Balancing Tourism

In this episode of The Balancing Tourism Podcast, host Ged Brown sits down with Bastian Hiller, co-founder of Teejit, to explore the evolving landscape of tourism. From community-driven travel to rethinking seasonality, Bastian shares his insights on how the industry can shift focus from purely profit-driven models to more inclusive and sustainable tourism strategies.

🔹 Key topics discussed:

Bastian also introduces Teejit, his innovative platform dedicated to capacity building and digital learning for tourism professionals, ensuring that strategies translate into real action.

💡 Final thought:
Tourism is at a crossroads—how do we create a system that benefits both travelers and host communities? Bastian and Ged dive deep into this pressing question, offering practical ideas and fresh perspectives.

📌 Find out more about Bastian & Teejit:
🌍 www.teejit.de

In this thought-provoking episode of Balancing Tourism, Ged Brown speaks with Chalana Perera, founder of Retrace Hospitality and a champion of regenerative tourism in Sri Lanka. Together, they explore the complexities of balancing tourism's economic benefits with its social and environmental costs.

Chalana shares a candid perspective on Sri Lanka’s rapid tourism recovery post-pandemic and highlights the challenges of mass tourism, including its impact on local communities, ecological sensitivity, and land management. The conversation delves into pressing global issues such as over-tourism, income disparity in travel, and the untapped potential of sustainable tourism models.

Key discussion points include:

This episode is a must-listen for tourism professionals and anyone passionate about creating a more equitable and sustainable future for travel.

Learn more about Chalana’s work at Retrace Hospitality.

Join the conversation and help us redefine tourism for a better tomorrow.

In this episode of the Balancing Tourism Podcast, Ged chats with Yrjötapio Kivisaari (YT), CEO of Visit Oulu, about the unique charm of Oulu, Finland—a compact city blending nature, innovation, and culture. YT shares fascinating insights into Oulu’s journey to becoming the European Capital of Culture 2026 and how the city has tackled seasonality with creative events, sustainable practices, and community pride.

Highlights include:

Whether you’re a travel professional looking to balance tourism or a curious listener eager to learn about Finland’s hidden gems, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical takeaways.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Key Takeaway:
Tourism thrives on cooperation, sustainability, and cultural authenticity. Oulu’s strategy offers a masterclass in how to build a resilient, year-round destination that locals and visitors alike can cherish.

In this episode of the Balancing Tourism podcast, host Ged explores the complexities and potential solutions in the tourism industry with Bronwen Auret, the Chief Quality Assurance Officer at South Africa Tourism. With over 20 years of experience in brand marketing, digital marketing, and business leadership,

Bronwen shares her insights into tackling seasonality, promoting sustainability, and the future of the tourism sector. She provides an in-depth look into her work in shaping the strategic direction for South Africa's tourism, addressing challenges such as airlift and aligning with global best practices.

The conversation also covers key highlights from the World Tourism Seasonality Summit in Bahrain, the critical role of partnerships, and the impact of global events on tourism.

Bronwen emphasizes the importance of collaboration among DMOs to manage not just seasonality but also sustainability, providing a call to action for the industry to work together to mitigate over tourism and its effects on the planet.

00:00 Welcome to the Balancing Tourism Podcast

00:12 Introducing Bronwyn Oray: Tourism Expert

00:28 Bronwyn's Role in South Africa Tourism

01:43 Challenges and Insights from the World Tourism Seasonality Summit

03:00 Addressing Seasonality and Airlift Issues

05:07 South Africa's Tourism Diversity and Opportunities

06:52 Perception and Cost Challenges in Tourism

10:13 Sustainability and the Future of Tourism

17:54 Genealogy Tourism and Influencer Impact

21:45 Collaborations and Partnerships in Tourism

30:53 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions

In this first episode Low Season Traveller Founder, Ged Brown, examines the state of global travel & tourism today to understand what we got wrong in the past whilst also evaluating our current actions giving us an indication as to what the future holds.