travel

4 ways to be a good traveler in the age of overtourism

11 Comments
By MELISSA RAYWORTH

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11 Comments
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This is a very good article.

Another one of the best ways is to try and travel in the off seasons.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

While well-intentioned, guides like this one won't make much difference. If you actually have to tell people "be polite" "show restraint" "don't treat locals like zoo animals", then they aren't going to listen anyway. People seem to lose common sense when they travel, even if they had some before.

That said, I do think we should keep trying. Maybe one day it will sink in.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

That photo of the line of people on the Himalayas....reminds me of Fuji-san when I went there 20 years ago! I shudder to think what it's like now.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

So "one-third of my suitcase was school supplies," she says. Once there, she gave them away

The result of this seemingly kind gesture are the inevitable hordes of adamant kids that swarm any future tourist screaming, demanding, "School pen! School pen!".

I've experienced this from Cambodia to Guatemala, in far off villages in Nepal, on the streets of Mumbai, upon remote islands in Indonesia, and in the alleys of Marakesh. So now it can be expected in the deepest reaches of the Amazon. Great.

If looking to give something, give to a local charity. Don't propagate a system that will only encourage begging.

 

9 ( +9 / -0 )

"My dad used to say you need to learn to say, 'How can I get a cup of coffee' in the local language,"

I'm similar, except that I learn how to order beer instead of coffee.

As for selfies: I prefer photos that don't have me in them, but then I'm not a narcissist.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

There is a difference between travellers and tourists, this is primarily aimed at tourists.

There is no real solution except to control the number of tourists, at any over crowded destination.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

but Kyoto is the first place I've really noticed it. And it does affect the quality of the experience, even though that may only be for those of us who've been visiting for a while and are used to things the way they used to be.

10 years ago I went to Arashiyama and it was already crowded yes, but we could still enjoy it. I went there last year, it was completely black with people. They had to add crushbarriers all the way over the bridge because people used to walk on the street, ruining that picturesque image. They have also built a new cafe in Arashiyama (arabica I believe) that is completely made from concrete and big glass windows standing out from the old Japan image also ruining that picturesque image. I won't even start about Kiyomizudera and surrounding areas.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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