Tourists go home - a European revolt

[RB]

I guess if you earn your income from tourism, then the more the merrier, but I can understand if you live somewhere like that and not be invovled in that industry it would be a pia.

As an example, we are in Monchau a small town in Germany close to Belgium, during the day there were lots of tourists but most had disappeared by 5pm.
Same with places like Cesky Krumlov, it's best to try to stay overnight and not do a day trip, imo.

Now off to Spa and a quick lap of the Nurburgring tomorrow, before heading down to Trier for Rallye Deutscland. Guess I'm contributing to the issue as well.

Certainly is a delicate balance. Agree re Cesky Krumlov & also felt the same re Siena, quite a few of the small Alaskan towns & places along the Mosel river

 

[amaroo]

Visiting during the shoulder seasons and even winter = bliss.

High season just looks like a "hot" dog's breakfast!

 

[RB]

Another story in the press today.I have such great memories of Hvar but numbers were certainly not the same when we were there in 2004. Croatian island Hvar to crack down on drunken tourists

 

[wandering_fred]

Perhaps the reduction in the exchange rate for the Euro might have something to do with the increased visitor numbers?

Just wandering

Fred

 

[dajop]

Visiting during the shoulder seasons and even winter = bliss.

Last year we visited Albania during peak season = bliss as well. That won't last too long though I assume.

For example, we visited a castle on a headland overlooking sea both sides. The guy at the door was lying down asleep, his dog woke him too sell us a ticket, which was about equivalent to $1 or $2. We used the i-phone torch function in some areas of the castle as it was so dark! After we finished we went for a swim at the adjacent beach, where a whopping 3 other people were swimming. Anywhere else in Europe the place would have been overrun.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Perhaps the reduction in the exchange rate for the Euro might have something to do with the increased visitor numbers?

Just wandering

Fred

In recent years I think the biggest reason has been to rising wealth of the Chinese. Once there were few to be seen, but with the Chinese middle class now being wealthy enough to travel there are now vast groups and morseo at the main tourist sights. Indians have also boomed I believe.

In real terms, air travel is now much cheaper for all. So that then means that all numbers are up. ie When I was a a lad there were very few that travelled to Europe. Now even a student can afford to go on their Uni break. So a greater % of many countries populations can afford to travel.

The boom in cruise ship travel has meant that cities that they frequent get hammered in particular.

I must admit that it is why most of my travels tend to (but not always of course) to be to the paths less travelled.

 

[JohnK]

I don't know what cruise tourists do but coach tour groups spend a fair amount at each stop.

 

[Quickstatus]

Bus groups tend not to spend much because they tend they be budget tourists and who are generally on a tight schedule

 

[Tiki]

We did a Mediterranean cruise Venice-Barcelona a few years ago and all the ports were swamped with tourists, multiple ships at most ports. Lots of cruise pax go off and do their own thing so spend money with locals. The markets were always really busy and the cruisers did the usual things like museums & art galleries and used local tour operators so these places get swamped as well. But they do bring in a lot of revenue and keep a lot of people employed.

 

[Quickstatus]

Disadvantages of tourism:

Commercialisation of culture
Tourism jobs are often low paying and seasonal
Costs of providing infrastructure for tourists rather than for the local community
Profits not necessarily stay in local community, incom producing assets owned by entities not of the area, dependance on tourism dollar
Tourist behaviour may not fit with local mores
Cost of living pushes out locals

 

[dodgeyhack]

Having just been to Croatia. The attitude of the locals was super friendly in Zagreb (I felt the Esplanade Zagreb absolutely perfected hotel service), very friendly in Split, and friendly in the high quality but slightly off the beaten track places in Dubrovnik but unfriendly elsewhere. The Game of Thrones stuff is a bit cheesy and overdone imo.

 

[Radio8tiv]

Visiting during the shoulder seasons and even winter = bliss.

High season just looks like a "hot" dog's breakfast!

Couldnt agree more, I always try to visit places in the winter for many reasons
prices are generally cheaper, lines are shorter, locals seem more helpful, and the biggest reason is that coming from a hot place it's important to get a cool holiday. However this sometimes means you miss out due to places being shut like the casamates of Luxembourg, or various castles in the Loire valley.

 

[Mattg]

To an extent, I can understand why some people might be upset when their city becomes overrun by tourists.

Personally, I don't understand why people travel to the most popular tourist destinations (Paris, London, Venice, Barcelona... even Bali, coughet etc.) then complain about the number of other tourists. There are many, many other fantastic destinations out there that are not overrun by tourists and will genuinely appreciate the economic and social benefits that tourism brings.

 

[RB]

Having just been to Croatia. The attitude of the locals was super friendly in Zagreb (I felt the Esplanade Zagreb absolutely perfected hotel service), very friendly in Split, and friendly in the high quality but slightly off the beaten track places in Dubrovnik but unfriendly elsewhere. The Game of Thrones stuff is a bit cheesy and overdone imo.

It is a long time since we were in Croatia & we were not there to shop, but the expensive designer shops inside the walls at Dubrovnik left me cold-loved the islands & Plitvice Lakes though and our hosts were all super helpful
I must be one of the few people to not watch Game of Thrones?

 

[Jacksond]

What's Game Of Thrones?:mrgreen: Actually I tried to watch it but couldn't get into it. I'm going to France next week. My biggest dislike is/are the selfie stick and sunglasses sellers at many of the sites. Lots of other places to wander in these places and avoid the crowds. Speaking a bit of the language helps a lot, as well.

 

[desafinado74]

I am a solo traveller who loves photography, and i find the selfie stick a very handy tool indeed.
Sometimes i use a tripod, but that is not always practical. And i am kinda shy in asking other people to take a photo for me.

I am always mindful of people around me, and try to take a selfie stick pic as quickly as possible.
As long as you are respectful of other peoples' space and your surroundings, there is nothing wrong in using a selfie stick.

PS : Game of Thrones is one of the best series ever :mrgreen: Great acting all round and the plots are always interesting