What is Slow Tourism?

Slow tourism is an alternative offered to mass tourism. It constitutes a part of the sustainable tourism movement. It can be considered as the tourism equivalent of the ‘slow food' movement which emphasizes enjoying local foods and traditional recipes instead of fast food and mass consumption.

Slow travel emphasizes discovery of the local culture, history and characteristics of a region instead of creating a route and trying to put together as many different travel experiences as possible.

Slow tourism induces sensitivities related to local environment and sustainability in addition to emphasizing a meaningful and authentic interaction with a travel destination.

What is the Difference between Slow Tourism and Ecotourism?

Slow tourism can be a good example of ecotourism although it is a different concept with distinctive defining characteristics of its own. Let’s take a glance at their contents to understand how these two concepts , i.e., slow tourism and ecotourism, differentiate since they both have a strong focus on sustainability in the tourism industry.

Check out this article to find out more about ecotourism.

1- Slow tourism involves sustainability as a concept in its content however sustainability is a byproduct rather than a key characteristic.

2- Slow tourism is characterized by prioritizing fewer but more meaningful experiences and focusing on the local region rather than focusing on the commercial experiences of tourists and trying to fit in as many activities as possible during their travels.

3- Slow tourism usually focuses less on touristic programs and routes.

4- Ecotourism promotes responsible travel to natural areas and emphasizes supporting local people and businesses, enriching local region and limiting the damage caused by tourism industry.

Why Slow Tourism Matters?

Slow tourism is a new tourism trend. It does not explicitly offer an ecotourism experience to its customers, rather it suggests a more environment-friendly way to enjoy travel experiences.
Slow tourism offers many benefits for travelers, such as having more interactions with the visited places, having more opportunity to live their own experiences and creating more time to enjoy the trip. Slow tourism is a potential antidote against certain negative characteristics of mass tourism in many ways.

​Click here to learn more about sustainable tourism trends.

What are the Advantages of Slow Tourism?

Slow tourism offers a different way for tourists to enjoy their travel experiences and there are two main areas it can benefit to touristic destinations and local people:

1-Environmental Benefits
The majority of problems associated with mass tourism are shaped by environmental concerns. For example, influx of tourists in a region would inevitably create a waste inflation and leads to exploitation of natural resources. In addition, other derivative problems emerge such as environmental pollution created by the instruments and services provided by the airline industry.​

Slow tourism aims to reduce carbon footprints of travelers by slowing down all experiences. This can mean, for example, tourists using train services rather than relying on the speed of airplanes to reach where they are going. This also means enjoying the activities of travelers and spending more meaningful time in the local environment.

2- Cultural Benefits
The key part of slow tourism concept involves slowing down and enjoying the culture offered by a region. This means that the local businesses in a region are not designed to attract tourists who expect to be constantly stimulated. When a destination is a natural place where people live rather than a touristic place, cultural activities also start to become meaningful. Slow tourism can help a place to avoid situations in which it is full of entertainment venues and other touristic facilities. This especially helps small towns and small cities to avoid cultural degeneration.

Examples of Slow Tourism

We compiled below some of the slow travel types enjoyed by travelers across the world:

Backpacking
Backpacking is a travel type characterized by long-term stays, relying on public transport and low-cost accommodations and carrying only the items that fit and can be carried in a backpack. Backpacking is a good example of slow tourism since it is based on adventure, personal development, self-discovery and meaningful experiences.

Trekking
Trekking is a type of slow tourism based on enjoying long walks in the nature. The walks usually focus on settled trekking routes or tracks that enable tourists to experience the areas with natural beauties. Some popular trekking routes have cultural or historical significance.

Cuisine Tourism
As the name suggests, this is a slow tourism type based on consuming delicious foods. It is a travel type emphasizing authentic and traditional foods prepared using local ingredients, in which tourists visit food production facilities, fields, markets and bazaars during their stay, attend to the courses given by famous chefs and experience local restaurants.

Bicycle Rides
Bicycle rides can be considered as a good example of slow tourism. Traveling by bicycle is also a part of sustainable tourism.

Which are Some Popular Slow Tourism Destinations?

Southeastern Asia
Southeastern Asia is an especially popular slow travel destination. Many countries in the region offers a wide range in the accommodation industry, enabling authentic experiences for travelers who want to spare time for the environment and culture during their travels and get to know the local people living at destinations. Especially countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are good options. Most of the travelers use public transportation, including buses and boats, and they travel across the region with backpacks. They prefer to stay longer at a single place, get to know the culture of the region, and discover temples, ruins, historical or cultural attractions.

Mongolia
Mongolia is another option which becomes increasingly popular among the people who are interested in slow tourism experiences. The country attracts attention with its natural beauty, wildlife and history. Some tourists visit local people who live a nomadic life in the northern part of the country. These communities are especially known for their practice of herding reindeer and visits to this region offer tourists a chance to interact with a different way of life.

So, is it possible to see slow tourism examples in Türkiye? Of course it is!

SENTRUM Birgi
Historical Birgi village in Ödemiş district of Izmir is the second destination of our SENTRUM project. Birgi constitutes one of the best examples of slow tourism since it offers its visitors the chance to experience the peace and history of a historical village life. Taking a slow walk on the paved streets of Birgi enables visitors to discover historical mansions, old mosques and traditional village life. Birgi transforms tourism into a cultural journey by offering its guests a chance to interact with the local people and enjoy local products. It also supports sustainable tourism with its environmentally friendly practices and its sensitive approach to the local culture.

For more information on SENTRUM Birgi, click here.​

SENTRUM Küçükköy
Küçükköy is another slow tourism center in Ayvalık district of Balıkesir as well as being the first destination of our SENTRUM project. This small village is famous for its houses with old Greek architecture, its paved streets and its olive trees. SENTRUM Küçükköy offer its guests a peaceful vacation in nature as well as providing them with an opportunity to discover hand-made products of local craftsmen. Adopting the philosophy of slow life, this village enables visitors to discover the historical texture while enjoying natural and authentic products offered by local producers and craftsmen. SENTRUM Küçükköy supports sustainable tourism with its structure respectful to nature and loyalty to local culture as well as living by the fundamental principles of slow tourism.

So why do you need to visit Küçükköy? Click here for further details!

The Rise of Slow Tourism

Slow tourism is not only a holiday option, but a lifestyle that enables travelers to discover the world in depth. This approach offers tourists a chance to form more meaningful connections with the places they visit and to contribute to local economies in a sustainable manner. Slow tourism, therefore, has the potential of becoming a travel style which will be preferred by more travelers in the future. Slow tourism offers satisfying travel experiences and raises awareness on the protection of cultures, traditions and communities.