I'm all in favor of space tourism if it helps keep space travel alive and helps develop a space industry and infrastructure and viable private space enterprises. Still, the idea of using this technology for the entertainment of the idle rich when so many valid scientific reasons are being ignored just rubs me the wrong way. Besides, it might even be counter-productive in the long run. A series of spectacular accidents could lead to a backlash and cutbacks of all manned space flights.

At any rate, I think once the novelty wears off, people will choose to spend their riches elsewhere. I know most people can afford to fly first class, but still choose not to because it is a needless expense. The current system, where rich people pay their own way, but still have to train with real astronauts and perform useful work when in space is much better. These people come back with a personal involvement and sense of pride in their contributions, and make better space advocates. They walk the walk, and their talk has an authority a dilettante passenger cannot match.

Just one opinion, of course...