Episode #297: Overtourism, Transnational Gentrification, and Envisioning a More Equitable Future of Travel with Dr. Kaisu Koskela

Episode Summary

Learn how some local communities are being harmed by the rise of digital nomadism and what some potential solutions are. In part of this interview, Dr. Kaisu Koskela talks about the academic sampling bias when attempting to define who digital nomads are.  She then explains the dynamics of both overtourism and transnational gentrification, and the harm they are causing to some local communities.  Kaisu then lays out some specific policy recommendations that can help protect local communities.  She describes her vision for a more equitable future of travel, global mobility, and digital nomadism.  Kaisu then talks about finding love and partnership in the digital nomad lifestyle.  She opens up about how she met her relationship partner and offers tips on long-term digital nomad relationships.  Kaisu then reflects on how thirty years of world travel have impacted her as a person and what travel means to her today.  Finally, she offers tips on how we can all make more ethical and thoughtful travel decisions as we move through the world.

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Dr. Kaisu Koskela

Dr. Kaisu Koskela is an anthropologist, location-independent academic researcher, and full-time digital nomad.  She received her PhD from the University of Helsinki in 2021, and her current research interests focus on digital nomads and the emergence of the digital nomad visas. Born and raised in northern Finland, near the Arctic Circle, she has lived a more or less nomadic lifestyle for almost 30 years, has been a digital nomad for the past 10 years and has now been to more than 80 countries.

What You'll Learn
  • What is causing overtourism and transnational gentrification and who is being harmed
  • How to protect local communities and make travel more equitable
  • Tips for finding love and partnership in the digital nomad lifestyle
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CONTACT KAISU

Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[2:40] Academic Sampling Bias on Who Digital Nomads Are

[5:58] Reflections on Transnational Gentrification and Over-Touristification

[13:02] Policy Recommendations to Protect Local Communities

[16:55] Envisioning a More Equitable Future of Global Mobility

[21:33] Finding Love and Partnership in the Nomad Lifestyle

[24:50] Tips for Long Term Digital Nomad Relationships

[27:30] How Travel has Impacted Kaisu and What Travel Means to Her Today

[30:36] How We Can Make More Ethical and Thoughtful Travel Decisions

[33:20] The Lightning Round