This thesis critically examines the potential for transformation within global tourism by analysing the sector through the lens of power structures, social inequalities, and degrowth theory. Structured around three interrelated sub-projects, the research explores how touristification impacts residents, why many do not engage in protest despite dissatisfaction, and whether local initiatives like Cittaslow can serve as viable degrowth strategies.
Sebastian Amrhein has several years of experience in the tourism industry on different continents. He is a PhD student at the Radboud University in Nijmegen (RU) in the field of human geography. From this perspective, he analyses the socio-spatial impacts of tourism with the aim of transforming it into a more just and sustainable practice. He is a member of the Arbeitskreis Tourismusforschung (AKTF) and the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research (ATLAS). He teaches at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in the study programs Sustainable Tourism B.A. and Gender and Diversity, B.A.