Leisure Lab

Leisure Lab is a think tank and media lab to promote break-even tourism. We conduct research, publish news articles and create inspirational travel stories to help bring about positive change in the way we travel. Just as importantly, we engage in meaningful discussions with travel industry stakeholders to find out how they can contribute to break-even tourism—and we help them tell their stories. Break-even tourism starts with you. Even a small intervention in your business operations or vision can have a major impact. Any travel organization with a desire to do good can make a contribution. These four guiding principles pave the way for break-even tourism: An even distribution of people. Dare to think differently. Go left when everybody else is going right. This mentality leads to a more even distribution of travelers across time (traveling outside the high season) and space (traveling to an alternative destination, the other 99%). An even distribution of money. Travelers' money still too often ends up in the wrong pockets. But by doing due diligence and working with local stakeholders, the travel industry can contribute to the growth of local economies. Think, for example, of locally-owned hospitality businesses, guides, and even tech start-ups. An even distribution of knowledge. Open yourself up to the locals and their knowledge to get to know your destination better. What’s more, by listening and asking questions, you create a human connection that is ultimately the only way to stop the polarization of modern society. We are not as different as we may think. An even distribution of experiences. In the case of travel, less is often more. Do you make sure your customers take their time to genuinely experience a destination? If you can help them get out of the bucketlist mindset and into the here-and-now mindset, you are making everyone’s travel experiences more valuable and impactful.