The overtourism problem in Europe (1 Viewer)

Well of course people live and work there. But even when we went off course, there was still a flurry of tourist focused stuff. To be fair we didn't stray that far over 6 days.
But I don't think that IS 'of course'. Or at least it isn't for Venice. They can get over double the population daily in tourists. It's utterly overwhelming. The city only exists for tourists. The locals have moved over to Venice Mestre or further afield. Venice itself has pretty much no reason to exist any more other than for tourists.
 
It’s a tough one. It seems just a typical case of humans all following each other, governments wanting to exploit cash as much as they can, people wanting to pay the least but get the most experiences etc and we end up in a situation where locals can’t afford to even CAMP in their cities. People get pissed, jobs can’t be filled and it’s a hot mess.

Really no idea what the solution is, but restrictions on Airbnb and all the similar are surely a start and ought to be used far more than they currently are.
 
I've always assumed that if I were in hospital abroad, the NHS would be billed and vice versa for other club banger nations. I would feel quite guilty otherwise. I was back in Cologne at the weekend and couldn't believe how their high streets were so full of shops compared to the empty units with shutters down we have here. I wonder what the difference is? I try to avoid touristy things, but some you simply can't resist. I agree that the Japanese seem most conscientious as being aware of people's space and scents even is part of their culture (@Diddy to confirm).
 
It’s a tough one. It seems just a typical case of humans all following each other, governments wanting to exploit cash as much as they can, people wanting to pay the least but get the most experiences etc and we end up in a situation where locals can’t afford to even CAMP in their cities. People get pissed, jobs can’t be filled and it’s a hot mess.

This has also been the case for Mexico City and has grown worse at a worrying rate. Most of my neighbors are a mixture of North Americans, French, and Korean people. The neighborhood has become littered with Airbnb's and locals have slowly moved away to another state.
 
Y'all missing the MAIN point of the problem and that's the false economy placed on rental and mortgage prices in tourism cities and areas with resort communities. It's quite absurd that Johnny Bulldog and his girlfriend can uptake their drug money and move to Benidorm no questions asked while local schoolteacher Maria and her 3 children can't afford to pay rent on their apartment next door.

I think it's wrong to blame tourists for the problem because the economies are now too intrinsically linked to the towns and cities they're in - removing tourists and putting thousands of waiters and bartenders and chefs out of work is just shifting one problem over to another.

They need to tackle the root cause of foreign property buying. It's the biggest burden on ordinary people but it probably won't change because it's one of the biggest cash cows worldwide for local governments. Whether it's the costa del sol full of English brats or London skyscrapers full of empty apartments owned by foreign investors... they need to figure out how to put some sort of cap on it otherwise the world's land will eventually be owned by the 1% (and drug dealers) and everyone else will just pay rent they can't afford. The signs are already there, this is just the latest step.

How's THAT for boomer!
Respectfully fuck off with your threats to my future plans 😂
 
Also, thats actually quite a narrow view based on places where population growth isnt matched by property groeth, for whatever reason.

There are plenty of counter examples where people moving in to areas from abroad have boosted and even saved towns and cities where there has been massive native population decline.
 
I live in one of the most visited cities in the world. Yet I never feel it’s overcrowded or that it’s missing locals… I mean yes, you might perceive it that way if you spend your vacation around les Champs-Elysées, but literally WHO goes there anyway?

I don’t know how it is elsewhere, but the city has been very strict with platforms like Airbnb, only allowing renting up to 120 days a year. Which has preserved the housing in the city. If the housing situation is vulnerable somewhere, similar measures should be taken. But ultimately, tourism is what has saved some cities in Europe.
 
I think Paris and Rome are different cases due to their sheer size and the focused areas in which tourists gather. But then, look at Barcelona I suppose.

But still, I don't think I'd go near a city like Venice or Florence at peak season, and I can see how frustrating it must be for locals in places of that size.
 
tourism has definitely saved a lot of cities but it's also grown exponentially and has to be cut back now. in Amsterdam they're trying everything possible to drastically cut the current 23 million visitors a year figure. they made a campaign this year designed to prevent male Brits from coming that obviously didn't work. it's just so hard once somewhere becomes a destination to de-popularise it. especially in the ig age.
 
Dubrovnik old town is OVERRUN with bloody cruise ship tourists :argh:
 
As much as the only cruise that would appeal to me would be the ones docking in different places every day or other day, there seems something even more unethical about staying in an all inclusive luxury floating hotel, being farted out into a tourist destination in the morning, nosing around the tourist sites, and then getting back on your ship to be whisked off somewhere else. How much are you even contributing to the local economy?
 
On the other side of the coin, travel needs to be accessible for all and not just the preserve of people with a shit ton of money.

I'm probably on a different page to a lot of people on Moopy but I do kind of think 'just suck it up' when people are going on about tourists. It's not just something that happens in other countries; sleepy little Bourton on the Water is basically impassable in peak season, but what's the alternative? They're making an absolute wad and without tourists the Cotswolds would just be a bunch of cunts living in drafty houses. I work two days a week in Stratford and it's CRAWLING with tourists, to the point any actually useful shops for residents are being shunted to out of town shopping areas so they can fill the centre with tea shops, fudge pantries and gift shops selling - insanely - I heart London t-shirts. Despite that, nobody there begrudges tourism because the town is raking it in and they have the highest employment rate in the country.
 
Probably cuz tourist traps are all overpriced ?
yet more stunning insight!

honestly...

Europe is dirt cheap for American tourists, they can afford a lot. they don't contribute to the economy because cruise ships drop them off for 4 hours and at most they buy lunch and a fridge magnet.

that's why Venice's €5 tourist tax is a fucking joke. they should make it €100 for anyone coming in on a cruise ship and keep raising it until it actually has an impact.
 
I'm going to start running around with a water pistol squirting all the tourists who deign to visit my ENDS. There's only like ten of them a day and they're usually wearing sequins and flares but I just want to be part of something.
 
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I'm going to start running around with a water pistol squirting all the tourists who deign to visit my ENDS. There's only like ten of them a day and they're usually wearing sequins and flares but I just want to be part of something.
Poor @Pingu :(
 
yet more stunning insight!

honestly...

Europe is dirt cheap for American tourists, they can afford a lot. they don't contribute to the economy because cruise ships drop them off for 4 hours and at most they buy lunch and a fridge magnet.

that's why Venice's €5 tourist tax is a fucking joke. they should make it €100 for anyone coming in on a cruise ship and keep raising it until it actually has an impact.
You're typing in small letters but your bad tone is on CAPS LOCK.

Travel is always expensive I find, especially in countries where the currency is stronger than the USD... Like the Euro. Honestly, some of these tourist attractions are just extortionate.
 
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pretty expensive lunch and free healthcare, seeing as that Americans spend over $100 billion a year on international travel, 43% of which is in Europe
 
pretty expensive lunch and free healthcare, seeing as that Americans spend over $100 billion a year on international travel, 43% of which is in Europe
How much of that 43% helps the local economy, though?

Nothing against US tourists or tourism - I've no doubt the exact same is true for cruise travel generally from anywhere. I can easily spend £2500 on a Mediterranean cruise. But how much of that is benefiting the areas I'm visiting?
 
Aww we could do the model village and Birdland
:( Plus that museum that has BRUM
But you'll never get the Enchanted Princess up the River Windrush. Do you expect me to get there on the bus?
 

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