In the Media

In an opinion piece for The Boston Globe, MIT Prof. Carlo Ratti and University of Toronto Prof. Richard Florida explore the “paradox of overtourism.” Ratti and Florida note that: “Tourism accelerates global convergence — the same luxury retailers, hotel chains, and Instagram‑ready design cues that push cities to conform to international expectations. At times, it can even undermine more authentic local businesses, which cannot compete against much larger global competitors. Yet local distinctiveness does not vanish under global pressure; it adapts. The visual signatures that make one place different from another persist beneath the surface layer of brands. That is where efforts to manage tourism’s cultural impact should concentrate.”