Why Travel Is Political

About this episode

This episode explores the political implications of travel, particularly in the context of the island of Socotra and recent geopolitical tensions.

The island of Socotra has recently become popularized online. But in January 2026, geopolitics broke this illusion of this island being a detached, apolitical escape. Foreign tourists found themselves stranded there. Flights were canceled, and there was no clear timeline for when they would be able to leave, all due to rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, tied to Yemen’s ongoing conflict. It's time to unpack exactly why travel is political. JoAnna Haugen is a solutions-oriented consultant, speaker, and writer working at the intersection of sustainable tourism, storytelling, and social impact. She is the founder of Rooted Storytelling. Dayvee Sutton is a multi-Emmy Award-winning journalist and national travel correspondent seen on your favorite national talk and morning news shows. Links: https://dayveesutton.com/ https://rootedstorytelling.com/ https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/05/travel/socotra-island-yemen-foreign-tourists-stranded-intl If you're a fan of the show, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Curious Tourism: Responsible Travel Podcast. Follow us on social media @curioustourismpod . Read Erin's award-winning blog, Pina Travels . Subscribe to Kattie's…

People in this episode

Host: Erin Hynes

Guests: JoAnna Haugen, Dayvee Sutton

Topics covered

• political travel
• geopolitics
• sustainable tourism
• social impact
• travel challenges

Keywords

• travel politics
• Socotra
• geopolitics
• sustainable tourism
• foreign tourists
• Yemen conflict

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Rooted Storytelling, CNN

Places: Socotra, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen

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