Last month, while walking the streets of Split, Croatia, I couldn’t help being overwhelmed and annoyed by the huge crowds all around me. At times, there were so many people we could hardly make our way through the narrow pathways. This was at the end of October, the offseason, yet there were bodies at every inch of the area. As I looked around I started to wonder, “with so many people clogging the streets, are tourists ruining travel?”
These crowds aren’t confined to Croatia, every place I have visited in recent memory had the same experience. Cities like Rome, Barcelona and Prague were overrun with people. I have felt this way for a while, making more than one snide remark about how Rome is looking more like Times Square than Italy.
It is as if every yahoo/wackadoodle with a passport has a travel blog, touting different locations and taking Instagram selfies. Yes, I may see the irony as I write this…
The internet has made travel much more appealing, whereas most people used to only go when they retired. Now people make multiple trips a year. So once again I will ask the question: Are tourists ruining travel?
Some Benefits of Increased Tourism
Not to be completely negative on tourism, as there is some upside to the increased density of fanny packs you see on the streets. Below are the main positive things this increased tourism brings.
More money for locals
Probably the best thing, at least for the locals, from tourism is the increased revenue. Some economies rely almost exclusively on tourism, which means an opportunity for people who may not have many options. Now whether all the locals appreciate this is another matter. There certainly has been a backlash against tourist in many areas. Still, from a financial perspective it is hard to argue the positive impact to restaurants, hotels and little magnet sellers.
More Exposure to Other Cultures
With an increase travel, in theory, people should get a better understanding of other cultures. It makes sense that if one visits other areas they see the world from a new lens. Of course, this doesn’t always happen, people seem to gravitate towards the familiar, which is why Ruby Tuesdays in Prague was ‘on and poppin.’ ….
The Drawbacks
Overcrowding
The most obvious drawback to this increased tourism is overcrowding. Nothing is worse than 80-100 tourist wearing headpieces with a blank stare so they can hear their tour guide. I get the hypocrisy of me a tourist, complaining about tourists crowding up an area…but…
Maybe I’m so smug because I take the time to get to know a city, not just show up to the main attraction and take a selfie so I can hurry back to my cruise ship. My wife and I attempt to embrace the culture of any location. We will repeatedly, make our way back to the same small/independent places (we like), get to know the locals and explore hidden areas of a city. Tourism wouldn’t be so burdensome if people would take a break from the normal tourist spots and explore how the locals live.
Of course, people stick to their comfort zone. The result is a mess of people blocking the streets and crowding the restaurants. I love to walk around a city, but when it is hard to move because, yet another tour crosses your path or a fake Gucci is thrown in your face, it takes away from the experience.
The Loss of Authenticity
It boggles my f-in mind why anyone would want to visit a restaurant with someone in a full costume touting a “Tourist Menu”. Yet they are all packed, with a sign reading “authentic” Greek food or “real” Croatian cuisine. What else should it be? Typically, these places serve up frozen crap to the masses. It also has been Americanized for tourists who want to feel like they are getting a real experience.
When I walk around a city and all I see are trinkets that are made in China and tourist traps it doesn’t make me feel like I am in a foreign place. Rather, I feel like I am in Epcot without the rides.
These things exist because of a high concentration of tourists. No one can consistently sell frozen calamari or shot glasses to locals. Tourists have the potential to turn ap location into a circus, buying cheap crap they would never purchase at home.
Too many times the business puts on a mask (literally). Something tells me the locals don’t normally walk around the streets in Roman soldier gear. Oh, and if I see one more idiot painted in all silver not moving…I will lose my mind. Point being, when I visit a place, I want to see it authentically. Not some Disneyland watered down version of the city.
The Loss of Culture
Related to the above is a loss of culture on a whole. City officials in their infinite wisdom insist on passing laws for the masses of tourists…I am looking at you Florence. This is due to the outcry of the less traveled. They want places to live by the same standards they do. By making every place have the same standards for tourists, every place is the same.
Whenever I hear someone complain how something is immoral or dangerous in XYZ country I cringe. I don’t want every area in the world to look like a cheap county fair. Yet, I see hints of this happening all around the globe. Many places are trying to “clean up” areas. An example: the food carts in Thailand. The series of laws to make them safer (and help restaurants out) is created for “protection.” This idea that we must make places more tourist friendly, by squashing anything dangerous or unusual is a scary prospect. We should travel to get away from the nanny state, not submit to our surroundings. From New Orleans to Asia the bubble taping is spreading because everyone wants a piece of the tourist money train.
Tourists can be Disrespectful
Some things make me shake my head. Such as seeing someone’s name carved into a 500-year-old church in Prague. The same goes for the beaches that are being littered in Thailand (among other places). Too many careless tourists can destroy the very site they are going to take a selfie… Many times, it is due to flat out disrespect like the examples above. I have seen people leave soda cans on ancient ruins and flicking cigarettes on beaches…
Even if it doesn’t destroy the area, being disrespectful can piss off the locals. Nothing like seeing people take selfies where the Twin Towers stood. I witnessed this first hand, it’s as if people don’t even understand the magnitude of emotion that surroundsa location. I have heard stories of people doing the same at former concentration camps in Europe. If you want to piss off the locals, be disrespectful to their town and tragedies.
Conclusion
The irony is not lost on me that I am a tourist complaining about other tourists. Yet, somehow, I still can’t help feel annoyed at the mindless herds that roam the street with their oversized cameras. Maybe if there can’t be less tourists, there could be better ones. It would be nice if people were a bit more respectful while travelling. If they would spread out a bit and not support tourist traps. It would be nice if so many tourists didn’t act like tourists.
