Lately, and because as a tourist I'm also annoyed by the tourists, we have gotten into the habit of renting a place (usually not in a big city) and staying for an extended period of time (the privilege of being retired). This has lots of benefits: 1. it's cheaper than hotels - 2. you become an adopted local pretty quick, the baker knows you, the coffee shop gets used to you - 3. you can explore the area at leisure and mostly avoid the buses or the cruise people "because you're already there", before they show up - 4. you can decide to do nothing and just veg, just like home. I went to Barcelona a couple of times for work, saw the place with Spanish colleagues. Hubby would like to go, he's never been, I'm a little reluctant. We braved the throngs in Lisbon in September and we were both crabby after 1 day.... so, maybe not.
That sounds like a dream, and how I picture my retirement looking like! I haven’t been to Barcelona since I was little, but I remember it fondly. You should take your husband there for sure.
I was thinking, who would go to Venice for the day? Then remembered I did actually do that once, for the carnival. One of the most stressful cities I’ve visited for tourists (though, it was carnival). Do wonder how they’d enforce such a charge, but I see where they’re coming from.
As for tourists in general, I don’t want to live in a world where only residents are allowed to visit certain places. And tbh I roll my eyes a bit when people who live in tourist spots moan about visitors, who clearly bring quite a bit to the economy (less true of bigger cities that have more going for them I guess). But as I mentioned above I also understand where people are coming from. I feel for the Venetians who live in the historical centre - must be a nightmare living with that sheer volume of people day to day.
I dunno what my point is, but it’s an issue we’ve created that needs to be solved and I’m not sure what the answer is really!
I lived in the historic center of Rome for 17 years and just moved to what many Venetians consider the far edge of town. I am 7 bridges from Piazza San Marco. (frying pans & fires!) It's complicated for sure.
The registering and getting a ticket to visit thing is convoluted and I predict chaos. For example, I have not been able to change my residence yet, (yay Italian bureaucracy) so I won't be able to move around on those days for fear of being "caught."
Huge groups are a drag and particularly annoying here where we have mostly tiny streets and literally nowhere else to go. (Time for my regular PSA: Please don't sit on bridges. They are our streets) It would be more helpful for the mayor (who lives on the mainland) to focus on making this a city where more people can actually live and not only focus on tourism. There are more tourist beds than residents, many restaurants and bars shut down at 11, it is next to impossible to get to the airport for an early flight except for by private taxi.
Venice has been welcoming visitors for centuries. The difference now compared to 500 years ago there were more Venetians than visitors.
Really interesting to hear from someone who is in the thick of it. Sounds like a logistical nightmare! I think you hit the nail on the head with the issue of the mayor’s attitude. When you put tourism above the needs of residents it becomes a bigger problem. Noted re: sitting in bridges! Though I’ve not ever done that.😄
I agree Ren that although I think it's sometimes a bit churlish if you're living in a place that thrives on tourism to complain about the thing driving your economy, it can sometimes still be very very annoying to have huge groups of them around everywhere (sitting on bridges for instance!). I also think the day charge has been aimed at people on cruise ships too and if it isn't TOTAL chaos I could see others trying it too.
But yes I think you've hit the nail on the head Gillian - the people who run cities that are big for tourists should focus more attention on the residents, as without them it just becomes an unreal place entirely focused on seeing it. Dubrovnik's old town is a prime example of this.
I was born and raised in Rome, and here the situation is not very different. It was precisely this that prompted me, in 2011, to start a blog to share, in English, neighborhoods and less touristy places in Rome, hoping to entice tourists to also visit areas outside the historic center, away from the more beaten paths. This then became my way of traveling (I don't want to be the unwelcome tourist) and of extending my editorial project to other cities.
It's very cool to hear what prompted you to start your blog Giulia - I agree that these off the beaten path areas and neighbourhoods often end up being the places you have the best experiences
We do welcome tourists in Spain, but big cities like Barcelona or Madrid get overcrowded with tourists, especially in summer. As a local, I’d love to visit The Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona again, but I can’t, and obviously you can guess why. lol. Thankfully I don’t live in Barcelona, but at a small seaside town 40km from the city. Just going there gives me a headache. I try to avoid going to the city, unless necessary, like a medical appointment.
As a travel agent, I have to admit that I, and my colleagues, are part of the problem. We encourage people to travel to different destinations to experience history and cultures different than our own.
However, in recent years, travel has become more of a means of ticking off boxes on some sort of list. People make a list and then proceed to visit said list. And for many, it is not for the pleasure of the destination, but rather the getting the proof (photos, Instagram,) that they were there.
I feel that these type of tourists are the ones that are ruining the wonderful destinations for those that truly want to enjoy another culture and learn the history and way of life.
If all you want to do is take your selfie, buy a backdrop photo and stay home.
I confess that I'm kind of over "places not wanting me" meme. Partly, that's because in seven years of travel I've never really encountered that attitude. Which isn't to say some places aren't overtouristed.
Rome in summer absolutely is. Barcelona too. Which is why I try to avoid them.
But I also think at least some of this backlash is social media driven and doesn't reflect what real people think in real life. And even in a place like Barcelona, not everyone will be anti-tourist if for no other reason than they need the dollars.
Covid really drove home that point for us. Once we started traveling again after being vaxxed, so many places were thrilled to have us back.
BTW, I 100% local governments doing what they think best for their citizens. I think that's the way these things should be done -- with the force of law. Not shaming or hating on people.
Lately, and because as a tourist I'm also annoyed by the tourists, we have gotten into the habit of renting a place (usually not in a big city) and staying for an extended period of time (the privilege of being retired). This has lots of benefits: 1. it's cheaper than hotels - 2. you become an adopted local pretty quick, the baker knows you, the coffee shop gets used to you - 3. you can explore the area at leisure and mostly avoid the buses or the cruise people "because you're already there", before they show up - 4. you can decide to do nothing and just veg, just like home. I went to Barcelona a couple of times for work, saw the place with Spanish colleagues. Hubby would like to go, he's never been, I'm a little reluctant. We braved the throngs in Lisbon in September and we were both crabby after 1 day.... so, maybe not.
Oh I love this idea Martine! That sounds like an idyllic way to travel. And yes crowds make me crabby too!
That sounds like a dream, and how I picture my retirement looking like! I haven’t been to Barcelona since I was little, but I remember it fondly. You should take your husband there for sure.
I was thinking, who would go to Venice for the day? Then remembered I did actually do that once, for the carnival. One of the most stressful cities I’ve visited for tourists (though, it was carnival). Do wonder how they’d enforce such a charge, but I see where they’re coming from.
As for tourists in general, I don’t want to live in a world where only residents are allowed to visit certain places. And tbh I roll my eyes a bit when people who live in tourist spots moan about visitors, who clearly bring quite a bit to the economy (less true of bigger cities that have more going for them I guess). But as I mentioned above I also understand where people are coming from. I feel for the Venetians who live in the historical centre - must be a nightmare living with that sheer volume of people day to day.
I dunno what my point is, but it’s an issue we’ve created that needs to be solved and I’m not sure what the answer is really!
I lived in the historic center of Rome for 17 years and just moved to what many Venetians consider the far edge of town. I am 7 bridges from Piazza San Marco. (frying pans & fires!) It's complicated for sure.
The registering and getting a ticket to visit thing is convoluted and I predict chaos. For example, I have not been able to change my residence yet, (yay Italian bureaucracy) so I won't be able to move around on those days for fear of being "caught."
Huge groups are a drag and particularly annoying here where we have mostly tiny streets and literally nowhere else to go. (Time for my regular PSA: Please don't sit on bridges. They are our streets) It would be more helpful for the mayor (who lives on the mainland) to focus on making this a city where more people can actually live and not only focus on tourism. There are more tourist beds than residents, many restaurants and bars shut down at 11, it is next to impossible to get to the airport for an early flight except for by private taxi.
Venice has been welcoming visitors for centuries. The difference now compared to 500 years ago there were more Venetians than visitors.
Really interesting to hear from someone who is in the thick of it. Sounds like a logistical nightmare! I think you hit the nail on the head with the issue of the mayor’s attitude. When you put tourism above the needs of residents it becomes a bigger problem. Noted re: sitting in bridges! Though I’ve not ever done that.😄
Thanks both of you for your comments :-)
I agree Ren that although I think it's sometimes a bit churlish if you're living in a place that thrives on tourism to complain about the thing driving your economy, it can sometimes still be very very annoying to have huge groups of them around everywhere (sitting on bridges for instance!). I also think the day charge has been aimed at people on cruise ships too and if it isn't TOTAL chaos I could see others trying it too.
But yes I think you've hit the nail on the head Gillian - the people who run cities that are big for tourists should focus more attention on the residents, as without them it just becomes an unreal place entirely focused on seeing it. Dubrovnik's old town is a prime example of this.
Lovely essay! Laughed out loud, but also nodded in agreement with lots of things you said. We tourists sure are a modern pestilence, huh?
Thanks Andrei! Haha yeah, unfortunately I think so!
I was born and raised in Rome, and here the situation is not very different. It was precisely this that prompted me, in 2011, to start a blog to share, in English, neighborhoods and less touristy places in Rome, hoping to entice tourists to also visit areas outside the historic center, away from the more beaten paths. This then became my way of traveling (I don't want to be the unwelcome tourist) and of extending my editorial project to other cities.
It's very cool to hear what prompted you to start your blog Giulia - I agree that these off the beaten path areas and neighbourhoods often end up being the places you have the best experiences
“Beer, aqua, coca colaaaaaaa”
Gorgeous photos!
Thanks Holly!
We do welcome tourists in Spain, but big cities like Barcelona or Madrid get overcrowded with tourists, especially in summer. As a local, I’d love to visit The Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona again, but I can’t, and obviously you can guess why. lol. Thankfully I don’t live in Barcelona, but at a small seaside town 40km from the city. Just going there gives me a headache. I try to avoid going to the city, unless necessary, like a medical appointment.
Yeah I can see why! It is a real shame about things like the Sagrada Familia - that was really really quite busy when I visited
As a travel agent, I have to admit that I, and my colleagues, are part of the problem. We encourage people to travel to different destinations to experience history and cultures different than our own.
However, in recent years, travel has become more of a means of ticking off boxes on some sort of list. People make a list and then proceed to visit said list. And for many, it is not for the pleasure of the destination, but rather the getting the proof (photos, Instagram,) that they were there.
I feel that these type of tourists are the ones that are ruining the wonderful destinations for those that truly want to enjoy another culture and learn the history and way of life.
If all you want to do is take your selfie, buy a backdrop photo and stay home.
I confess that I'm kind of over "places not wanting me" meme. Partly, that's because in seven years of travel I've never really encountered that attitude. Which isn't to say some places aren't overtouristed.
Rome in summer absolutely is. Barcelona too. Which is why I try to avoid them.
But I also think at least some of this backlash is social media driven and doesn't reflect what real people think in real life. And even in a place like Barcelona, not everyone will be anti-tourist if for no other reason than they need the dollars.
Covid really drove home that point for us. Once we started traveling again after being vaxxed, so many places were thrilled to have us back.
BTW, I 100% local governments doing what they think best for their citizens. I think that's the way these things should be done -- with the force of law. Not shaming or hating on people.