The article questions traditional measures of tourism success, such as sheer arrivals and revenue. It argues that metrics must evolve to better assess the impact on local communities and residents, ensuring success benefits the people who live in the destinations.

Can tourism be considered successful if arrivals increase, but the local communities – the very soul of the destination – feel strained and excluded? Too often, tourism success is measured in arrivals, occupancy and revenue. These numbers matter. But they tell only a fraction of the story. We must ask: who is this success really for? Traditional growth metrics are no longer sufficient to protect the residents who host the world or the workers who power the experience. To prevent cultural...