Ethical concerns around inner city walking tours

Walking tours are common practice in urban tourism and are, historically, one of the earliest examples of urban tourism. Due to a rise in the demand for so-called “authentic” experiences in tourism in recent years, there has been a growth in different types of cultural walking tours, particularly in poor neighborhoods of major cities globally. The increase in these tours brings to light a number of questions concerning the ethics of taking people through poorer areas, where relatively vulnerable populations live and work. This paper highlights some of the potential ethical concerns around this type of tourism, while also mentioning the potential benefits.