In considering the impact of tourism and travel on the living conditions of receiving populations, we would like to highlight, from a historical perspective, the tensions that arise from the behaviours generated by encounters, accidental or necessary, occurring during a journey. In a context where, more often than not, the tourist or visitor adopts what he or she believes to be a right attitude because it is in line with his or her culture and representations, the consequences on the local environment can be disastrous in terms of public health, but also in terms of attacks on beliefs or simply respect for the person visited. But, on the other hand, the relationship can be just as disastrous for the tourist himself or herself or the traveller who is led to misunderstand the meaning of the cultures visited and to deviate on paths they do not master. Let us think of the devastation, in the sixties and following years, of the journeys undertaken by young Westerners falling into the throes of artificial paradises. Is travel in this perspective only a threat to the other, whatever it may be, and tourism a predatory activity that does more harm than good? This is the hypothesis we will develop.