"More people are traveling now, which is great, but there is hardly a good place left unvisited."
I heard this comment last month in Dublin while I was waiting my turn in the immigration queue. Travelers were talking about Dubrovnik, a city on the southern coast of Croatia, and how crowded all the tourist spots are. This statement significantly influenced my thoughts. It is true that more people are traveling now which is a positive development. People are broadening their horizons, but at the same time, the list of 'hidden gems', i.e. important and must-see places, is shrinking daily, and the attitude of 'checking off' these places is over-tourism. is promoting
What is the problem?
Overtourism is a global problem. Be it Peru's Machu Picchu, Scotland's Isle of Skye, Japan's Kyoto's Geisha district, Amsterdam's red light district, the canals of Venice, or the vast plains of giant sequoias in California, Maya Bay in Thailand. , which is now closed to tourists indefinitely, or the Louvre Museum in Paris, which reopened after a brief closure due to a staff walkout due to overcrowding. All these places are facing an influx of local and foreign tourists which they cannot support.
The influx of outsiders is increasing congestion and pollution. They damage the environment, disrespect local customs and culture, take drugs, or misbehave, touch and take things inappropriately, which increases the rent.
Despite all this, travel and tourism should not be discouraged. So how can you become a better traveler?
Why do I want to go there?
In 2013, journalist Elizabeth Baker discussed the problem of overtourism in her book. Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism. She noted, "At the time, no one understood what I was saying. But now it's a reality and cities around the world are affected by it."
According to a January report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the number of international tourists reached 1.4 billion in 2018. In 1950, the number was just 25 million. In 1998, it was just over 600 million, and in 2008, it was 936 million. It is now estimated that this number will reach 1.8 billion by 2030. There are many reasons for this significant increase in tourism, including a growing middle class, cheap airfares, ambitious tourism targets set by governments, and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) fueled by social media. are included.
In playing your part, it's important to examine why you want to go there.
In May, I walked to the eastern side of the Berlin Wall, which was once occupied by the Communists and divided the city with a 12-foot-high concrete barrier. Before the wall was demolished, it was forbidden to draw or write any political or cultural symbols on it. However, it now serves as a 1.3 km long street art and mural gallery, a tribute to independence after the city's unification.
But standing there it was difficult to appreciate the beauty and importance of the place as three groups of young tourists were busy taking photos in a new way that took up a large part of the place. Locals and fellow tourists were struggling to get by as many were engrossed in their own experiences.
"The question here is whether you really want to go there or just show people you've been there," said Eduardo Santander, executive director of the European Travel Commission.
"Half the reason people have a superficial travel experience is because they've planned superficially," believes journalist Baker. "Instead of hitting the town after reading a paragraph from a guidebook or seeing something on a friend's Facebook post and taking the same selfies they've taken, you should try something," she says. "Otherwise, you're the same." will overwhelm tourists, which are clear signs of over-tourism, such as overcrowding and disturbing the locals."
Another strategy is to ask yourself what you really want to do and see, not just what you see because you're going somewhere. Don't do things you wouldn't do at home, Baker advises. For example, if you don't like museums, don't join the crowd at the Louvre Museum during your trip to Paris if you don't even know what you're looking at.
Travel away.
Baker advises, "If you're going to Prague, spend a week instead of two days, and don't just go to the tourist spots; see the whole city. You might read a novel by a Czech author, or study history. What about contemporary politics, by giving you more information about where you're going, and I can promise you that you'll avoid the crowds."
If you're visiting Paris, it makes sense that you'd want to see the Eiffel Tower. However, just going around tourist attractions like a carousel would be over-tourism. Instead of contributing to the crowds at popular tourist spots, it's better to visit lesser-known areas.
Get an app and shorten your commute.
Using an app can ensure that you don't contribute to overcrowding in busy areas. Martha Honey, executive director of the Center for Responsible Travel in Washington, mentions an app in Amsterdam that notifies you on your phone if any part of the city is overcrowded.
As for cruises, Martha Honey suggests choosing smaller boats and sailing in less touristy areas. "Instead of going to places like Venice, Barcelona and Dubrovnik on big cruise ships, opt for smaller ships, because these smaller ships can access smaller ports, giving you less travel time," she says. Allowed to visit places."
Iceland's proposed solution
Iceland has a population of only 340,000, yet received 2.3 million tourists in 2018. Here, tourists are encouraged to travel further afield than ReykjavÃk or the Blue Lagoon. This initiative brings money into their economy, which greatly benefits local residents.
Sigridur Gudmundsdottir, Public Relations Manager of Promote Iceland, said, "It supports the tourism infrastructure because these are the customers who will drive the businesses in rural Iceland. It is also important for the local people, because they are very are few in number."
Think about it.
Overtourism is not just about the influx of tourists that overwhelms a destination. It is also about crowds of people who are unfamiliar with local customs and culture. "People genuinely want to do the right things, but they need to know what the right things are in one place," says Gudmundsdottir.
This is why tourists in many places, including Iceland and Japan, are warned about how to behave. In Iceland, visitors are advised to avoid driving off the road, taking dangerous selfies, or walking on fragile moss. Meanwhile, in the Japanese city of Kyoto, tourists receive pamphlets in various languages detailing proper etiquette.
Tadashi Kaneko, global strategy executive at the Japan National Tourism Organization, says tourists should understand that they are "borrowing space from the locals."
Research where you will be staying.
Next comes the choice of responsible and reliable accommodation. Although US hospitality provider Airbnb promises you to "live like a local", some users have experienced receiving keys from a lockbox and never even meeting a local.
While you may save some money, you will be reinforcing practices that displace local people or lead to worse outcomes. Honey of Responsible Travel advises tourists to double check that where they are staying is legal, as sometimes these places are not.
"Google to see if there's a problem," Haney advises. "If you're going to Barcelona, Charleston in South Carolina, or Savannah in Georgia, remember that the effects are being seen in cities where More and more homes are being used for short-term rentals."
Plan better and improve yourself
Are these points relevant to the growing middle class in rapidly developing countries? If you have money and can go back to your country, go to places where few people go. But if it's your first trip abroad and you're so excited, not knowing when you can return, it's understandable to prefer the big tourist spots. Who can blame you?
Baker notes that if you're budget-conscious or treat travel as a rare occasion, it not only makes you a smarter traveler, but also helps keep your costs down. "If you don't have a lot of money, you should plan your trip more wisely," she says.
"You should make time to see the Eiffel Tower before you get there, wait in line, search for cheap accommodation online, read about your destination, find low-cost direct flights, and all of that. So you don't need money."
She adds that many package tours include "everything," but they often come with hidden costs, and amid the chaos of tourism, you may not be left with any memories.
So whether you're a first-time traveler or a seasoned traveler who takes off on every vacation, you can become a better traveler. In addition, over-tourism not only harms local cultures but also the experiences of travelers themselves.
Samantha Bragg of Responsible Travel says, "It might feel like avoiding a popular attraction is a sacrifice for newcomers who rarely get the chance to travel, but that's not true. We're over-the-top. Tourism has reached a point where first-time tourists can have their vacations ruined in a new country."
"And would your memory of France be exactly that of people climbing over each other to take a picture of the Mona Lisa? And did you walk past hundreds or thousands of people on the beach?"
No matter where you travel, the most important thing to remember is to research well, appreciate the place, and be curious about your destination. And, according to Honey, avoid falling prey to "selfie culture" or "bucket list culture." Think of the place you're visiting as your home, not some "hidden gem" you can throw money at for a one-of-a-kind experience.
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