I’ve always wanted to go to Rome. Last week I did. In particular, I’ve always wanted to see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Sistine Chapel. Annoyingly, I still want to see those things. I have never been a huge fan of tourism: people gawping at a few attractions while inscrutable locals try to shaft them for each pound, euro or dollar they bring with them. Unless you speak the language or have a local guide, you’re another cog in the giant cash-extracting machine of mass tourism.
It is a fine balance - the class who have taken retirement by the thousand at 50 or 55, as they are entitled to do, followed by 'must see' tours. The flip side is tourist destinations need the visitors and their cash.
I suspect greed is the source of the friction. For ticket sales it is the apparent norm to sell off blocks to third parties - even for events with almost no risk of failure - and then pass on via at least one further layer of profit to the public.
I live close to the Cotswolds, a typical tourist attraction. For all it's beauty, and scattering of good places to visit, I fear anyone not aware of the pitfalls will be short changed. Again, this appears to be the norm, enabled by social media which routinely promotes false images (deserted vistas in full sun shine) to encourage more to come. An unhappy experience for all, and a good reason to re-visit.
Part of this problem is due to the greed of galleries to make as much money as possible. In the UK when galleries have pay for entry exhibitions they allow entry to too many people and it is impossible to enjoy the art.
I lived in Bath for many years; in the warmer months the congestion becomes unbearable, as hordes of tourists of every kind descend en masse.
As a world heritage site, it is now remarkable for the gentrification and influx of the seriously wealthy, which along with mass tourism, have led to it becoming one of the most expensive and overdeveloped cities in the UK.
Locals -those on average incomes and below- are either enclosed in social housing or obliged to live in the expanding suburbs, as inequality and property prices increase.
Wait until there is a global tragedy, like September 11, when no Americans or Japanese were flying, we went to Veaux le Vicomte, and were about the only people there. Cynical I know.
Firstly, you should have gone by train - no early morning alarm clock and wasted hours in an airport!
Secondly, why would you go to Rome in May? The whole frigging world of morons goes in May. Go out of season and wear a jumper.
I went to Granada in Spain back in about 1988. I went 2 days running because it was so lovely. Only about 6 people wandering around. I went back around 2005 and discovered I was meant to buy tickets before I left the UK! We started queuing up for the wander round the outside but there were thousands of people so we left.
Tourism has ruined most places and people - my daughter's boyfriend is Greek and he says it has turned the Greeks into lazy people who just rent out their properties in the season and sit around all winter moaning about how poor they are. His grandfather farmed land in Corfu. His aunt simply rents out the farmhouse and lives off the income.
And don't forget - holidays is why most people took the toxic jabs!!!
It is a fine balance - the class who have taken retirement by the thousand at 50 or 55, as they are entitled to do, followed by 'must see' tours. The flip side is tourist destinations need the visitors and their cash.
I suspect greed is the source of the friction. For ticket sales it is the apparent norm to sell off blocks to third parties - even for events with almost no risk of failure - and then pass on via at least one further layer of profit to the public.
I live close to the Cotswolds, a typical tourist attraction. For all it's beauty, and scattering of good places to visit, I fear anyone not aware of the pitfalls will be short changed. Again, this appears to be the norm, enabled by social media which routinely promotes false images (deserted vistas in full sun shine) to encourage more to come. An unhappy experience for all, and a good reason to re-visit.
https://www.gbnews.com/travel/spanish-people-secret-code-offensive-word-british-tourists
Worth reading
Part of this problem is due to the greed of galleries to make as much money as possible. In the UK when galleries have pay for entry exhibitions they allow entry to too many people and it is impossible to enjoy the art.
I lived in Bath for many years; in the warmer months the congestion becomes unbearable, as hordes of tourists of every kind descend en masse.
As a world heritage site, it is now remarkable for the gentrification and influx of the seriously wealthy, which along with mass tourism, have led to it becoming one of the most expensive and overdeveloped cities in the UK.
Locals -those on average incomes and below- are either enclosed in social housing or obliged to live in the expanding suburbs, as inequality and property prices increase.
Wait until there is a global tragedy, like September 11, when no Americans or Japanese were flying, we went to Veaux le Vicomte, and were about the only people there. Cynical I know.
Firstly, you should have gone by train - no early morning alarm clock and wasted hours in an airport!
Secondly, why would you go to Rome in May? The whole frigging world of morons goes in May. Go out of season and wear a jumper.
I went to Granada in Spain back in about 1988. I went 2 days running because it was so lovely. Only about 6 people wandering around. I went back around 2005 and discovered I was meant to buy tickets before I left the UK! We started queuing up for the wander round the outside but there were thousands of people so we left.
Tourism has ruined most places and people - my daughter's boyfriend is Greek and he says it has turned the Greeks into lazy people who just rent out their properties in the season and sit around all winter moaning about how poor they are. His grandfather farmed land in Corfu. His aunt simply rents out the farmhouse and lives off the income.
And don't forget - holidays is why most people took the toxic jabs!!!