This summer, tour operator First Choice will switch all its holidays to all-inclusive. Thomas Cook is reportedly increasing the number of all inclusives holidays it offers by 10 per cent. But what does the resurgence of the all-inclusive model, where tourists are invited to ‘leave their wallets at home’, mean for the destinations we visit? The implications for employees, other local businesses, the destination economy, and the tourist experience in terms of meaningful cultural exchange, throws up some serious questions about the sustainability and ethics of this tourism model.

Tourism Concern has researched into labour conditions in mainstream all-inclusive hotels that are used by all the mainstream tour operators in five popular destinations. The results include failure to recognise workers’ rights to join a trade union; lack of training; being pressurised into working a considerable amount of unpaid overtime; and not earning a living wage.

All forms of tourism can be made more socially, economically and environmentally responsible. But these efforts need to start with the rights of workers and communities in destinations. The current mainstream all-inclusive model is perpetuating social and economic exclusion and inequality, while threatening the very character of the destination that tourists pay to see. This does not make for sustainable tourism.

To find out more, check out the Tourism Concern website http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/all-inclusive-holidays—excluding-local-people.html and why not add your thoughts in their short survey and contribute to their research.

Watch out for Tourism Concern’s forthcoming briefing on all-inclusives in the coming weeks.