--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing about tourism is just that it's…" description: "\"The thing about tourism is just that it's incredibly powerful. It's like a gun and it's incredibly easy to be irresponsible with it. And the speed of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/alex-garland-8441_bleak_the-thing-about-tourism-is-just-that-it_1800023.jpg" --- # The thing about tourism is just that it's incredibly… ![“The thing about tourism is just that it's incredibly powerful. It's like a gun and it's incredibly easy to be irresponsible with it. And the speed of the impact that tourism can have on a place can be quite breathtaking. It doesn't take years, it takes months. That's how quickly it works. And it…” quote by Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/alex-garland-8441_bleak_the-thing-about-tourism-is-just-that-it_1800023.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/alex-garland-8441_bleak_the-thing-about-tourism-is-just-that-it_1800023.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/alex-garland-8441_bleak_the-thing-about-tourism-is-just-that-it_1800023.jpg) > “The thing about tourism is just that it's incredibly powerful. It's like a gun and it's incredibly easy to be irresponsible with it. And the speed of the impact that tourism can have on a place can be quite breathtaking. It doesn't take years, it takes months. That's how quickly it works. And it can be quite a bleak thing to witness.” [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tourism can rapidly and dramatically alter a destination, often causing harm if mismanaged. **In simple terms:** Tourism changes places quickly, sometimes badly. Key Takeaway Manage tourism responsibly. Themes environment culture responsibility impact change Mood concerned urgent reflective Type cautionary observational When to use this quote - travel planning - policy making - community advocacy - environmental monitoring Key Concepts sustainability overtourism social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance tourism benefits with preservation? - What safeguards protect vulnerable communities? A Different Perspective Rapid change can outpace local adaptation, leading to loss of heritage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathtaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathtaking/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Tourism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tourism/) ## Related quotes > [In 12 or 15 years, there will be routine, affordable space tourism not just in the U.S. but in a lot of countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-rutan/in-12-or-15-years-there-will-be-routine-affordable-space-tourism-not/) [Burt Rutan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-rutan/) > [The thing about tourism is that the reality of a place is quite different from the mythology of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/the-thing-about-tourism-is-that-the-reality-of-a-place-is-quite/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [I sat on a toilet watching the water run thinking what an odd thing tourism is. You fly off to a strange land, eagerly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/i-sat-on-a-toilet-watching-the-water-run-thinking-what-an-odd-thing/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [What an odd thing tourism is. You fly off to a strange land, eagerly abandoning all the comforts of home, and then expend vast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/what-an-odd-thing-tourism-is-you-fly-off-to-a-strange-land-eagerly/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [There are times when the gospel just seems to be powerfully at work in a nation, and thousands upon thousands are converted. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/there-are-times-when-the-gospel-just-seems-to-be-powerfully-at-work/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Remember God has accepted us. The gospel of grace is a message of breathtaking freedom. It must be embraced with faith and thanksgiving. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-virgo/remember-god-has-accepted-us-the-gospel-of-grace-is-a-message-of/) Terry Virgo > [I know I barely know you, but I think you're so amazing fascinating, breathtaking more than enough, my inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-krit/i-know-i-barely-know-you-but-i-think-you-re-so-amazing-fascinating/) Big KRIT > [“he said this turning his strong body to face the beautiful, stunning, breathtaking, astonishing, bewildering girl who was a princess and his one true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-ashton/he-said-this-turning-his-strong-body-to-face-the-beautiful-stunning/) J.K. Ashton > [Enchanting is not the word that would immediately spring to mind when describing a play that deals with fractal geometry, iterated algorithms, chaos theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyn-gardner/enchanting-is-not-the-word-that-would-immediately-spring-to-mind-when/) [Lyn Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyn-gardner/) > [Who is not afraid of pure space - that breathtaking empty space of an open door?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/who-is-not-afraid-of-pure-space-that-breathtaking-empty-space-of-an/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [breathtaking, adj. Those moments when we kiss and surrender for an hour before we say a single word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/breathtaking-adj-those-moments-when-we-kiss-and-surrender-for-an-hour/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > ['The Wine of Summer' is a beautiful film about love lost and found, and the complexities of life while discovering who you are. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-chow/the-wine-of-summer-is-a-beautiful-film-about-love-lost-and-found-and/) [Kelsey Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-chow/) > [I write what I like to read, and I enjoy love triangles in YA and adult fiction - not to mention in other media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/i-write-what-i-like-to-read-and-i-enjoy-love-triangles-in-ya-and/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [The laws of nature are the skeleton of the universe. They support it, give it shape, tie it together. Taken as a whole, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-trefil/the-laws-of-nature-are-the-skeleton-of-the-universe-they-support-it/) James Trefil > [“With you I see a spark I’ve never seen in him. Love has many shapes and depths, some richer than others. His for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-i-lynn/with-you-i-see-a-spark-i-ve-never-seen-in-him-love-has-many-shapes/) [K.I. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-i-lynn/) ## More by Alex Garland > [The first draft of 'Ex Machina' is extremely different than the finished film. That would be like 10% of the original draft stayed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-first-draft-of-ex-machina-is-extremely-different-than-the/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > ['The Beach' novel, in my mind, was, in some respects, subversive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-beach-novel-in-my-mind-was-in-some-respects-subversive/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Dream life, I realized, was only confusing when you were awake. It was from the perspective of waking life that dream life seemed fractured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/dream-life-i-realized-was-only-confusing-when-you-were-awake-it-was/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Of course witnessing poverty was the first to be ticked off the list. Then I had to graduate to the more obscure stuff. Being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/of-course-witnessing-poverty-was-the-first-to-be-ticked-off-the-list/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [“That was longer than a heartbeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/that-was-longer-than-a-heartbeat/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [The truth is, I hadn't grown up really wanting to be a writer. The whole thing was a weird aberration in some ways, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-truth-is-i-hadn-t-grown-up-really-wanting-to-be-a-writer-the/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [If someone says Wes Anderson is an auteur, I'll believe it 100 percent. Fine. He's an auteur, but I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/if-someone-says-wes-anderson-is-an-auteur-i-ll-believe-it-100-percent/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [“Moshe was an Israeli with an ear-slitting laugh. He used it in the same way as a madman uses a gun, spraying it around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/moshe-was-an-israeli-with-an-ear-slitting-laugh-he-used-it-in-the/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [I've never been to Comic-Con, but I'm certainly aware from this side of the Atlantic that it's a very important part of film marketing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/i-ve-never-been-to-comic-con-but-i-m-certainly-aware-from-this-side/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Vietnam, me love you long time. All day, all night, me love you long time. (...) Dropping acid on the Mekong Delta, smoking grass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/vietnam-me-love-you-long-time-all-day-all-night-me-love-you-long-time/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Personally I don't think there's any real intrinsic difference between comic books, movies, theatre, novels. I know there's sure to be some differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/personally-i-don-t-think-there-s-any-real-intrinsic-difference/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Tourists went on holidays while travellers did something else. They travelled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/tourists-went-on-holidays-while-travellers-did-something-else-they/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [I carry a lot of scars. I like the way that sounds. I carry a LOT of scars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/i-carry-a-lot-of-scars-i-like-the-way-that-sounds-i-carry-a-lot-of/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [“You never listen to me anymore. Before, if I was talking to you, you would always listen. But now you have no time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/you-never-listen-to-me-anymore-before-if-i-was-talking-to-you-you/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [Though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil, for I am the evilest motherfucker in the valley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/though-i-walk-through-the-valley-of-death-i-will-fear-no-evil-for-i/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) [Explore all 81 Alex Garland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) ## More Bleak quotes > [Single-sex private schools, especially in the middle of nowhere on a bleak hill in County Durham - I don't think they make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-deacon/single-sex-private-schools-especially-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-on-a/) [Giles Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-deacon/) > [I wonder whether my bleak-o-meter is set differently from other people's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-wonder-whether-my-bleak-o-meter-is-set-differently-from-other/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > [I felt cheated by the way grown-ups told me that the future of the world was bleak when I became a teenager in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/i-felt-cheated-by-the-way-grown-ups-told-me-that-the-future-of-the/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [No wonder of it: sheer plod makes plough down sillion Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear, Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermilion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-manley-hopkins/no-wonder-of-it-sheer-plod-makes-plough-down-sillion-shine-and-blue/) [Gerard Manley Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-manley-hopkins/) > [“During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/during-the-whole-of-a-dull-dark-and-soundless-day-in-the-autumn-of/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [T is liberty crowns Britannia's Isle, And makes her barren rocks and her bleak mountains smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/t-is-liberty-crowns-britannia-s-isle-and-makes-her-barren-rocks-and/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [The future looks a bit bleak to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/the-future-looks-a-bit-bleak-to-me/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Nothing that's ever happened has taken away the optimist in me. It's always, "Whatever-let's go to Disneyland." Yes, I have my bleak, tortured-artist moments,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/nothing-that-s-ever-happened-has-taken-away-the-optimist-in-me-it-s/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [ I think because the show \["Grant MacLaren"\] is essentially a hopeful show. The show says that as bleak as the future is, the one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-think-because-the-show-grant-maclaren-is-essentially-a-hopeful-show/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [In his bleak mercy, Death forever strips The soul of light and memory, rendering blind Our vision, lest surmounted deeps appal, As when on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-ashton-smith/in-his-bleak-mercy-death-forever-strips-the-soul-of-light-and-memory/) [Clark Ashton Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-ashton-smith/) > [Gay life in 1970 was very bleak, compartmentalized. You didn't take it to work. You had to really lead a double life. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-kramer/gay-life-in-1970-was-very-bleak-compartmentalized-you-didn-t-take-it/) [Larry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-kramer/) > [“Life, on Hardcore mode, she thought with a twinge of bleak humor. No do-overs. No save files. Harper”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-bellet/life-on-hardcore-mode-she-thought-with-a-twinge-of-bleak-humor-no-do/) [Annie Bellet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-bellet/) > [A cold and searching wind drives away all contagion, and nothing can withstand it but what has a virtue in it, and accordingly, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-cold-and-searching-wind-drives-away-all-contagion-and-nothing-can/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Killing the poorest third is good genetics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/killing-the-poorest-third-is-good-genetics/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Wyoming, to Annie, was represented by a blank, bleak space in her imagination. It was a place she could hide. The worst that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-wilson/wyoming-to-annie-was-represented-by-a-blank-bleak-space-in-her/) [Kevin Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-wilson/) Browse all 335 Bleak quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing about tourism is just that it's incredibly powerful. It's like a gun and it's incredibly easy to be irresponsible with it. And the speed of the impact that tourism can have on a place can be quite breathtaking. It doesn't take years, it takes months. That's how quickly it works. And it can be quite a bleak thing to witness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alex Garland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-thing-about-tourism-is-just-that-it-s-incredibly-powerful-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bleak" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-thing-about-tourism-is-just-that-it-s-incredibly-powerful-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/alex-garland-8441_bleak_the-thing-about-tourism-is-just-that-it_1800023.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/alex-garland-8441_bleak_the-thing-about-tourism-is-just-that-it_1800023.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/alex-garland-8441_bleak_the-thing-about-tourism-is-just-that-it_1800023.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing about tourism is just that it's incredibly powerful. It's like a gun and it's incredibly easy to…” — Alex Garland", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alex Garland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thing about tourism is just...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-thing-about-tourism-is-just-that-it-s-incredibly-powerful-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-thing-about-tourism-is-just-that-it-s-incredibly-powerful-it-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```