to Zambia and examines the underbelly of luxury consumerism. Interesting. Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism by Elizabeth Becker.

[Lincoln · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great, entertaining book. I wish I could give it 4.5 stars - but if you like traveling and if you like business, it's a funny, witty peephole into an evil business. The cruise ship and the Venice chapters are so so memorable, and the China chapters loads of fun.

[Robert Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting read showing the side of travel and tourism most of us never see or think about. the cruise ship tales were an eyeopener and i now understand why more ports of call are refusing them entry.

[Denise Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating in-depth look at the travel industry as a world wide event. Really made me think about what it means to travel responsibly and thoughtfully.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great articulation of some things that have been obvious to me for years: travel is exploding and isn't sustainable.

She's a journalist and the book suffers from that a bit in that she doesn't say too much about the big picture, just delivers the facts. She does take sides at times thank God, but after the last chapter it just ends with a small afterword tacked on. I would've liked some conclusions.

Those gripes aside it was readable and enlightening and well-researched. She's well-traveled from her years as a journalist which helps her give perspective on China, for example.

The number of people on the planet is growing and as standards of living rise around the world and travel costs drop, more and more people are zipping around the world via planes trains and autos for leisure and business travel.

I've seen the consequences of this living in Hawaii, living minutes from North America's most popular ski resort and going to Rio and seeing the ridiculous crowds trying to see Christ the Redeemer. To say nothing of the environmental consequences of all that air travel. Which she really doesn't tackle, sadly.

Her focus is more on the logistical challenges of promoting tourism and managing it on the ground. She notes the horrors of cruise ships for the environment early on, and she buries Dubai for air conditioning the desert but nothing much on the CO2 nightmare of crisscrossing the skies with flights for all this travel.

There is definitely a focus on the negatives and challenges of exploding global tourism, but this isn't what the cover sells it as which is a scathing critique of the industry. By the end she's putting a little bow on it saying tourism just needs healthy debate about how to tackle problems in order to find it's way in the future. That's probably the newspaperwoman in her.

You could've easily painted a more grim picture and concluded that the only reasonable solution is for travel to become more rare either via restrictions or prohibitive costs. Or just be the angry reactionary saying we're all morally obligated to examine our travel choices.

But for poor people joining the First World and wanting to get out and see the world, I can't imagine that resonating. Even my parents who are upper middle class Americans, how can you tell them that working hard from age 21 to 66 to finally enjoy retirement they should skip those bucket list trips to benefit the planet?

Personally I don't enjoy travel as much anymore because of the hassles involved with air travel and due to crowding at many destinations and the negative impacts that are obvious. We went to Belize with their global treasure of a barrier reef and it was obvious that between commercial fishing and the boatloads of tourists, it was hardly a thriving ecosystem anymore. And the shoreline was being snatched up by investors and movie stars from abroad.

The book is worthwhile not because it's perfect but because it's rare. The travel media is so embedded in the industry that you rarely hear critical takes, and for that reason Overbooked is worth the read.

[Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A phrase the author uses early in the book struck me: “… uncritical love affair with travel …”. Love should be critical? This book is informative and entertaining and made me realize that travel is a moral act (like eating is a moral act): consider its impact before you pack your bags.

Tourism is the largest industry in the world and employs one of every ten workers. It has the power to lift countries and communities out of poverty, but it also has the power to destroy local communities and destroy ecosystems and the environment.

Just a handful of parts I think are interesting:

 Thailand is world’s largest exporter of rice, but tourism makes more money
o When Thai protestors wanted to take over the government, they took over the airport to stop tourists and cripple the economy
 “… Among the emblematic stories is one told by the British researcher Diane Staddims(?) who asked a young girl in Gambia what she wanted to be when she grew up. ‘When I grow up I want to be a tourist,’ she answered, ‘because tourists don't have to work and can spend their days sitting in the sun eating and drinking.’”
 Venice: “Tourism is hollowing out the city” – international hotel chains and luxury brands are pushing out locals
 Cambodia’s first minister of tourism: Roland Eng, who is still a champion of Cambodia’s tourism industry presciently warned a few years ago that “While tourism can bring wealth, alleviate poverty, and conserve natural and cultural heritages, it has to be regulated. Left to itself, tourism development does not necessarily fulfill those roles.” Tourism can preserve culture and raise the quality of life so long as it is regulated.
 Modern tourism discourages effort (learning the local language; planning your own travel; off-the-beaten-track is scary and dangerous; travel in groups, etc.)
 Ivory was so valuable, thieves sawed off horns of stuffed rhinos in museums in Europe for sale in China (!?)
 Sri Lanka and the author’s interesting parallel to the DMZ between North and South Korea: “The lasting impression was: an island frozen in time. The infrastructure is terrible. The possibilities are endless. I was reminded of the anomaly of the Demilitarized Zone that divides North Korea and South Korea. For sixty years it has kept out people – developers and tourists – and is now one of the more pristine wildlife preserves in the world – a refuge for birds and bears and endangered plant species despite the fact that it is seeded with land mines. Korean conservationists are in the awful position of worrying what peace might do.”
 UNESCO World Heritage status can be a “kiss of death: transforming a cultural landmark into a tourist trap: good for the tourism business, not for the monument.”

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are parts of the book that are excellent exposés - that is, good journalism. Becker's chapter on cruise ships, for example, is unforgettable, though I suspect many of my friends who have enjoyed cruises would jump to assert that she paints with too broad a brush. Another highlight is her chapter on Cambodia. She can also be quite amusing, as when she discovers her quaint traditional Chinese inns were built within the last five years, perhaps the Chinese equivalent of Disney's Main Street, USA.

When Becker goes positive, though, as in her chapter about her safari in Zambia, I cringe, as she sounds like any Sunday travel section writer, swallowing whole the stories she hears from her hosts, and even plugging the organization that arranged the trip.

While Becker is clear about the potential advantages of tourism (world peace, or at least broadened horizons) and the very real problems (environmental degradation, exploitation of labor, sex trafficking, delusional thinking that one truly knows a place after a few days - to name a few) she dances around what are in my mind the central conundrums: Can all 7 billion of us be responsible tourists? Should tourism be reserved for only those who can "do it right"? And how does travel affect the host countries in our increasingly globalized word?

Two final quibbles:
1. I'd like to give Becker a bag of commas for her birthday, as they would definitely make her prose more comprehensible.

2. She should stop calling languages other than English "foreign" languages. The term is ethnocentric, to say the least.