6 Ways To Be a Better Tourist (And Enjoy It More)

The World Might Need Your Tourism – And You’ll Be Sure To Be a Better Tourist With these Tips!

 

 

Tourism is good. Many people owe their livelihood to tourism, and more people are travelling than ever before, which is great, because travel broadens your horizons. But now, over-tourism is a huge issue, all over the world. Are you a good tourist when you travel? Or could you be a better tourist?

Bad Tourists Are Everywhere

be a better tourist than him!I grew up in Ireland, close to Blarney. It was always crowded with tourists who came to kiss the Blarney Stone. Most tourists were fine, but even in the 1970s, there were some badly-behaved visitors. The tiny tropical island where I now live gets more tourists each year than the people who live here. And yes, we have some rude, uncaring tourists here too – but again, the majority of people are nice.

Over-Tourism

But over-tourism is now a huge problem, all over the world.

  • Thailand’s Maya Bay (aka The Beach) has been closed to tourists indefinitely – the crowds were so vast that the entire area was being damaged, littered and polluted.
  • Peru’s Machu Picchu has 5,000 tourists every day – many people damaged the structures, littered and removed stones. How can you enjoy such a special place when you are part of a huge crowd, being herded from lace to place?
  • In Japan, Kyoto’s geisha district is overrun by tourists thrusting telephoto lenses and selfie sticks in the face of any geisha,  carving names into bamboo groves, wearing shoes in tatami rooms, and wearing inappropriate clothing.
  • Drunk tourists in Amsterdam’s Red Light District throw up and urinate in the streets – some residents are prisoners in their own homes at busy times.
  • California’s poppy fields are over-run by Instagramming tourists each spring. Big Sur residents complain about the tourists who stop in the middle of the scenic highway to take photos, dangerously blocking traffic, and urinate on the highway and in yards.
  • Iceland has more than 10 million images on Instagram, and tourists flock to get the perfect picture. But tourists drive off-road, (which is against the law), damage wildlife and delicate moss, and often get stuck, needing rescuing. Icelandic moss is particularly fragile and can die if trampled on. It helps prevent soil erosion, retains water and humidity and is home to many microorganisms.

Bad Behavior Is Only Part of the Problem

So the bad behaviour is a big problem – but it’s not the only one.

How can you enjoy a special location when there are hundreds or even thousands of other people all jostling for the perfect photo op?

Where’s the fun in standing waiting for hours to gain access to a place of interest?

And the damage and destruction to the area risks destroying the attraction that visitors come to see, as well as damaging the environment.

Why Is Tourism Growing, And Should We Stop It?

Having said all of that, no one should be discouraged from travelling – although a staycation is a very green and eco-friendly idea that also saves you money.

The tourism boom is happening because of a growing global middle class, cheaper airfares, ambitious tourism targets set by governments and FOMO-inducing social media (fear of missing out).

So, how can you travel, but be a better tourist? Here are some tips.

Be A Better Tourist Tip #1 – Ask Why

Paris selfie Eiffel tourism be a better touristAsk yourself why you want to go to a particular location. If you want to immerse yourself in the local culture, see beautiful sites, meet new people and create lasting memories, great!

But if you simply want to drop in on a location, prove to others that you’ve been there, make it (and you) look fantastic, and then beam it out to everyone you know – well, that’s creating over-tourism.

Do you want to go to a place – or show people you’ve been to the place? There’s an important difference.

If all you do is read a paragraph in a guide book, or decide to copy friends on Facebook, then parachute into a city and get the same selfie they did, that’s simply causing overcrowding and irritating locals. It’s “drive-by tourism”.

Be a better tourist by travelling for the right reasons.

Be A Better Tourist Tip #2 – Do What You Enjoy

What do you really want to do and see? What do you love to do?

Do you feel you should visit a museum, for example, because “everyone does”?

If you wouldn’t visit a museum at home, don’t do so on holiday. Don’t clog up the Louvre and whiz through without a clue what you’re seeing.

Focus on things you really are interested in seeing.

Be A Better Tourist Tip #3 – Go Away

If you only visit the tourist spots, you’re going to face crowds, long waits, and expensive coffee / beer / food. Many cities offer fascinating areas to explore that are close by, that offer a similar experience without the crowds (or the prices!

Amsterdam, for example, promotes more sustainable tourism with ‘slow travel’ – the 24H Amsterdam programme dedicates a day to exploring the lesser known and trafficked districts in the city. You can also use apps to make sure you’re not making a crowded place even more crowded – an app in Amsterdam  sends notifications to your phone if part of the city is busier than usual.

In Iceland, tourists are encouraged to visit more remote locations, beyond the hotspots of Reykjavik or the Blue Lagoon. This pumps much-needed tourist money into the economy in a way that helps locals more and spreads it further afield.

(more tips below)


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Be A Better Tourist Tip #4 – Go Small

If you want to cruise, choose smaller vessels and/ or go further off the beaten path. Smaller ships can go to smaller (often more interesting) ports. This helps with congestion, and often you’ll find it results in a better, more enjoyable trip.

Be A Better Tourist Tip #5 – Research

random acts of kindness support local business cafeRead up on your destination before you leave. Plan what you want to see – and don’t think you need to see ALL the “must-dos”.

I planned a fabulous trip to Istanbul many years ago, and had the most fabulous holiday there, seeing incredible sights and meeting the most amazing people.

But I regretted not having booked an extra couple of days longer – I wanted time to sit and drink coffee and chat and absorb more of the culture.

Many package tours – the “cram-it-all-in” affairs that the industry pushes aggressively – are not only filled with hidden fees, but also worsen the “drive-by” tourism that leaves you with little to remember.

Save money, help save the planet, be kinder to your destination and research and plan what YOU want to see and do.

Be A Better Tourist Tip #6 – Be Respectful

Always, always be well-researched and be respectful. Don’t dumb down to the “selfie culture” and “bucket list culture”. Treat the destination and people with respect and courtesy.

You do not have the right to go anywhere you want, there is no “right to travel”.

Travel is a privilege. A most enjoyable one.

 

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Warm regards,

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be a better tourist, better tourist, over-tourism, tourism, tourism growth, tourism problems


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