Guest Episode: Safir Jamal on Travel Tech - Rethinking How Politics, Algorithms & Data Shape Global Travel

Check out Safir on Linkedin!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/safirjamal/

Also visit: https://globalnomadpass.com/

In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Harinda sits down with Safir Jamal, founder of Global Nomad Pass and an internationalist who’s traveled to 80+ countries, to unpack the complex, often hidden forces shaping the travel and tourism industry.

From Airbnb to Booking.com, travel seems personal but it’s deeply geopolitical. Safir explains how governments, data, algorithms, and international tourism boards all play critical roles behind the scenes.

We dive into:

🌍 The geopolitics of travel

🧠 The algorithms shaping what we see and book

📊 The data powering the industry—and who really benefits from it

🏛️ The role of ministries and tourism boards in shaping global mobility

⏰ Timestamps

02:41 The Benefits of Tourism for Local Economies

50:47 The Impact of Tourism on Employment

53:28 Tourism as a Tool for Education and Cultural Exchange

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on tech and power. & show your support for us! 

👥 Connect & Deepen Your Insight
• Aparna Bhushan — LinkedIn
• Harinda Katugaha — LinkedIn
• Full transcripts, sources & visuals → https://rethinktech.substack.com/

🎧 Follow Rethinking Tech for weekly briefings that link technology, geopolitics, and ethics—delivered without the noise