[Smeg]

There seems to be a growing backlash against tourism in Europe.


Holidays to Europe 2017: Tourists no longer welcome at these destinations | Travel News | Travel | Express.co.uk

British tourists face fresh anarchist attacks in Barcelona | Daily Mail Online


Will France be next ?

 

[Isualt]

Maybe in popular tourist cities where there is a shortage of rented accommodation for locals. A lot of the complaints are against the rise of Airbnb rentals.France also appeals to a different type of tourist than those who go to the areas of the world frequented by the stag, hen parties and drunk and anything goes types.

 

[Colburn]

There seems to be a growing backlash against tourism in Europe.
Will France be next ?

No.

Any other silly questions?

 

[Smeg]

No.

Any other silly questions?

I'm not so sure. Of course France is not going to ban tourists because like all the other countries mentioned in the article the economy of France is dependent on it. Tourism is the biggest employer in Ile de France for example.

But if you think that 15-20 years ago going to the Eiffel Tower for example was quite 'chic', today, it has to be the worse place to go to in France. It is not very nice to be fair because tourists and their behaviour has changed. Also it attracts migrants who are selling cr&p' at every corner. I mean it is terrible. You can't walk from Trocadero to the tower without being hassled. It is quite offensive. Then you have those selling 'tap' water in plastic bottles thrusting them in your face. If you managed to get to the tower without getting fleeced, tripping over Chinese tourists having their wedding photos taken or being blinded by someone with a selfie stick then you are doing well. But of course, under the tower is blocked off because of terrorism.

If you lived in one of those nice expensive flats around the tower I bet you are doing your head in. It is not a very pleasant place to be. Something needs to change I guess to get its 'chicness' back..

Then you have ski resorts and the drunken loutish behaviour at night. Sooner or later they will have to curb that as it puts off families going to these resorts because they can't sleep. A family of four spends more money on ski passes, ski hire, eating out etc than those drunken idiots that just spend all their money on alcohol in a bar.

As you will discover soon, living in Lyon in the tourist season is a nightmare because of all the traffic. It will drive you mad.

So there is a fine balance. Tourists and tourism is changing and places need to adapt otherwise these loverly places will be destroyed.

So I can understand why there is a backlash against tourism in Europe.

 

[Bevdeforges]

While you or I may recoil from the crowds at the Tour Eifel or the vast hoards on the ski slopes during the winter "ski holidays" I suspect this kind of thing is simply part of the "French experience" - for both the French and for the foreign tourists. After a terrorist attack, when tourism is way down for a while, the businesses are moaning about the lack of clientele.

But I've seen the little travelogues put together by some of our French neighbors documenting their touristy trips to exotic lands, and I suspect they're considered pretty much as obnoxious as the Brits or the Americans abroad in their own way.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Isualt]

I have travelled for many years ( got paid to do so) and to some pretty weird places. I have never considered myself a tourist but a traveller. Very rarely have I seen the so called stereotype tourist except at the odd airport. I have however seen the greed of the locals who have sold agricultural land to build hotels, apartments houses etc. The corruption of governments and local authorities who have illegally granted planning. Also, the locals who would literally starve without tourism.

My great grandfather wrote that "once the working classes could afford cars our world will change forever and not for the good. They will be able to get to places only we have been able to. They drink far too much and do not know how to behave or to treat people who they consider beneath them". He was a terrible snob but a great historian and a lot he predicted has come to be.

 

[Poloss]

No organised protest against tourists in France is envisageable for the moment.
Even in Corsica bombing tourist villas has finally fizzled out.

Maybe the Catalonian independentists have unleashed forces that they didn't expect. Cameron's referendum led to a similar phenomena of violent xenophobes feeeling free to insult, threaten and harm.

If your apartment block neighbours in Paris, Toulouse, Lyon, Nantes or Bordeaux do airB'n'B, you'll have noisy groups clattering wheely suitcases or singing drunken rants at all hours. They're being cracked down on via legal channels for whatever that's worth.

In the Ardèche, the shops and street markets are saturated, parking places are rare, health services are full of people with ear & throat problems from bathing in dodgy rivers, the restaurant staff are overstressed (but if they still care enough to give you good service then they really deserve a tip), driving on narrow winding mountain roads calls for an extra special summer zen attitude (ie: elderly tourist blocked in hairpin bend and begs us to finish the manouver...another not so elderly tourist parked in the middle of the very next bend taking photos of the scenery...).

Tourists will soon be replaced with tractors and trailers full of Gamay, Syrah and Chardonnay causing jams on the roads.
Next to follow are surly hordes of drunken wild boar hunters: ("vous auriez pas vu un chien?").

No, tourists are just a drop in the ocean...I certainly won't be smashing holes in kayaks.

 

[Colburn]

But if you think that 15-20 years ago going to the Eiffel Tower for example was quite 'chic', today, it has to be the worse place to go to in France.

You can't walk from Trocadero to the tower without being hassled. It is quite offensive. Then you have those selling 'tap' water in plastic bottles thrusting them in your face.

Then you have ski resorts and the drunken loutish behaviour at night.

As you will discover soon, living in Lyon in the tourist season is a nightmare because of all the traffic. It will drive you mad.

I first saw the Eiffel Tower in 1970 and it was the same tourist magnet then that it is today. Long lines, lots of people. Every time I've visited it since, or just passed by it, it's been the same. In other words it hasn't changed much aside from the increased security. Do I hang out there? No.

Don't blame tourists for the folks selling trinkets and water. Blame the sellers.

What nation in Europe is the most notorious for drunken, loutish behavior? The British. So blame the UK for producing the louts.

I've lived in large cities and the traffic doesn't bother me. It will have no effect. YMMV of course, so you're probably better off in the suburbs.

 

[Smeg]

What nation in Europe is the most notorious for drunken, loutish behavior? The British. So blame the UK for producing the louts.

You don't do the British do you.

In the ski resort I speak of, actually there is a number of other nationalities that are spoken of a lot worse. I won't name them.

Of course you also have the Germans and the dutch. They are not much loved in some places. Then you have Americans !!!...... They seem to know everything....but nothing

Enjoy Lyon

 

[Isualt]

I first saw the Eiffel Tower in 1970 and it was the same tourist magnet then that it is today. Long lines, lots of people. Every time I've visited it since, or just passed by it, it's been the same. In other words it hasn't changed much aside from the increased security. Do I hang out there? No.

Don't blame tourists for the folks selling trinkets and water. Blame the sellers.

What nation in Europe is the most notorious for drunken, loutish behavior? The British. So blame the UK for producing the louts.e

Well, it is said that the bad behaviour amongst the young started in the US -the Spring Break culture. Fort Liquordale amongst other resorts banned them and returned to being Fort Lauderdale. Ever been in Cancum when American youth are there? Makes Magaluf look like Eastbourne. They would behave exactly the same in Europe if it was not so far away. As to what happen in Vegas amongst the not so young, well let's hope it does stay... As to producing louts, well we have not elected one as the leader of the nation yet...

 

[Smeg]

As to producing louts, well we have not elected one as the leader of the nation yet...

LOL Isualt, I was not going to do the 'Trump card'.

Macron likes him.....well probably not.

Emmanuel Macron a tenté d'expliquer à Donald Trump ce qu'avait fait Napoléon. Pas sûr qu'il ait tout compris.

 

[Isualt]

I think Macron is maybe short of friends. Obama built up respect for America especially in France and Trump is eroding that. Also fed up of only the minority of youth who behave badly being pulled up as the norm. It is the bars and clubs who encourage them.

Back to the backlash against tourists by the young.

To me it is good to see them taking an interest in their future and not being used by social media sites as unthinking morons. When I was young in the 60s we protested about just about everything and everyone, including Billy Graham! In amongst the stupid protests there were important ones and out of them came changes for the good. I am fed up of every time I research a holiday or short break that flaming Tripadvisor, AirBnb, and the other trashy sites have pushed out all other small independent and genuine holiday companies.

 

[Bevdeforges]

There are plenty of nationalities that are badly viewed when traveling abroad. The only reason the French aren't generally included in that list is because the French don't traditionally vacation abroad. But most places, the issue with unruly tourists comes down to a classic clash of cultures - and gee, don't we seem to discuss that particular topic all the time here? Only we call it "integration" or the lack thereof.

In Spain and in parts of Italy, there does seem to be a real over-selling of the "tourist traps." Or the creation of "tourist areas" where the only activities of interest are strictly commercial "attractions" designed to separate tourists from their money. When those floating skyscrapers dock in Venise, letting 5000 or more passengers off to "see the sights" it's a wonder anyone in town can breathe, much less see anything. But I guess the real problem is the commercialisation of the tourist industry which causes the problems. I've just never understood the rationale of going on an organized trip with a couple hundred strangers to be doing stuff in groups like that. (Be it lager louts or cruises.)
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Colburn]

You don't do the British do you.

That's not what my British passport says.

 

[Colburn]

Well, it is said that the bad behaviour amongst the young started in the US -the Spring Break culture.

Ever been in Cancum when American youth are there? Makes Magaluf look like Eastbourne.

You're comparing Spring Breakers to those wonderful Brits that travel all over Europe in support of their national team? Hardly a fair comparison but worthy, perhaps, of recent comparisons by a certain American politician.

I've been to a few Spring Break hot spots, including Cancun, and while the drinking is excessive, the level of drink-induced violence is far, far below what happens outside the stadium at an England match, which I have also been to.

Britain is, after all, the nation that invented the term "glassing" to describe jabbing someone in the face with a beer bottle or glass. IOW there's so much of it they had to come up with a word for ir.

 

[Isualt]

You're comparing Spring Breakers to those wonderful Brits that travel all over Europe in support of their national team? Hardly a fair comparison but worthy, perhaps, of recent comparisons by a certain American politician.

I've been to a few Spring Break hot spots, including Cancun, and while the drinking is excessive, the level of drink-induced violence is far, far below what happens outside the stadium at an England match, which I have also been to.

Britain is, after all, the nation that invented the term "glassing" to describe jabbing someone in the face with a beer bottle or glass. IOW there's so much of it they had to come up with a word for ir.

Glassing or bottling actually was recorded in the 1890s in the Five Points area of the Bowery used by the gangs as punishment against their prostitutes. You are digging a big hole if you try to compare violence in the UK to the US. As to football violence, check out the Ultra's and the Russians.

I think after what has happened yesterday in Spain, there will not be any further demonstrations against tourists. There is a common enemy intent on destroying tourism who needs to be stopped.

 

[Colburn]

You are digging a big hole if you try to compare violence in the UK to the US.

Go to an England international football match, check out the agro, and compare that with the docile fans at the Super Bowl.
No comparison.

 

[Colburn]

Glassing or bottling actually was recorded in the 1890s in the Five Points area of the Bowery used by the gangs as punishment against their prostitutes.

"Bottling" is the act of breaking a bottle on someone's head. "Glassing" is a relatively new term used used to describe the use of a broken glass or beer bottle to cut, and scar, a victim. Glassing is a British thing (87,000 glassing attacks per year in the UK).

 

[Bevdeforges]

OK, OK - I think we've had enough discussion of "whose football fans/teenagers/young adults are the worst" and the specifics of terrorizing the locals and drawing attention to yourselves as obnoxious tourists.

Like "improperly integrated expats" the rowdy tourists are simply those you notice, due to their accents or their behavior. There are literally hundreds and thousands of tourists you don't notice, simply because they don't particularly draw attention to themselves and kind of blend in with the crowds (just like "well integrated expats").

Besides, "tourist season" is drawing to a close. Perhaps the life of this thread is, too.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[softouch115]

Well, it is said that the bad behaviour amongst the young started in the US -the Spring Break culture. Fort Liquordale amongst other resorts banned them and returned to being Fort Lauderdale. Ever been in Cancum when American youth are there? Makes Magaluf look like Eastbourne. They would behave exactly the same in Europe if it was not so far away. As to what happen in Vegas amongst the not so young, well let's hope it does stay... As to producing louts, well we have not elected one as the leader of the nation yet...

Now, darlings..you can't pin Trump on all Americans. We're just as horrified as the rest of the world. He is serving one purpose quite nicely...bringing all the cockroaches out of their dark corners. Now were did I put my handy can of Raid?