From Venice to Spain and even Dubrovnik, over-tourism has become a major problem throughout Europe. Anti-tourism demonstrations have taken place in Mallorca, Venice, Barcelona and San Sebastián in the past few weeks, with locals chanting ‘Tourists go home’, ‘Stop destroying our lives’ and even ‘This is not it’. ‘T is tourism, it’s an invasion’.
‘Tourists go home’: Leftists oppose Spain influx – BBC Newshttps://t.co/KK5555EdUy pic.twitter.com/dYmhhTCAxP
– Untouched! (@_unspoken) August 20, 2017
While the situation is not ‘threatening’ to South Africans, it is worth staying away from the protest and following the news, South African tour operators have warned.
Walk properly
“Responsible travel has become mainstream and all travelers need to be mindful of the negative impact they can have on the places they visit,” said Travel Corporation MD Teresa Zejawalo. Szejwallo always recommends making sure you travel with a tour operator that adheres to legally responsible tourism practices, such as Trafalgar, with its Threadright initiative.
An initiative supported by the Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, the TreadWrite Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to keeping the environment and the communities travelers visit for generations to come.
UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai explains that increasing tourism is ‘not the enemy’ and leads to economic growth and prosperity. Today, tourism generates 10% of the world’s GDP, 1 in 10 jobs and 30% of global trade in services.
Enriching the tourism experience.
However, Rifai also stressed the importance of ensuring that tourism is an enriching experience for visitors and hosts, and this requires strong sustainable tourism policies. He explains that the sector needs regulation and clear guidance rather than hindering growth. Destinations and tour operators should explore how to diversify visitor activity by type and location, reduce seasonality and invest in new areas and new products.
The World Travel and Tourism Council also announced plans to issue a report on recommendations for travel products on how to deal with overtourism. This report will help brands educate their customers on how to behave while traveling and suggest less crowded but fun destinations to visit.
For Szejwallo, spreading the tourism experience away from the crowds is key to a successful holiday in Europe for South African travellers. Escape the crowds to explore the ‘hidden treasures’ of lesser-known destinations. Take Venice for example. “The city offers a lot more than just St. Mark’s Square,” she said.
Szejwallo adds that travelers often pay to see the Venetian glass art or dine on Giudecca Island. Cichetti On the island of Burano with a glass of wine. ” to live Cichetti It makes you feel like a real local, enjoying authentic Venetian food in a bar on the island of Burano,” she says.
Reduce the pressure
Traveling outside the peak season is a good idea to avoid the crowds and reduce the pressure on the destination and its residents. Szejwallo explained that for South Africans, any time between November and February is peak season. However, when traveling to Europe, this time is considered low season, therefore, it is more affordable and less crowded.
“If you’re traveling to Mauritius or Cape Town in December, you’ll pay top dollar because it’s peak season,” says Shejawalo. However, if you decide to travel to Europe, you will go during the low season. You’ll be missing the crowds and your travel experience will be more affordable. Christmas markets and winter fairs are a great time to visit Europe.
The reality is that tourism will undoubtedly have negative effects on the destinations and the residents. “Every growing human activity has its downside,” Rifai says. The answer should not be to stop the activity and lose all the benefits, but rather to resist the temptation and lead it properly.
