In Paris, the Louvre Museum closed for a day this week because workers said the crowds were too big to handle. In the Himalayas, climbers at Mount Everest are concerned that the peak has gotten too crowded, contributing to the highest death toll in years.
In cities and destinations around the world, from Barcelona to Bali, “overtourism” has become a year-round problem, according to AP.
When fields of wildflowers in Lake Elsinore, California, were overrun this spring by travelers seeking the perfect photo, the city tweeted bluntly about the impact of traffic jams and trampled hillsides: “We know it has been miserable and has caused unnecessary hardships for our entire community.” Last summer, it was a sunflower field outside of Toronto that got trampled after becoming Instagram-famous.
A mashup of discount airlines, inexpensive Airbnb rooms and social media shares have brought the blessing of tourist dollars and the growing curse of noisy crowds and even dangerous conditions to places once known for off-the-beaten-path charm or idyllic seclusion.
“Tourists are trampling the very attraction they’ve come to witness,” notes Joel Deichmann, a global studies professor at Bentley University in Massachusetts.
Some communities have started pushing back with regulations and public service announcements telling tourists to behave.
How do you visit these places without doing harm? AP lists the following four tips from experts:
1. REMEMBER, IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU.
Venturing far from home and experiencing an unfamiliar culture can be transformative, bringing a sense of freedom and even hedonism. But don’t forget: This is already someone’s culture, someone’s home.
2. PUT PICTURE-TAKING IN PERSPECTIVE
With phone cameras, we’ve become accustomed to taking pictures constantly. But taking photos of people, their children and their homes can be invasive.
3. GIVE BACK
Consider spending money in the local economy rather than at international hotel chains, and seek out locally owned restaurants and bars.
4. SAY HELLO
“My dad used to say you need to learn to say, ‘How can I get a cup of coffee’ in the local language,” says Dodds, author of a new book, “Overtourism: Issues, Realities and Solutions” (De Gruyter Oldenbourg, 2019).
Even in places where many locals speak English, learning a few words in their language — please, thank you, yes, no — will earn you good will and a more authentic experience.
Read more at thenationalherald.com
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