How to be a good tourist; a guide for the modern traveller
With the world’s most popular destinations bursting at the seams – and neither residents nor visitors happy with the fact – it would be in everyone’s interests for travellers to rethink their approach
From Tenerife to Thessaloniki, demonstrators’ chants and roadside graffiti alike say, “Tourists go home”, although sometimes in rather stronger language.
Around the world, the residents of “must-see” destinations can no longer see each other for the crowds, and increasingly view tourists less as benefactors and more as a bane. Local authorities are responding ever more robustly to their complaints.
To drink alcohol in certain Amsterdam streets now attracts a fine of €95 (US$110), while in the village of Varenna, on Italy’s Lake Como, it’s twice as much for wearing swimwear away from the beach.
Not far away, in seaside Portofino, the introduction of no-loitering zones has effectively put an end to selfies, unless you’re a professional narcissist and the income to be expected from sponsors or followers is greater than the potential €275 (US$317) penalty for blocking traffic.
However, much of the globally growing ill will is not about bad behaviour but merely about numbers.
Destinations that have seen many long-term rental properties turned into more profitable short-term accommodation for tourists are introducing strict regulations (British Columbia) or banning Airbnb and its ilk altogether (Barcelona).