International travel has become a pillar of local development and intercultural exchange, yet its sheer scale increasingly tests environmental carrying capacity and social cohesion. I contend that, in destinations lacking rigorous planning and community-centred governance, the drawbacks—from cultural commodification to ecological stress—can outweigh the gains; where visitant flows are managed and benefits ring-fenced for residents, however, the balance tilts decisively positive. The question, then, is not whether to welcome holidaymakers, but how to govern them.