Agents invited to attend free screenings of The Last Tourist in Vancouver & Toronto

The Last Tourist, a new documentary that reassess how travel can return in a more responsible and conscious way, will debut at complimentary screening events for the trade in Vancouver and Toronto in April.

The film, directed and written by Tyson Sadler and executive produced by Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, examines the history of modern tourism and offers a critique on its current state of affairs.

Its release comes as the world marks two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as the travel industry sees signs of optimism with borders reopening, prompting travellers to start packing their bags again.

The two-year milestone is also an apt time to reflect on what the pause in mass tourism has taught us, says the film’s press release.

The Last Tourist examines tourism issues by offering tangible ways people can make changes.

In a statement, Poon Tip said his vision for the film came well before the pandemic, but the timing of the documentary’s release could not be more relevant as the world reopens and as people look to travel with more purpose and intention.

“We’ve always said travel – community tourism in particular – could be the biggest distributor of wealth the world has ever seen, and even the fastest path to peace which is such an important message right now. We wanted to bring this message, which is illustrated by a series of life-changing stories, to life on the big screen and at the same time expose some of the often well-intentioned but harmful practices many tourism experiences support,” said Poon Tip in a statement.

“The Last Tourist demonstrates what a dire state the industry was in pre-pandemic, and recommends tangible ways travellers can use their personal power to have a positive impact as the world reopens to international travel again.”

“I ask that everyone who travels, and cares about the impact they have when they do, watches this important film when it is released on April 5, and spreads the word about how there is a better way to travel.”  

The doc – which was awarded with the Special Jury Prize for Social Impact by the Canadian Documentary Jury at the Calgary International Film Festival – explores important issues, including animals suffering for entertainment, orphaned children exploited for profit, and developing economies strained under the massive weight of foreign-owned hotel chains.

The film aims to empower audiences with knowledge and inspiration to make a positive impact, and fundamentally change the way they travel.

During the cinematic journey, viewers will meet local heroes who are leveraging tourism to preserve cultural heritage, sustain wildlife, and support the social and economic wellbeing of communities.

The film features leading travel and tourism visionaries including Dr. Jane Goodall (Jane Goodall Institute, United Nations Messenger of Peace), Lek Chailert (Save Elephant Foundation), Gary Knell (National Geographic), Meenu Vadera (Sakha Cabs For Women) and Melissa Matlow (World Animal Protection).

Director Tyson Sadler says the film took the team on a journey to 16 different countries.

“We interviewed dozens of leading travel experts, tour operators and academics, as well as travellers and tourism service providers in host communities that are leveraging travel to improve their quality of life. We amassed nearly 400 hours of footage that was edited into a 90-minute film pulling back the curtain on one of the world’s largest industries to illustrate the true cost of travel on the environment, wildlife, and host communities,” stated Sadler.

The Last Tourist had its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and will be released by Elevation Pictures in Canada via digital and on-demand platforms including on Apple TV and Amazon from April 5, with a supporting theatrical run in select theatres from April 1.   

There are still a small number of spaces available to the industry launch events, available on a first-come, first-served basis, for travel advisors who would like to attend.

To sign up for Vancouver on April 5, agents can click here, and for Toronto (April 7) they can visit this link.

For more info on The Last Tourist, visit www.thelasttouristfilm.com. 

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