Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present a four-week sustainable tourism film series. The series will kick off with “The Last Tourist” showing Thursday, September 8 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. The performance will be followed by a panel discussion.
We’ve all said that Sedona is ‘unique’ among cities in Arizona, the US and the world. But we are not alone. Tourism, especially in destination towns like Sedona, is booming all over the world. Sedona has been ‘discovered’.
Tourism funds a significant portion of the city of Sedona’s budget, employs thousands of people, and offers a far greater selection of shops, services, and activities than a city of less than 10,000 could support. But tourism fuels many of the critical issues facing Sedona today.
Many in Sedona express fear and concern about a declining quality of life. People cite negative forces like traffic congestion, high housing costs, and foreigners crowding our neighborhoods. Many believe short-term rentals have destroyed the availability of rental housing, driving workers away. Crowded restaurants, slow service and soaring prices are common. Trail parking is difficult, and trails are overcrowded and littered. Irresponsible operators of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) damage the environment and cause noise and congestion problems. Everyone suffers as our doctors and teachers leave. Residents blame overcrowding and it’s hard to argue otherwise.
The Sustainable Tourism Series features films from around the world and addresses tourism issues like ours. Perspectives from residents, visitors and businesses are presented. We hope you walk away knowing we’re not alone in this, and there are solutions out there. Somewhere.
THE LAST TOURIST
The journey is at a turning point. Tourists are unwittingly destroying the very things they came to see. Overtourism has magnified its impact on the environment, wildlife and vulnerable communities around the globe. Filmed in over 16 countries and led by the world’s leading tourism and conservation visionaries, The Last Tourist reveals the real conditions and consequences of one of the world’s largest industries through the forgotten voices of those working in the shadow of her. The role of the modern tourist is being tested.
Prominent voices featured in the film include: Jane Goodall (founder of the Jane Goodall Institute), Elizabeth Becker (author of Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism), Costas Christ (editor-at-large of National Geographic Traveler), and Arnie Weissmann (Editor-in-Chief of Travel Weekly), among others.
The screening of The Last Tourist will be followed by a panel discussion with representatives of the film via Zoom and local speakers.
Other films in the sustainable tourism series are:
- Thursday, September 15 at 4:00 PM “Gringo Trails”
- Thursday, September 22 at 16:00 “Crowded out: The Story of Overturism”
- Thursday, September 29 at 16:00 “Vendemmia”
“The Last Tourist” will be performed at the Mary D. Fisher Theater on Thursday, September 8 at 4:00 p.m.
Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. The theater and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.
