In this powerful episode, climate and sustainable-travel expert Ivory Vogt takes us inside the real story of tourism in coastal and island communities like Palau. From the rising cost of living to water shortages, climate impacts, and cultural loss, Ivory breaks down how the global tourism economy can uplift and undermine local communities at the same time.

We explore why places like Hawaiʻi, Mexico City, Barcelona, and Palau are seeing pushback against overtourism; how tourism leakage drains money away from local economies; and why Indigenous knowledge, languages, and cultural systems are essential to the planet’s future. Ivory also reveals how small island nations are fighting back—through ocean conservation, climate action, and community-led tourism strategies that put people first.

You’ll learn:

• How tourism impacts coastal ecosystems, island economies, and local culture

• Why global travelers rarely see where their money actually goes

• The real stakes of overtourism, foreign-owned development, and climate pressure

• How island nations like Palau are reshaping tourism to protect nature and community

• What responsible, ethical, sustainable travel actually looks like

• Practical steps travelers can take to support the places they visit

Whether you’re a frequent traveler, sustainability nerd, or someone trying to understand the complex relationship between paradise and prosperity, this episode will change how you see tourism forever.

🌊 Explore the Palau Sustainable Travel Guide and learn more about 'An Ocean Inheritance':https://www.seastoria.com/palau

🌴 Learn more about Ivory’s work:https://www.emeraldreamspalau.com/