The main takeaway of the film is that travellers can affect positive change by favouring and demanding responsible and sustainable tourism practises. To that end, here are 10 questions you should ask any travel-related business before you book, especially those operating in developing countries:
1. How do local communities benefit from your business?
2. How do natural environments benefit from your business?
3. How do you give back to the communities in which you operate? For example, do you use a percentage of your profits to support social causes and/or environmental conservation?
4. What do you do to preserve natural resources and reduce environmental harm?
5. To what extent do you source supplies and staff locally?
6. How do you educate your staff on being more socially, environmentally and economically responsible? For example, are there incentives in place for employees to conserve natural resources?
7. How do you educate your guests on being more socially, environmentally and economically responsible? For example, do you encourage guests to shop locally? Do you ensure that they do not purchase products made from endangered species?
8. To what extent does your supply-chain support fair-trade practices and social equity?
9. How do you compare with your competitors in terms of sustainability?
If the business in question does not know the answer to any of these queries, or cannot provide answers in a timely fashion, then it's time to look elsewhere.
The veracity of answers, meanwhile, is addressed by Question 10: What certifications has your business earned as a provider of responsible and sustainable tourism?
There are quite a few of these, with some covering specific problem areas such as child welfare and animal cruelty. So do your research by tracking down a copy of the certifying organization's annual report to ensure it is legitimate. This may sound like a lot of work, but after watching The Last Tourist I'm sure you'll agree that it's more than worth the trouble.
Also, if I'm missing any key questions, please let me know in the comments below. Cheers!