It's a tough situation. Tourism is usually invaluable to many economies and people should be free to visit places like Bruges. But too many tourists can be a problem and can kill the culture that...
It's a tough situation. Tourism is usually invaluable to many economies and people should be free to visit places like Bruges. But too many tourists can be a problem and can kill the culture that made the place special.
In an experience of this taken to a rather absurd extent, we once found ourselves dining on the mostly deserted harbor of a very small island village on a quiet afternoon. At some point, we were...
In an experience of this taken to a rather absurd extent, we once found ourselves dining on the mostly deserted harbor of a very small island village on a quiet afternoon. At some point, we were surprised to see two tour boats heading toward us, and, as one of us was involved in local politics and had generally had good experiences with benefits from tourism elsewhere on the island, where small rented sailboats brought tourists eager for food, drinks, groceries, supplies, repairs, and so on, ended up discussing them with the proprietress. The boats, it transpired, were there to provide their passengers a photo opportunity at an authentic island village, and came from a larger island nearby. The package tour came with food and drinks included, on the boats, and the boats were stocked from the larger island. The passengers were discouraged from buying anything, as there would be specific stops for that. And besides, as a stop for photos, the tourists wouldn't be allowed to stay long enough to eat or buy anything.
Thus, no money whatsoever came to the village's economy from the boats. After all, for organized tours, the place being toured is often in competition with the tour company: money going to the village is money that the company is not receiving. A profitable guided tour company will ensure that their tourists' money is guided toward the tour company. So too will a profitable cruise ship: it has its own restaurants, its own bars, its own shops, all of which must compete with any destination.
Along with the proprietress, we looked on as the deserted harbor was suddenly overrun with tourists. They walked loudly through the street, and along the small beach, took photos in front of the harbor, the buildings, our table, the steep slopes inland. A few took rocks from the beach. Some ran up a few streets in search of better photos.
Fifteen minutes later, they were back on the boats. We continued our meal in the harbor that had now returned to its previous tranquility, and had a glass of wine as they went out to sea.
They're experiencing the same issues in the former Danish west indies. I know this because I learnt about it in history class last year - basically the biggest problem are cruise ships. They dock...
They're experiencing the same issues in the former Danish west indies. I know this because I learnt about it in history class last year - basically the biggest problem are cruise ships. They dock for brief periods of time and don't eat shop there because they can do that on their cruise ship, which I guess is what the article points out as well:
Too few of those filling the cobbled streets and sun-dappled squares are spending money when they come, instead being shipped in and shipped out within hours of arrival
It's a tough situation. Tourism is usually invaluable to many economies and people should be free to visit places like Bruges. But too many tourists can be a problem and can kill the culture that made the place special.
In an experience of this taken to a rather absurd extent, we once found ourselves dining on the mostly deserted harbor of a very small island village on a quiet afternoon. At some point, we were surprised to see two tour boats heading toward us, and, as one of us was involved in local politics and had generally had good experiences with benefits from tourism elsewhere on the island, where small rented sailboats brought tourists eager for food, drinks, groceries, supplies, repairs, and so on, ended up discussing them with the proprietress. The boats, it transpired, were there to provide their passengers a photo opportunity at an authentic island village, and came from a larger island nearby. The package tour came with food and drinks included, on the boats, and the boats were stocked from the larger island. The passengers were discouraged from buying anything, as there would be specific stops for that. And besides, as a stop for photos, the tourists wouldn't be allowed to stay long enough to eat or buy anything.
Thus, no money whatsoever came to the village's economy from the boats. After all, for organized tours, the place being toured is often in competition with the tour company: money going to the village is money that the company is not receiving. A profitable guided tour company will ensure that their tourists' money is guided toward the tour company. So too will a profitable cruise ship: it has its own restaurants, its own bars, its own shops, all of which must compete with any destination.
Along with the proprietress, we looked on as the deserted harbor was suddenly overrun with tourists. They walked loudly through the street, and along the small beach, took photos in front of the harbor, the buildings, our table, the steep slopes inland. A few took rocks from the beach. Some ran up a few streets in search of better photos.
Fifteen minutes later, they were back on the boats. We continued our meal in the harbor that had now returned to its previous tranquility, and had a glass of wine as they went out to sea.
They're experiencing the same issues in the former Danish west indies. I know this because I learnt about it in history class last year - basically the biggest problem are cruise ships. They dock for brief periods of time and don't eat shop there because they can do that on their cruise ship, which I guess is what the article points out as well: