Tradition vs. Tourism: The Yellowstone Effect. *Spoiler alert*

In today's edition of fist-shaking-get-off-my-lawn, Yellowstone's latest season (and in seasons leading up) epitomizes a long-standing issue of tourism vs. tradition.

A real-world example is Jackson Hole. As they are working to navigate overtourism and community, it's clear the battle started long ago. During a set of resident surveys, one resident commented, "The Hole has become a s-hole, and tourism should be limited." Ouch. Check out how they are moving Toward a New Locals-Inclusive Tourism in Skift's piece on the remaking of 5 destinations. I know they'll get this worked out and remain a world-class destination.

Back to John Dutton and Yellowstone. Unless you've been living under a rock, John Dutton is played by a "seasoned" Kevin Costner, defending a family legacy and cattle ranch that's operations are rooted in a 100-year-old legacy, failing to evolve to a modern ranch and economic opportunity. His opponents pledge to usher in Montana's most significant economic opportunity: tourism.

We shall see how it plays out in the show. But, IRL, it looks like Montana is getting a boon of +68% YoY according to the Daily Index from Arrivalist.

Now, talking about tradition to communities is delicate work. They can hear it in two ways: destroying culture or progress to the future. In my experience, it comes down to the types of business (ie travelers and planners) the destination is grooming to come. As a history major, I am a big proponent of preserving the stories, buildings, and fabric that give a destination its heritage and uniqueness. As a tech enthusiast, I am a big proponent of smart cities, improving the lives of residents with technological advances, and innovating for travelers.

It's not quite the conundrum it seems. Looking to Savannah, it seems they've got that worked out in spades.

There's still an opportunity to look at the fabric of your city/town/region and redesign the perfect guest. That's where it really stops and starts.

Whom do you want in your space, and how do you find them?