Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Wish you weren’t here
Four ways to be a good traveler in the age of overtourism
THE Louvre museum closed for a day in May because workers said the crowds were too big to handle. In the Himalayas, climbers at Mount Everest are concerned that the peak has gotten too crowded, contributing to the highest death toll in years.
In cities and destinations around the world, from Barcelona to Bali, “overtourism” has become a yearround problem.
When fields of wildflowers in Lake Elsinore, California, were overrun this past spring by tourists seeking the perfect photo, the city tweeted bluntly about the impact of traffic jams and trampled hillsides: “We know it has been miserable and has caused unnecessary hardships for our entire community.”
Last summer, it was a sunflower field outside of Toronto that got trampled after becoming Instagram-famous.
A confluence of discount airlines, inexpensive Airbnb rooms and social media shares have brought the blessing of tourist dollars and the growing curse of noisy crowds and even dangerous conditions to places once known for off-thebeaten-path charm or idyllic silence.
“Tourists are trampling the very attraction they’ve come to witness,” says Joel Deichmann, a global studies professor at Bentley University in Massachusetts.
Some communities have begun pushing back with regulations and public service announcements telling tourists to behave.
How do you visit these places without doing harm? Here are four tips from experts:
Remember, it’s not all about you
Venturing far from home and experiencing an unfamiliar culture can be transformative, bringing a sense of freedom and even hedonism. But don’t forget: This is already someone’s culture, someone’s home.
So beyond simply choosing a hotel, really research the place you want to visit. What kind of behavior is appropriate there? What are the environmental policies? If you’re booking through a travel service, ask them for guidance.
“This isn’t Disney,” says Rachel Dodds, founder of the consulting firm Sustaining Tourism.
Pavia Rosati, founder of the travel service Fathom and co-author of the book “Travel Anywhere,” reminds travelers going to exotic destinations: “You are not here to just add something foreign to your collection.”
It might seem logical to put on a tank top and shorts in Thailand’s 100-degree heat. But if you’re going to visit Buddhist temples, it’s considered disrespectful. “Err on the side of conservative dress,” Rosati says.
Deichmann, who frequently travels abroad with his students, advises them to be sensitive and take cues from local residents. For example, he says, on a subway or bus in European cities, locals are usually reading or sitting quietly. Follow their lead: Avoid loud conversations or getting up to snap photos.
Put picture-taking in perspective
With phone cameras, we’ve become accustomed to taking pictures constantly. But taking photos of people, their children and their homes can be invasive.
Also, respect the physical environment. It might seem obvious, but don’t walk on the wildflowers to get the best photo.
And consider the risks: At Kaaterskill Falls in New York’s Catskill Mountains, four tourist deaths in recent years have been attributed to attempts to take dramatic selfies.
You’ll probably enjoy your experiences more fully if you spend less time snapping photos, says University of Denver assistant professor Gia Nardini, co-author of a study on the subject.
Give back
When Rosati was planning a cruise along the Amazon River, she knew she’d be stopping in villages where children needed basics such as pencils, crayons and paper. So “one-third of my suitcase was school supplies,” she says. Once there, she gave them away and filled the space in her suitcase with local crafts.
Consider spending money in the local economy rather than at international hotel chains, and seek out locally owned restaurants and bars.
To help the environment, use public transportation as much as possible.
Finally, take your packaging with you when you leave a place. And never buy gifts made from endangered animals or other illegal materials.
Say hello
“My dad used to say you need to learn to say, ‘How can I get a cup of coffee’ in the local language,” says Dodds, author of “Overtourism: Issues, Realities and Solutions.”
Even in places where many locals speak English, learning a few words in their language — please, thank you, yes, no — will earn you goodwill and a more authentic experience.