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© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.4 ways to be a good traveler in the age of overtourism
By MELISSA RAYWORTH NEW YORK©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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ArtistAtLarge
This is a very good article.
Another one of the best ways is to try and travel in the off seasons.
girl_in_tokyo
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.
Pukey2
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.
divinda
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.
Scrote
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.
englisc aspyrgend
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.
papigiulio
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.