Bigger impact of creating sustainable tourism

[OmniNaut]

In response to Leo's blog post Tourism in Iraq

You see the same thing happening now in Saudi Arabia. Now oil is going out of fashion they need to think about a new income source. Tourism is the answer they think, after the success of Dubai. One of the Dubai sheiks said famously, when converting their country to tourism that they aim for the high rollers, there is no money to be made in average tourism, so that's why all the over-top luxury stuff, just to convince people to spend as much as possible.

The success of Dubai is not going unnoticed to other Gulf states. If SA want to join the club they have to get rid of the negative stigma around their culture.

Then develop mega projects
 

Which was just a marketing ploy that could never be realised (at least not in todays world)

Gulf states are getting more SD Orange, including all the toxicity that comes with it.

How things are done in Dubai

Filipinos are quite popular to work as a housemaid, nurses or in hospitality in Dubai, I heard plenty of stories how the Emaratis look down on people like that.

I myself am/was looking into a megaproject into the Maldives, because the Maldives is disappearing quite fast under the rising sea level. 

It's sold as a way to help the future of the local Maldivians, but the houses are simply just not affordable for the locals. Hence making it more easy for foreign investors to buy, so creating a country where locals can't own their own homes anymore
For me it would be a dream combination working on building a healthy coral eco-system, combined with helping the locals, combined with sustainable tourism combined with (urban) planning. But it looks more as green washing then helping the locals and really solving the problem.

These kind of Geo climate and tourism changes also have a dark side.

In the end I have learned to look more now at the net sum. Not all problems can be solved together over night, many iterations and trial and error are needed. 
If something like this comes on to my path I would seriously consider being part of it. To give my energy and expertise, but also growing from it myself.

Edited 3 hours ago by OmniNaut