Register Now

Balancing Tourism Podcast

Insights, strategies, and expert discussions on managing tourism seasonality for sustainable destination development.

Regular Episodes

Industry Experts

Available on Spotify

Listen Now

Tune in to expert conversations about tourism seasonality, destination management,
and sustainable tourism practices.

Balancing Tourism Podcast
Available on Spotify and other podcast platforms
Open on Spotify

Recent Episodes

Explore our archive of conversations with tourism industry leaders, researchers, and innovators discussing the challenges and opportunities of seasonal tourism patterns.

Grenada’s 12 Month Play – Bridging The Perception Gap

April 16, 2026 Stacey Liburd
With Stacey Liburd
In this episode of The Balancing Tourism Podcast, Ged speaks with Stacey Liburd, CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority and Vice Chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Stacey joined the GTA in June 2025 having previously led the Anguilla Tourist Board through the pandemic to record visitor arrivals. She explains why Grenada's position below the hurricane belt gives the tri-island state a structural advantage as a 12-month destination, and why perception, not product, is the real barrier holding mature destinations back. She describes how Spicemas, the new Lobster and Lambie Festival in Carriacou, and a forthcoming Flower and Garden Festival fit into a deliberate strategy to spread demand across the calendar, how the GTA is working with airline partners to maintain year-round lift, and why true success in tourism has to be measured at community level, from hotel occupancy right down to the fruit vendor at the side of the road. Stacey will be joining us at the Tourism Seasonality Summit in Rimini on a panel exploring how destinations are rebalancing demand across the year.
Key Topics:
Festival Led Seasonality The Perception Gap Destination Marketing
Listen on Spotify

“We Don’t Promote Summer Anymore” — Costa Del Sol’s Seasonal Shift

April 15, 2026 Natalia Boveda
With Natalia Boveda
In this episode of The Balancing Tourism Podcast, Ged speaks with Natalia Boveda from Costa Del Sol Tourism, the official DMO for the province of Malaga and one of Europe's most established sun-and-beach destinations. Natalia explains why the organisation has taken the deliberate decision to stop promoting summer altogether, redirecting its full marketing effort towards the low and shoulder seasons. She describes the perception challenge of repositioning a destination whose biggest source market thinks it already knows what's on offer, how a bimonthly stakeholder committee aligns the DMO, airport, airlines and national tourism agency around year-round connectivity, and what the early evidence shows about flattening the seasonal curve. Natalia will be joining us at the Tourism Seasonality Summit in Rimini on a panel exploring how established destinations are building new reasons to visit beyond peak.
Key Topics:
Deseasonalisation Strategy Destination Brand Repositioning Air Connectivity & Stakeholder Collaboration
Listen on Spotify

High Season Is Not the Problem: Why We Need to Rethink Tourism Demand

April 13, 2026 Alessandra Priante
with Alessandra Priante
In this episode of The Balancing Tourism Podcast, Ged speaks with Alessandra Priante, President of ENIT, Italy's national tourism board, and former Director for Europe at UN Tourism, where she oversaw 43 member states and more than half of the world's entire tourism market. Alessandra challenges the way the industry frames seasonality, arguing that labels like "high season" and "low season" are really just pricing indicators that no longer reflect how people plan and book travel. She makes the case that the system the industry has relied on for decades is no longer fit for purpose, and that managing demand requires structural redesign rather than simply telling tourists to come in a different month. Alessandra will be delivering the opening keynote at the Tourism Seasonality Summit in Rimini, expanding on exactly this argument.
Key Topics:
Tourism Demand Management Rethinking Seasonality National Tourism Strategy
Listen on Spotify

Scale Vs Soul – AI’s Real Impact on Tourism

March 9, 2026 Dado Van Peteghem
With Dado Van Peteghem
In this episode of The Balancing Tourism Podcast, Ged speaks with Dado, keynote speaker, author and technology strategist, ahead of his appearance at the Tourism Seasonality Summit in Rimini. Dado breaks down where the tourism industry genuinely sits on the AI adoption curve, why most organisations are further behind than they realise, and what separates those who will thrive from those who won't. Together, they explore his scale and soul framework — the argument that the future belongs to businesses that commit fully to both technology and human experience, rather than settling for a comfortable halfway position. From AI's impact on search and website strategy, to the growing value of authentic connection in an increasingly automated world, this is a practical and clear-eyed conversation about what tourism professionals need to do differently, starting now.
Key Topics:
AI Adoption in Tourism Scale Vs Soul in AI Search, Soul & Strategy
Listen on Spotify

Less Crowds, More Connection

January 29, 2026 Richard Lindberg
With Richard Lindberg
In this episode of The Balancing Tourism Podcast, Ged speaks with Richard Lindberg, founder of ⁠One Planet Journey⁠ and keynote speaker at the upcoming ⁠Tourism Seasonality Summit⁠ in Rimini. Richard shares how a slow, five‑month winter journey transformed his own approach to travel and inspired his work exploring what travellers truly seek: meaning, connection, and a sense of belonging. Together, they unpack the philosophy of deep travel — a mindset that prioritises intention over itinerary and personal relevance over social‑media‑driven bucket lists. Richard explains why deep travel is naturally aligned with low‑season tourism, offering richer experiences, more authentic interactions, and a calmer rhythm that benefits both visitors and residents.
Key Topics:
Philosophy of Deep Travel High Value Travellers From Volume to Value
Listen on Spotify

The Pre-Journey Journey

January 22, 2026 Emma Valahu
With Emma Valahu
Most travel brands obsess over the moment someone books. But what about everything that happens before that moment — the research, the anticipation, the doubts, the excitement, the endless tabs open on a browser? In this episode, Ged speaks with Emma Valahu, who specialises in what she calls the pre‑journey journey — the long, emotional decision‑making phase that determines whether a traveller ever chooses your experience, your destination, or your low‑season offer.
Key Topics:
The Psychology of the Planning Phase Turning Websites into Nurture Systems Advanced Digital Marketing Shaping Low Season Demand
Listen on Spotify

Stop Pretending This Is Sustainable

January 13, 2026 Professor Harold Goodwin
With Professor Harold Goodwin
A powerful, uncompromising conversation with Professor Harold Goodwin that cuts through greenwash, confronts tourism’s hardest truths, and lays out what destinations must do now to stay resilient, responsible, and genuinely future‑ready.
Key Topics:
Destination Governance Reshaping Seasonality Tragedy Of The Commons Sustainability Talk Vs Action
Listen on Spotify

Overtourism: The Airline Response

November 26, 2025 Peter Glade Majid Khan, Sascha Feuerherd
With Peter Glade, Chief Commercial Officer, TUI Airline, Majid Khan, CEO, Saudi Air Connectivity Program, and Sascha Feuerherd, Senior Associate Partner, Aviado Partners
A sharp, timely episode unpacking how airlines can help tackle overtourism, from smarter route planning to season extension, policy alignment, and community‑focused strategies—offering fresh insight into building more balanced, sustainable tourism futures.
Key Topics:
Sustainable Tourism Development Stakeholder Engagement Airline Response Community Engagement
Listen on Spotify

Experience Over Everything

October 6, 2025 Michael Moriarty
With Disney Managing Director, Michael Moriarty
A dynamic conversation with Hong Kong Disneyland’s Michael Moriarty exploring the park’s evolution, immersive experiences, smart crowd management, tech innovation, and what the wider tourism industry can learn from Disney’s approach to shaping world‑class guest experiences.
Key Topics:
managing crowds experiential tourism data driven operations technology integration
Listen on Spotify

Why Balance Tourism?

November 28, 2024 Ged Brown
Founder and CEO, Low Season Traveller & Tourism Seasonality Summit
In this inaugural episode, Ged Brown lays the foundation for the podcast's mission with a thoughtful exploration of what it means to balance tourism—for destinations, communities, travellers and the environment. He reflects on past missteps in the industry and articulates the principles at the heart of creating more sustainable, equitable travel going forward. Insightful and principled, it’s a must-listen for professionals seeking to anchor their work in responsibility and long-term thinking.
Key Topics:
overtourism sustainable tourism industry reflection responsible travel
Listen on Spotify

Want to explore more episodes?
Visit our Spotify page for the complete archive.

Listen To All Episodes on Spotify

About the Podcast

Balancing Tourism explores how to align the needs of the environment, local communities, travelers and economic goals in the face of tourism’s challenges. Featuring industry leaders and pioneers, the podcast examines strategies like low-season travel, niche markets and innovative solutions to create balanced, sustainable tourism.
Whether you’re a destination manager, tourism professional, or researcher, this podcast provides valuable insights to help you navigate the complexities of tourism seasonality and build more resilient destinations.
  • Expert interviews and case studies
  • Practical strategies and tools
  • Global perspectives on seasonality
  • Research insights and data analysis

Join the Conversation

Be part of the Tourism Seasonality Summit 2026 and continue the conversation with industry leaders working to create more balanced and sustainable tourism destinations.

Register Now