PART 1
Dear tourists,
Respecting the land of natives should be your number one priority when traveling to other places. Whether it’s simply visiting a nearby beach or trekking to a foreign country, these places aren’t yours to destroy. Imagine if strangers came to your home and left their messes for you to clean up. Imagine if massive development companies tore down your favorite places in town to build unnecessary apartment complexes. Imagine having to leave an extra hour early for work because the traffic is too heavy for the roads. I don’t have to imagine; for part of the year, this is my reality. The small beach town that I’ve always called home is transformed into an almost unrecognizable place in the summer. I love that people are able to experience Wilmington’s beauty, and many of our local businesses depend on the tourist season, but tourists mask this beauty by not treating it like their own home. Other people have to live with the damage you cause, so think carefully when you’re on your next trip.
PART 2
When I read the title of this prompt, I immediately thought of native Hawaiians. The tourism industry has destroyed their home and made Hawaii an extremely expensive place to live. Many natives are being forced to move back to the mainland, leaving behind their home, culture, and history. Those that can afford to continue living there have been very negatively affected by the tourists, who violate sacred or beloved areas, mock their culture, and increase the spread of Covid. This beautiful land has been destroyed to build resorts, stores, and houses.
I admire how the residents of Hallstatt dealt with their tourist problem. They still allow people to visit their beautiful home, but have limited the quantity of people to preserve their village. I think many tourists don’t realize what their trips cost the locals, but we need to spread awareness of this issue.
There is without a doubt a right way to be a tourist. Simply put you should experience ones culture without disrupting it. A lot of smaller cities and towns can really benefit from the increased spending from tourists. Some places economy solely depends on tourism and the industry. Tourists should experience the new places culture and practices, but the moment they disrespect or intervene with their practices they’ve crossed the line. I think places need to have a certain limit on the number of tourists so places don’t get overcrowded and the tourists can actually appreciate those places.
@Aidan Murphy
I completely agree. The tourism industry is very beneficial to some areas, but that doesn't mean tourists should treat these places carelessly. Tourists shouldn't leave messes behind and need to respect the locals, just like they would at their own home.
It’s surprising how some people behave when they travel. After I read the statement “even nice people start to act like barbarians when visiting crowded tourist spots”, my trip to London came to my mind. A couple of years ago, I went to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard, and lots of tourists were insane, they were screaming and pushing each other just to take a good picture! Sadly, these situations are common. Some tourists just get too excited when they visit something new and they think it will be their only chance to be there. It’s like they can’t control themselves. And this behaviour obviously causes several problems to the place they visit. For instance, they can damage it, they can hurt other people, or something even worse. The question is now is: How can we prevent these "barbarians acts"?
What should a good traveller do? Being a respectful traveller comes down to two things : education and respect. A respectful tourist learns to adapt to their destination by getting involved beforehand with the language, at least learning a few introductory phrases and important words, the customs and the culture of the host country. It’s important to understand a little about the local customs, the ignorance of them could be considered disrespectful . To avoid this a good traveller should do some research on the idiosyncracy of their destination. Showing one´s sole, sitting in the back of a taxi or not tipping could be considered rude in some countries. Sightseeing is enriching and appealing for tourists but wandering into a sacred or meaningful area just with the intention of creating entertainment may end up in an intrusive behaviour, and that is what local people do not expect from a good visitor. Lastly, being environmentally friendly is important to understand some of the local needs. Thus, to make a positive impact on the environment a respectful traveller should use reusable bags, use public transport, enjoy local foods and act as if they were at home. This is the key to make a good impression abroad.
In my opinion, there is no single “right way” to be a tourist but rather multiple things one can do to be polite. The first matter being that tourists should respect the native peoples' culture and way of life. When visiting any area around the world, one doesn’t want to disrupt or interfere with traditions and values that are part of the place they are visiting. Another way to be a courteous tourist is to research the destination before hand. This way, when you travel there you will seem more natural and less out of place; meaning you will be less of a disruption to the native peoples' everyday life.
Well, in my opinion teres actually a bad way to be a tourist. You can be a bad tourist if you dont respect the places to the ones you go. When i say respect i mean people throwing trash and that kind of stuff or doing graffitis, even not following the rules from sacred places. The best way to be a tourist is respect the new places in the ones you are, of course u can do other things tan usual but always respecting the place where you are.
In my opinion, there is no right way to be a tourist, but being an ignorant tourist is not something to be either when visiting a foreign land. Yes each country, province, or city has their own customs that the native people believe in and abide by. I'm sure everyone has had at least one embarrassing experience while visiting another country, and I bet that more often than not it will be more or less excused as you are considered a foreigner and don't quite have a grasp on the values of the place you are living in.
One time while my grandma was visiting Europe, she was driving down the road, and since she is from America, she drives on the right instead of the left. Well she was driving on the wrong side of the road and lets just say she got into a little fender bender, but not one that anybody was seriously injured in (Thank God). When it happened the person she hit got out of the car, and upon seeing that my grandma was a foreigner to Europe, waved her off and thankfully did not press charges. This is an example of when someone makes a mistake and then learns from it in the future, much like when you are at a friends house and you say something that your friends parents don't like and they tell you that they are uncomfortable with it, and so you know for the future not to do that anymore.
I love traveling and the experience it brings. Sometimes taking the back roads and enjoying the place for what is, leads to the best memories, rather than speeding through the highways and stopping just for gas and fast-food. Travels with Charley, a book by John Steinbeck about traveling the country with his dog, is a wonderful representation of what I'm trying to get at here, and he explains it much better than I do.
Visiting Hallstatt seems like a very interesting endeavour, though I do despise Frozen. I would love to indulge myself in the Austrian culture and ways of life, and I have taken German 1 through German 3 so I would slightly know how to communicate. I would definitely be respectful in my travels, not like taking selfies and disrupting the locals. I think it's ridiculous that they have had to warn guests not to use drones and interrupt Sunday service, that is just blatantly disrespectful.
Most of the traveling in my adolescent life consisted of going to places such as DisneyWorld and Universal, visiting family and bypassing cities when driving. Although, when I am older and have the finances to do so, I want to travel the world and experience the different cultures, cuisine, landscapes and landmarks. When traveling, I want to see more than just the tourist attractions, although I think seeing tourist attractions would be enjoyable as well.
Personally, I don’t have much of an interest in visiting Hallstatt. I’m sure that it would be very interesting to see and I would enjoy traveling there, as it is always interesting to see other cultures and places in the world. Although, I think the increased tourism after Frozen was released could detract integrity from the culture. I imagine that Hallstatt changed a lot when it became a popular tourist attraction. The overflow of people flooding in definitely disrupted the daily lives of the natives who are used to their small community.
In conclusion, I believe there is no right or wrong way to be a tourist as long as you are respectful and courteous to the people and places around you. So if you want to only hit the tourist spots and take a lot of pictures, it's okay! Or if you want to completely submerge yourself in the natives culture, go ahead! As long as you feel like you are making the best of your vacation, you are traveling and being a tourist the right way!
I love traveling but as lonely as it sounds, I love doing it alone. Sure, not all alone, but the thought of having a travel agenda in my own hands makes me the happiest. Having full control over what I want to do in the places I travel to gives me security in my own decisions. Differing from my parents, I would much rather like to take one or two pictures in front of major tourist sites, but mainly focus my time towards less popular areas where I can fully submerge myself in the culture. When I’m older, I would like to be the same: traveling in small groups and seeing small (on the popularity scale) sights. I wouldn’t really like to go to Hallstatt. As Holson points out, the citizens of the small movie-inspired town do not seem to enjoy their lives, as they are often caught in the hustle and bustle of tourism. I would much rather go to a different town in Austria—one where it somewhat resembles this fictional movie, but also where I can takeaway the true culture and feel of the town.
When tourism becomes too “barbaric”, it becomes unenjoyable and honestly, disgusting. Take LA for example. Los Angeles is a beautiful place with much to offer, but people fail to respect it as a place when it is filled with famous landmarks. Trash is everywhere and people are rude. I would much rather visit a city that resembles Southern California, but without the crowded scene of excess tourists.
Over the past couple of years I have been a tourist to a number of places including Acapulco and Times Square. Through my journeys I would always try to be a respectful and courteous tourist. Tourists should be mindful wherever they go and not disrupt the natives living there. Many people do not recognize the effect tourism has on an environment as they see it as a place to “get away”. Although sometimes I live up to the stereotype of tourists, I take into account how my actions affect other people, trying to be respectful as possible. However tourists should not be confined to a set of strict rules to follow. Tourists should have a sense of freedom but should also be aware and respectful to whoever they are visiting. When I am older I plan to travel all over the world, knowing to be a respectful tourist on my adventures. Tourists should have fun and be courteous.
While I haven't been able to travel to many places, I do believe there is a "right" and "wrong" way to be a tourist that boils down to the tourist's treatment or amount of respect given to the area they're visiting and it's native people. Especially in small towns as the sudden influx of tourists can overwhelm public services and clog up streets or other areas. Tourists should try to not ruin the peace for the natives. However, I believe this applies more to smaller places which aren't prepared for such large quantities of tourists. In larger places such as New York City or Los Angeles, which are visited by millions every year, the effect isn't as prevalent because the tourists are spread throughout many parts of the city instead of being densely concentrated in one area such as in the village mentioned in the article. Despite this no matter where one travels for their vacation they should respect the people and try to not disrespect or make fun of cultural customs or traditions. A case of what the "wrong" way to be a tourist looks like is Logan Paul's actions shown in his vlogs from the beginning of 2018 when he visited Japan. In his vlogs, he's openly disrespectful of Japanese culture and also displays offensive behavior multiple times. While this, of course, is an extreme example of what the "wrong" way to be a tourist looks like, it is nonetheless important to know what is wrong even if to most people it's common sense.
I do think there is a right and wrong way to be a tourist. I live in a small beach town that can get filled with tourists in the summer, so I understand where the citizens of Hallstatt are coming from. In the summer, it can be hard to get around because it’s just so crowded. Tourists are important for our local economy, and probably for the one in Hallstatt as well, but sometimes you wonder if they’re worth it because of all the inconvenience they cause to the locals.
I go on a big vacation at least once a year, and I always try to be respectful of where I am. I always see people going places they shouldn’t just to get a good picture, or littering on the streets because they are too lazy to wait and throw their trash away. There are also people who disrespect the locals of that area, and I think that all of these people shouldn’t be allowed to travel if they don’t know how to do it the right way.
Looking at the pictures and reading about Hallstatt, I do think it would be an interesting place to visit, and not just because it looks like the city from Frozen. I think they are right to restrict tourists if they are not being respectful of their home, and this will hopefully limit it to only serious travelers who are interested in more than just seeing a place that looks similar to a movie.
When I was young my family went all over Europe while we lived in Denmark for 2 years. No matter how low-key we tried to be we always looked like tourists, you know that group of people with a canon camera that likes to be the most clueless person in the country. All I can say is we had respect for the many different cultures of the places we visited and that is vital. Something you may say normally in the states is very offensive to someone in Egypt.
I believe that traveling is extremely important because it exposes us to various cultures and allows us to experience new things. Traveling is very important to me, whether it be throughout the United States or international. I believe that I am a very invested and open traveler. For example, when going to Europe in July, I tried to learn some Italian so I could be completely immersed in the language and culture.
Although I think travelling is great, I do think that people need to be more mindful of the place that they are travelling to and the native people that live there. I can definitely see why Hallstatt would want to restrict the number of people that visit their village, especially when the tourism increased so rapidly after the release of “Frozen” and that the people became overwhelmed. I think that Hallstatt is doing the right thing for them by controlling the amount of tourists they have since they are such a small village and tourists take up space and resources. As a tourist, I do my best to be considerate of the places I visit and the people that were already living there. I found it interesting that Hallstatt had to limit tourism when some places are working hard to attract more visitors.
@Anna Kilpatrick I agree, it seems that the smaller the place the more annoying it is to the locals that live there to have big tour buses crowding the already small streets.
@Anna Kilpatrick I agree that tourists need to be considerate of the places they are visiting, especially when they are going outside the country and the culture and social norms are different. I also definitely understand why Hallstatt wants to restrict the people who can visit their village. If I lived there, I’m sure I would be annoyed if lots of people with cameras started flooding into my small community. If I was a tourist going to Hallstatt, I would definitely make sure to be mindful of the natives.
I always try to be a respectful tourist when I go somewhere on vacation. I would not want to visit Hallstatt and the hamlet’s connection to frozen does not influence my answer. I think that life in Hallstatt has gotten more stressful for the people that actually live there because of the large amount of people that go there. I think that they could prevent the village from being overwhelmed by making a limit of how many people they want there at one time for a vacation. I think that the statement “even nice people start to act like barbarians” when visiting crowded “tourist spots” is true but not for everyone some people are respectful when they visit somewhere.
This article relates to the short story the lady and the tiger because it's about making choices that could harm and benefit you. The natives of the land are having troubles with the tourist. The natives to the land have problems with tourist because they leave behind waste, litter and use up their water and food. Tourist also have a positive impacted because it makes the economy grow better and ritcher. In the lady and the tiger she had the choice of letting her boyfriend get married to another woman or eaten by a tiger what ever she dicided it would impact her life in positive and negitaive results. If she let her boyfriend live he would get married to another woman which angered her deeply and if she sent him to be killed she would have to life with that guilt forever. So both the people of the Austrian village and the lady from the short story are both deailing with problems that can effect them positivly and negitively.
I have been a tourist to several places, not Hallstatt specifically, but a place like Rio De Janeiro. I think that Lauren Holson, the author of several of the excerpts, brings several thought-provoking ideas to light about the growing social media society, and tourists in general. Holson remarks that Hallstatt wants quality visitors, not visitors in quantity. The author also says that many tourists take pictures of the place, rather than be in the moment. I honestly think that this is a reflection of our society nowadays, people take photos for Instagram or other social media platforms instead of being in the moment. Often it isn't about being in the location but telling people about being there, which is interesting because it doesn't do anything. I believe that tourists need to be in the area that they paid to be at, but also respect the space. Holson talks about drone problems and other situations that are not favorable to the inhabitants of the area, which is wildly unfair to the people living in tourist areas. If tourists can't be respectful to the location, then that location will no longer be someplace that tourists can visit.
I think that travelers should respect the village property because they do not feel comfortable with tourist. I agree with this article because people should respect other's decisions. I think that this article was a little bit odd because people usually want tourist because you get more money and work. If they knew that that was going to happened, they shouldn't make their country a tourist place, also, they should think before of how small their country is. They also should think about how many people are not going to have a work anymore. Overall, I think that people should respect others decisions, but I also think of all the people who are not going to have work anymore or money to pay their houses or their food. Because there are not going to be more tourist, there will be no tourist money.
I think life in Hallstatt has changed a lot, since the arrival of the Frozen movie. People come to visit the location only because they want to see the real attraction where frozen takes place. If I were one of those villagers, I would give the suggestion to restrict the number of people come there every year or to set particular rules, which could be comfortable for the villagers and also for the tourists. By doing this maybe I could prevent the village from being overwhelmed.
I have always tried to be a very mindful traveler. Therefore, I do agree that there is a "right" way to be a tourist. Living in Wilmington, a small beach city turned tourist hub, I deal with the growing amounts of visitors. While tourists are good for our local economy, they can come in HUGE numbers which is a major inconvenience or "pain in the neck" to locals just trying to go about their day. Tourists should be respectful to those who live wherever they are visiting.
Personally, I think Hallstatt would be an interesting place to visit, but I don't think that you should travel there if you are not truly invested in the culture. Traveling there only to take photos is inconsiderate of the small community in Hallstatt. Of course since "Frozen" was released, there has been a major increase in tourism. This can be very overwhelming to the people living there.
If I were to live in Hallstatt I would definitely agree with the actions they are taking to limit the amount of tourism. Having caps on the amount of people that can come in at a time is smart and although I think it might be difficult to put a minimum on how much time tourists spend in the area, I do think this would help eliminate tourists who aren't making a positive impact on the community they are visiting.
When being a tourist you should be respectful on the location that you are at, because remember you are only visiting there. Take in account on the people that live there and what they got to go through. You really shouldn't be disrespectful to somewhere you are visiting let alone start a fire or even ruin a funeral.
@Winni Adding on to your claim, I also believe that tourists need to be more aware or careful of their environmental impact on tourist destinations. While tourism can help small countries earn a lot more money if tourists are extremely disrespectul and trash the place, unless the cities or country does something to counteract this, it can eventually bring ruin to many tourist sights.
I agree that there is a right way to be a tourist. Some of the facts presented like being respectful and not disrupt people living in the area is true. However, I don't believe that they should be forced to stay for a period of time. To me it feels like their confined and aren't allowed to do what they want unless they meet the requirements. But, I also believe that they should respect the area and be aware of their surroundings.
When a tourist goes to a location, they should take into account if other people would do this, whether it will bother the people living in the area, and if you won't be rude to the people living there. Sometimes people don't seem to understand whether other people may show up and bother the townsfolk by crowding the roads and streets. So in my opinion, I believe that there is a right way to be a tourist when travelling to a location.
When I am older I do plan to travel, but I know that you have to be respectful of the place you are visiting. Sometimes when people are not around to see the impact of what they are doing because of quick trip they can become less aware of what is acceptable behavior when visiting other places. Although I am very interested in traveling I would not travel to Hallstatt. I think that if you travel someplace you should be interested in the culture and experiencing that place, even though seeing a movie come to life would be cool it’s probably not the best reason to visit a place. I am sure it is very hard for the people living in Hallstatt to adjust, they are already a small community so I am sure the town was not built to accommodate such large masses. As for suggestions to the village to help them become less overwhelmed I think that they should definitely continue to limit the amount of people visiting and encourage behaviors that will help their economy.
Though I do not fully understand why anyone would visit a town just because it looks like a scene in Frozen, I have sympathy for the residents of Hallstatt. If the tourists aren't going to spend money and only take pictures, it puts an unfair burden on the residents of the town and leaves them with nothing. That being said, if the town charged an admission fee for all tourists, it would cut the number of people that came just to take pictures and generate profits so they could pay to fix anything damaged by tourists. Similar to how countries that are rich in natural resources like oil use the profits from extracting and selling resources and don't have income taxes and have generous social benefits, Hallstatt is rich in history as well as current cinematic relevance. If they used that to their advantage and charged admission, all the residents of the town could get a cut in it, municipal taxes could be waived and the system would once again work for everyone.
I live in a beach town and every summer, the population swells and the roads get extremely crowded. What should be a fifteen-minute drive becomes an hour-long commute. That being said, the town does have an enormous tourism industry that makes a lot of money for many people. Because of this, the system is mutually beneficial, like all tourism should be. If Hallstatt wants to fix their tourism problem, the don't need to find a way to limit tourism, but rather find a way to exploit it.
I believe it should be up to each individual location to determine how they want to approach tourism and it should be up to the tourists to respect their wishes. Especially when it is a small town or place of cultural or religious significance it should be expected that tourists are respectful of the people that live there and acknowledge that they are visitors to other people’s hometown. There is no standard etiquette for visiting a new place so it should be the responsibility of travelers to educate themselves on the customs and expectations of they place they want to visit before they arrive.
@Genevieve I completely agree with you. I also feel that being a considerate tourist is vastly more important when you're entering a smaller sized community, because you'll have a much greater impact on the native people.
My family and I took a trip to a foreign country over the summer and I definitely noticed there were unspoken expectations for tourists when we visited certain areas. We were consistently charged more than the native people for food and other expenses, but we truly didn't mind because the people were gracious enough to welcome us into their home.
The natives should always have confidence in visitors that they'll respect the area and people, and tourists need to honor whatever expectations the native people have of them.
I always wanted to visit real places that took place in the fantasy world. However,when so many people like me visit the same place at once. It kind of losing the fantastical aura for me. So I don’t visit places like Hallstatt when tourism starts to ruin the locals’ ordinary lives.
@Leí chen I agree that it does sort of lose some of the "fantastical aura" when too many people are at one place.
When you go visit a place you are supposed to be left with amazing memories, and the town, with a lot of money. It is supposed to be beneficial to both parties.
This article can serve as proof that it is not always mutually beneficial. These people are abusing how tourism should be. They are messing with how the town functions and the daily lives of the locals for some instagram pictures. The town, no doubt, is getting a lot of revenue from all of this, but the fact remains that a town of 790 people cannot support a million tourists a year. It is just too much, so I agree with their decision to limit tourism and try to make it for the people who want to experience their town, and not to use it as a frozen obsessed hot spot.
When I went to the Bahamas, my family stuck just to the tourist areas. These areas are always fun and beautiful, but I never got to experience the cultural or other unique differences found there that we didn't have back home. This is something I found in Ireland, where along with going to many tourism spots, we got to talk to many of the locals and stay in their communities. By the end of the trip I felt I had gotten way more out of it the just the pretty sights. I believe that this is the "right" way to travel. It is not about just the sights and fun things, but about the people you meet and the distinct things you can take away from that area. When it comes to Hallstatt, the city is trying to bring back the "right" way to visit a place.
@Kevin O’Malley
The article proves how we take advantage of tourist towns. We forget that there are actually people living there, and we are messing up their daily lives. And, you’re right! It’s just for a couple of Instagram pictures. Now, imagine a million tourists coming into a small town. That’s too much, and no matter how much money it brings, the fact doesn’t change. They’re being used! I 100% agree with you.
They have every right to limit tourism especially after people treat the place so horribly. People should treat it like it’s their own community. We go to all these places because they’re beautiful and there’s a lot to do, so I don’t understand why people would go and make the place less beautiful and impede on others who are also just trying to live their life. We don’t want trash and litter everywhere where we live, so when we’re on vacation, I think it’s important to note that it’s not just a place for you to visit, but somebody else’s home. That’s where somebody grew up and somebody else got married and that’s somebody else’s childhood town. That’s somebody’s memories and life, so it’s rude to do anything else but keep it beautiful. The town is right. No amount of money is worth giving up the beauty and the community that they have there. Until people start treating the place with respect and let it keep running like it’s meant to, limited tourism is the answer.
@Kevin O’Malley
The article proves how we take advantage of tourist towns. We forget that there are actually people living there, and we are messing up their daily lives. And, you’re right! It’s just for a couple of Instagram pictures. Now, imagine a million tourists coming into a small town. That’s too much, and no matter how much money it brings, the fact doesn’t change. They’re being used! I 100% agree with you.
They have every right to limit tourism especially after people treat the place so horribly. People should treat it like it’s their own community. We go to all these places because they’re beautiful and there’s a lot to do, so I don’t understand why people would go and make the place less beautiful and impede on others who are also just trying to live their life. We don’t want trash and litter everywhere where we live, so when we’re on vacation, I think it’s important to note that it’s not just a place for you to visit, but somebody else’s home. That’s where somebody grew up and somebody else got married and that’s somebody else’s childhood town. That’s somebody’s memories and life, so it’s rude to do anything else but keep it beautiful. The town is right. No amount of money is worth giving up the beauty and the community that they have there. Until people start treating the place with respect and let it keep running like it’s meant to, limited tourism is the answer.
@Kevin O’Malley You are very lucky to have been given the opportunity to travel to both of those places. When I went to visit family in San Antonio, I had a mix of both of the sides of tourism. For just one day, we went downtown, and it was incredibly packed. We did the typical things, such as seeing the Alamo and going on the Riverwalk. However, I was not satisfied with this. The Alamo was very small, and although historically significant, it was also boring. The Riverwalk was also very commercial, and everywhere you turned there was an ad or a store or people going into the mall, which is above the Riverwalk. But, one thing about that trip that I will remember most was when my uncle, brother, and I took a trip out to the Texas Hill Country. Along the way, we stopped in a nice town and just walked around and took in the area. That was my favorite part of the trip. I believe my trip to Hill Country was what tourism is all about, and I am glad to see that the residents in Hallstatt are pushing for tourists to take part in the tourism as a whole, and not just for commercial purposes.
Tourism and traveling to different countries should be about experience and a fun alternative to education. You should walk away with a new perspective on your life, and it should inspire you to seek more out of life. An Instagram picture can not do that for you. You take advantage of the town by not helping out there economy, all for just a couple of likes and comments.
Visiting other places is an awesome opportunity, and it allows people to learn new cultures, and even study new languages. Most of the time, these opportunities are completely unique, and can only be found at certain destinations. With this being said, I believe tourism should not be stopped. Despite the possibility of rude behaviors, touring new places is extremely important. Instead of the Austrian town completely banning tourists, there should be a talk regarding the reformation, or even creation of new laws for tourists. The tourist experience can disturb such a beautiful place such as Austria, but regulation could behave tourists. Because of this, the value of learners, and their taste for adventure and exploring a new place outweighs the cost of creating regulation, or completely banning tourists.
@Kevin Van Ek
I completely agree with your statement! Tourism is a great way to expand your knowledge and should not be completely banned. Although it is somewhat of a hassle it is worth it to be able to experience the place.
As someone who likes to travel and lives near a big city, I encourage tourism. Although is can be annoying for locals to constantly be tripping over tourists, it’s understandable why people like to explore foreign areas. Generally people know to avoid bothering the locals but there is a better way to be a tourist. By respecting the town and having a purpose besides getting the perfect picture, you can be seen as a positive rather than annoying.The statement regarding “barbaric” tourists might be a dramatic comparison, but I do often find myself witnessing rowdy visitors in foreign cities which I believe to be disrespectful.
Although I recognize the argument that tourism can help small towns prosper by opening up new jobs and bringing in income, however at what cost. The towns that many people live in become absolutely trashed and those just trying to carry on with their daily lives have to completely alter their schedules to accommodate the new influx of tourists. I found it especially alarming that tourists were interrupting religious ceremonies and funerals. As someone who frequently travels and enjoys visiting the niche places I hope that I am not a problematic tourist.
@Gabi Szymczak
I agree that it is important to not be a burden when travelling. I think that tourism is very beneficial to a city’s economy, but some smaller towns can’t take the amount of resources used and waste left. I was also shocked that tourists were interrupting the church services and funerals in Hallstatt.
I love to travel, to see new places, to go on exciting adventures. I love visit new places and learn about different cultures, but in a respectful way. The tourists in Austria are there just because of the well liked "Frozen" films, and I get why they want to travel there. I just think they can be more respectful to the local people. The people there are letting them into their local areas, the least they could do is to not be "interrupting funerals and Sunday services." I hope that tourists visiting Austria, or anywhere else in the world, learn to respect other cultures and do not disrupt their way of life.
While tourists are helpful to local economy, I think that it can be annoying to locals to constantly be overrun with tourists. Also, personally I dislike the feeling of being a tourist and like to feel like I know my way around and am familiar with how things are run. Nonetheless, traveling and touring scenic locations is still one of my favorite activities to do for fun and with my family.
@Colin Hess I live in a beach town that fills with tourists in the summer. You are absolutely right-- tourists are annoying! Traffic becomes five times worse, the beach is more crowded, and they do irksome things like feed the seagulls their leftover snacks. I find it incredibly annoying but cannot deny the economic importance of the tourism industry on my town. That said, I still feel like there's definitely a right way to be a tourist that many tourists in Hallstatt are not living up to. They must respect the locals and their ways of life. In Wilmington that means not feeding the birds, in Hallstatt that means not intruding on church services and funerals. I also think they need to contribute something if they're going to be there and be somewhat of a burden or nuisance to the locals.
If I were a tourist there (or anywhere), I like to think I would follow my own basic rules. However, looking from the outside, I can see the reasonableness of ideas like the one @Cooper Hyldahl had about making there be a fee for entry. Ordinarily, I would not be for such a thing, but if the tourists are just obnoxiously intruding on the locals without even buying anything to support the town, I think it's a wise choice for Hallstatt to make. They might as well profit for the nuisance these tourists have become (no matter how much I may relate to them when traveling, they are ultimately a nuisance to many locals). The lives of the locals are more important than the enjoyment of tourists.
As someone who has traveled a lot, I do look forward to getting those Instagram worthy shots. But that is just a short few minutes of my trip. I always look forward to doing the more traditional things like going to historic monument, shopping, and going to eat in that places restaurants. I do understand why the people of Hallstatt can be very annoyed with the obsessive amount of tourist. With so many people coming to their home and disrupting their daily life can be hard and annoying. There is a better way to be a tourist, by respecting their town and not just coming to get the perfect picture. Also, tourist need to try and not disturb the daily life out those who live their. On the other hand, I think that tourism is great for the economy. Putting aside all of the annoying things about tourist, having so many people come and visit everyday has some economical benefits. Overall, I think to be a good tourist, you have to respect the people and their culture of the location.
@Ella Herbert I completely agree. While it’s okay to be a tourist, you have to be mindful that people actually live in these places.
The statement “even nice people start to act like barbarians” I think it is true because I’ve seen even the nicest of people become crazy when something they really feel passionate about or interested in comes their way. I have seen this when I’ve been on vacation a couple times people just get so overwhelmed with excitement that they do things that are uncharacteristic for them. I think too much tourism in one place is buried on the location because the town they’re talking about in this article is not built for tourism whereas a town like Honolulu is more geared towards tourism and is ready to take on large crowds of people. I think that if tourism stays in Hallstatt they should think about getting their economy towards tourism so that they can take advantage of all these people coming to visit their village and then will become used to it and can have great profits off that.
In the case of a large, well known city, it is hard to find a bad way to be a tourist; In the case of a small town—like Hallstatt—it is the complete opposite. In any small, touristy town, tourism can be quite annoying and a disturbance for the locals. This being said, all that it takes to avoid bad tourism, is by marketing randoms into certain attractions for economic gain. It is important to note that there are no tourists who are trying to vex locals. In final, there is no right or wrong way to tour locations; Travelers should capture the ability to roam around the world without having to worry too much about turning “barbaric” in the process.
I feel that there is in fact a right way to travel if you’re going solely for the pictures then you might as well just search on google. If someone is going to spend money and time to go to another country, they should have a full experience of the culture and take pictures of their experience and then they’ll have memories to look back on. When I travel the things I look most forward to is the memories I’ll create with the people I’m with— laughing till my stomach hurts, trying new food. And of course, capture those memories in photos.
I can only feel bad to the villagers of Hallstatt. There is certainly a problem of having 90 tour buses on a single day in a village of only 780 people. But these problems usually sort themselves out eventually.
The tourism industry is always changing, as well as customers tastes. I don't think it will be that far in the future before tourism there will die down.
One example would be Iceland. In less than a decade, their annual tourists per year have increased by 300%. But if you look at 2019; several months of the year had decreased rates of tourism than the year before. On top of that, one of Iceland's major airlines went out of business, which has decreased tourism rates even more.
Places will simply fall out of fashion. Today's destinations will be old news in the future. So the village of Hallstatt will just have to wait for the tourism wave to blow over. And this isn't all too bad for the village. I bet there are several business there profiting off of those tourist dollars.
I think that it is hard for locals to have to deal with a constant stream of tourists disturbing their hometowns daily. However, a booming tourist industry is helpful for the local economy. This can help provide many people with jobs and allows already established business or restaurants to constantly have new visitors. The locals should also take the increase of tourists as a compliment to their hometowns seeing as so many people would travel hundreds of miles even if it is just for one Instagram post.
I live in a beach town that attracts a lot of tourists, so I get where Hallstatt's citizens frustration comes from. The beaches become so overcrowded in the summer that it can be hard to find enough room to lay a towel down. A lot of trash is left behind, restaurants start turning people down, and traffic becomes much heavier. It can get really frustrating.
Tourists can become rude and disrespectful to citizens of a town, especially in one as small as Hallstatt. The article mentions that churches have to hire security to keep tourists from interrupting funerals and church services. I think it's pretty sad that tourists can get so caught up in the excitement of their travels that they end up having to be told to leave a Sunday service or a funeral. My family has traveled to smaller towns and islands before, and although I'm sure it's obvious that we're tourists, we always stay respectful of the land and the people who live there.
I think this village in Austria is in quite a bit of a predicament here. I can imagine that tourism must be their number one way of earning income, but the intrusive tourists seem to invade their privacy and quality of life. Maybe they could limit the amount of tourists that visit since they have to arrive on a ferry, but that might be difficult. Hopefully the Frozen hype will die down and they can be left alone.
There definitely is a right and a wrong way to be a tourist. A good example is Logan Paul with the whole Japan scandal. I think it’s important for tourists to respect the culture and learn their customs because after all, it is someone’s home.
As someone who travels to new places each year, I can attest to the statement that many families visit certain monuments or places solely to get those Instagram-worth photos. The frustration that comes with this is very understandable; small towns like Hallstatt are not meant to host millions of travelers who stomp across property for selfies. While the movie “Frozen” incites within myself, and likely many others, a greater curiosity to visit villages like Hallstatt, popular films and television programs should not be the deciding factor for where people vacation. The statement regarding “barbaric” tourists might be a dramatic comparison, but I do often find myself witnessing rowdy visitors in foreign cities. When I imagine thousands of travelers vacationing to the small village I live in, images of traffic-jammed streets and litter are the first things conjured. It isn’t that Hallstatt is unable to handle to number vacationers it gets every year, rather, they lack the means to support the overbearing and invasive tourists. There are few things more annoying than travelers who ignore the culture of the places they visit in favor of posting photos of it. To properly be a tourist, one should take into account the history and unique way of living in the towns and countries they visit.
For many people, traveling around the world is a once in a lifetime experience. Travel is expensive, so many people don’t have the time or ability to do so. That is why when you do get the chance to see new sights, there is a sense of elation that you know can only be sensed once. I think that feeling is what evokes such negative emotions out of people. Tourists thrive off of the adrenaline rush of trying to get to everything before it’s time to leave. Even though they don’t know what they are leaving behind.
It seems as if the Hallstatt town has received many of these greedy tourists. The article talks about how the town wants quality tourists rather than a large quantity of them. If they can find tourists that stay for longer and give back to the town’s economy than that would be great. However, it is a hard thing to do since many travelers are there just to take pictures. Seemingly, Hallstatt is looking for “right tourists” as the article title suggests. However, I don’t think that there are right or wrong tourists. Tourists are just people that want to escape into a different part of the world. Experience things that they have never seen. Of course there are good tourist that act respectfully and there are those who, without thought, harm the environment they go to. Limiting the amount of tourists in the town will certainly help the situation but there needs to be an equal understanding between the town and the tourist to assure harmony between the two
There is both a right way and a respectful way to be a tourist, and that is to embrace the culture of the place you are visiting. Hallstatt would not have the tourist issues if the tourists tried to get the Hallstatt experience, and the only way to do this is to act like you live there: embrace yourself in their culture instead of looking for ways to force yourself into theirs. Instead of forcing Hallstatt to become a town thriving on tourism by taking pictures of an Arendalle look-alike, be respectful of the town and realize that it was not made for your vacation. As the article says, “manage your enthusiasm”.
One of my favorite things to do is to travel, but I don’t like to consider myself a tourist because of the negative connotation attached to it. Tourists are considered dirty, annoying, and intrusive. Most of the time all they want and care about is getting a picture of where they are so they can post it on social media. That’s not my idea of traveling and that’s not what traveling should be. I go somewhere for the experience, and maybe a picture to look back on. But, I don’t go there just to get a picture, and if you do, then don’t bother going, just look one up on the internet.
There is a certain amount of respect that people need to carry with them so that they do not take away from the local’s private oasis. That way, the locals don’t get upset and you get the most out of the trip that you can. Unfortunately people become oblivious to the fact that there are people actually living in the places we are traveling to. This doesn’t only ruin the place, but it is also ruining their home. It’s time for people to put egos aside and have more consideration for the beauties of this earth.
Being a tourist means that you go somewhere and experience what they experience every day; you eat what they eat, live where they live, and see where they live. You don't intrude on their lives and get in their way but you go along with the flow.
When you think of a tourist you think of funny floral shirts, fanny packs slung around the body, and visors shading the sun away from your eyes. I think it’s true that traveling brings out a different side to people. You’re in a new place, somewhere you’ve never been before, you can be somebody whoever you want even if that means being a “barbarian”. In a foreign place, nobody knows you. Nobody knows your name , how you act, how you are. However, I do think that travelers should be kind and respectful. Respectful towards the traditions and cultures of the country. Just because you’re in a different setting doesn’t mean you can break out of your character. Most people travel to experience new ways of life and to witness how other live, others might just travel for the memories. There’s no right way to be a tourist, but there is a right way to be a decent and respectful human being that travels the world.
@Nita Gharti I agree, as obvious as it sounds tourists should have to be respectful to the place they are visiting, and not all people are as nice as they usually are because the chances of you seeing that exotic place again is very slim, and so some think it is ok to take advantage of a lesser chance of being punished for their deeds. I think that some people don’t realize they “ start to act like Barbarians” because unlike villages in Austria with 780 people in it, New York and other big city tourist attractions have different standards because of the change in the atmosphere of the situation. You can be a little more rambunctious in New York because there are more people, more sound, and skyscrapers that reverberate everything, however in Hamlet there is less room for error and many native Austrians may see this as more insulting. So I think that there should be different standards depending on where you are being a tourist to.
I definitely think there is a correct way to tour another country or city. I think when you are in another place you need to keep cultural differences in mind. The “right way” to be a tourist is to respect others and don't take away joy from locals. Also, if you treat them good you will learn a lot from other cultures and people.
There is a right way and a wrong way to be a tourist. The right way is to not only enjoy the attraction you are visiting, but also make sure you are respecting the local people in the near vicinity. The article states,“A kind traveler is always respectful and curious about the cultural significance of the places and people they visit.” this means recognizing that a certain attraction can hold a cultural importance to the locals. And disrespecting the attraction means disrespecting the locals. In the article it also states that,”This goes beyond patience and basic manners. A kinder traveler is more mindful, showing genuine interest in the people we interact with and respect for the places we want to visit.”
I think life in Hallstatt has gotten hectic. These people are living in the home of one of the most well known movies, Frozen. Everyone knows this movie and most likely loves it. The millions of people who have seen this movie are probably curious as to where the inspiration came from. Although this is a beautiful blessing to be a well known, desirable place to travel to, it also brings many curses. Simple everyday things like church services have been bombarded by tourists. It was so bad they needed bouncers to keep the people out during funerals and service. If I lived there, I would be proud that so many people want to visit; however, I want to suggest that these tourists take in account that Hallstatt is where people reside, so be respectful.
Hallstatt looks like a wonderful place to go to. But now it is becoming a more annoying place to live. Tourists can really be problematic in a place that you call your home. Especially for a village as closed and tightly knit as Hallstatt. Having to hire bouncers during funerals is a clear sign that tourists have crossed the line.
I tend to travel a lot, and I have definitely noticed the different sides that come out from a traveler. One includes my parents - the type that plan out a fun trip to the exact minute, taking photos wherever we go with the goal of capturing the memory forever. By no means am I saying I do not enjoy this; are are able to visit countless popular sites and have even more pictures to look back and smile about down the road. However, I noticed that my style of traveling is slightly different. While some prefer to tour, I prefer to try to live in that lifestyle, even if it's just for a day.
When I travel with my sister or friends, we often attempt to break apart from the adult group and explore the city ourselves. These don't include the 5 star rated sites on the busiest areas but rather the smaller streets the locals mingle on. While we do take some pictures, the memories that we create are more genuine and more meaningful in a way, because we are truly able to immerse ourselves in what is around us. This is the type of traveler I am, and I hope this continues through my adult travels
I agree with the article, and the Village of Hallstatt’s efforts to decrease the amount of tourism within the village. In the case of the tourists visiting Hallstatt to get a quick pick of what seems to be the background of their favorite movies, they’re viewing the village as just a pretty backdrop of a disney movie, and ignoring the true cultural and historical significance the village holds. It must feel extremely degrading for locals of places such as Hallstatt, for the places they live to only be seen as a pretty tourist site, especially when their daily lives are being interrupted by hoards of people whose only goals are to go in and get out. An increase of tourists heavily impacts the condition of places such as Hallstatt and the well-being of locals living there, leaving them to live with the trash the tourists never cared to throw out, and walking around in streets that are way too crowded. If towns or villages feel like destructive tourism is destroying the place they live, it is completely understandable for them to limit tourism, and ensure tourism which is being allowed is respectful, and shows the true identity of the town being visited.
@Sydney Pugh
You have some very intriguing ideas that I whole heartedly agree with you on. I believe that people especially tourists need to be more cognizant of the people and property around them. While many people may see this little hamlet as a good place to take a picture they need to realize that they are guests and should be kind and careful around people’s property. What kind of tourist do you hope to be? A respectful one? A endearing one? I aspire to learn if the common culture, and try and fit in, it stick out like a stuck up tourist.
Regarding the topic of travelling, I'm not someone who travels much, but when I do it's often to visit family, or spend more time with them. I usually like to see the sights when I travel, and although I often don't get the opportunities, I'd like to explore more of the places I go to. I try not to think about going on social media or posting pictures, and overall I in general don't post that often in the first place, so it's always been something that I truly had to attempt doing. I do however enjoy taking pictures, to capture the experience. I think in the future when I travel I'd like to spend much longer amounts of time in the places I travel, and I'd like to learn more about the places there. In the upcoming year, I'm going on a class trip to japan, and I would like to learn a lot more about japanese culture while I'm there. I had never considered visiting Hallstatt, but I think if I did I would probably be a lot more aware of my actions, and I'd try to be as respectful as possible. Since the arrival of the "Frozen" movies, there has definitely been a lot more tourism, and definitely too many, especially when they're only going to take pictures. I think the restrictions are a good idea definitely, especially when they're not being respectful or bringing any revenue. There are definitely many tourists who become extremely disrespectful, and have no regard for the people already living there. Mainly, tourists should just be more aware of how they are affecting others.
When I am traveling, I tend to spend my time enjoying the place I’m visiting and exploring the city, rather than taking hours to come up with the perfect Instagram post. Though I do believe that it is important to take photos to capture memories from a trip, I do not think that the pictures should be over thought and consume a lot of time. The most meaningful pictures are taken when they aren’t forced, and show genuine happiness. I agree that tourists who are solely focused on taking pictures to show their friends and family back home, can be seen as disrespectful to those living in tourist spots. Living in Halstatt after the Frozen movie came out would be very irritating, because the life that they’re used to is interrupted by fans of an animated movie who don’t appreciate their culture. I don’t believe that all tourists act this way, but respectful tourism is something that needs to be discussed and implemented in our current society.
We are so blessed to be living in a world where there are so many different types of places to see, and different experiences to enjoy. When traveling to these places, there is most definitely a right way to be a tourist, and it is disheartening to see that there are people out there that don’t respect the wonders that we have in our world. I know that no matter what it is pertaining to, I have always been taught to respect the things that aren’t mine and leave them the way you found them. This is so applicable to situations like these where you are traveling to someone else’s home to enjoy their aspects of culture, religion, and just pure nature. While I wholeheartedly agree that tourism is a great thing, there is a certain level of maturity that is required when exploring a new land. When I travel with my family, I see the horrible footprint the tourists before us have left, whether it be locks on a bridge or names carved into national trees, these all impact the society in one way or another. While I know that everyone isn’t accountable for these disappointing atrocities, there are enough people out there that are that ruin it for the rest of us.
My family and I travel a lot, so we’ve never really noticed the impact we could be having on the inhabitants of the places we visit. Though I think we're considered “nice tourists,” I can understand why locals may not think the same. Wilmington is a beach city as well as a major trading port, so we get a lot of tourists as well, especially in the summer. No matter how nice our tourists are, it’s still irritating that we, the locals, have to walk a longer distance to the beach just because all the parking spots are full. But that's the only issue I have.
My family always tries to be polite when visiting other peoples’ home countries, but I guess nice people can act like “barbarians” if they’ve stayed there too long and think they're practically a local. I haven’t met someone who told us we should leave, but that’s also because we rarely visit small cities with few tourists.
Though I’m a tourist a lot myself, I’m all for decreasing visitors at Hallstatt, Austria. Something I would do if I was Mayor Schuetz is being open to the idea of banning those who have trashed the area, been too disruptive, or acted rude to the locals. I don’t blame the few people living there because they didn’t ask for their home to be put on the map by Disney. If I can be understanding of their situation, other tourists should as well. Adding more restrictions isn’t being mean, it’s just making sure that only people who really want to visit the city are there.
I like to believe that I'm a somewhat respectful traveler because of my father's many business trips around the world. For his job, he was traveling all around the world for months out of the year, and during his time out of our country he picked up on customs from other nations. Now when we travel as a family, he knows what is common in foreign countries and helps prevent us from being the dreaded annoying and disrespectful tourists described in this article.
Although I'm sure visiting Hallstatt would be cool, I'm not much of a traveler myself. Yes, I'm writing this on a vacation over a thousand miles from home, but I'm in the mountains to ski and not just visit a place I've never been before to take pictures. I don't find that visiting foreign countries or tourist attractions is very fun because there's usually very little for me to do other than look and think "Wow that's cool, but I could have just found a picture of this online." I visited Spain and Portugal three years ago and while it was an enjoyable trip, I found myself underwhelmed by the experience. We had to deal with the hassle of trans-Atlantic travel, my family had to spend thousands of dollars, and all just so that we could visit some landmarks and take some pictures. I'm very privileged to have been able to go on that trip, but it reminds me every time I think of it why I prefer to spend my summers and time off at home, rather than in some place I don't have any real appreciation for.
@Sam McNamara perhaps you have gotten used to traveling and have grown not fond of it? Maybe you could like it with friends instead of family and your decision to go somewhere you like instead of being forced. Since you don’t really like landmarks and the touristy attractions, you could look deeper within a place and find hidden gems within a city that don’t have much tourists. You’re very lucky to be traveling at a considerably young age. My parents traveled the world a bit before having children and to this day still travel, and I admire that. I think with the right people and at the right place, you could enjoy it.
The great thing about traveling is that there is no “right” way to do it. Some might travel for history, while others travel for an adventure or simply to escape the mundanity of life. Part of the reason I love to travel is to discovery of new ideas, new cultures, and different ways of life. Traveling gives me the opportunity to gain insight on how other people live in the world, insight vital to opening my perspective of the struggles others face. When I travel, I make sure to respect the people and culture I am visiting, a common courtesy that seems to be disregarded in this day and age.
Tourists must show respect to the areas they are traveling to. It is a privilege to be in that country, and that privilege should not be abused like it has been. The complete disregard I read in the article towards the town of Hallstatt is appalling. Tourists walk all over the town while they are visiting, with the beauty of Hallstatt being trampled with desires of a perfect Instagram photo.
Unfortunately, places like Hallstatt are left to make a challenging decision about these overstepping tourists. Most places with high amounts of tourism rely on it for their economy, and if they begin imposing regulations on tourists, the economy could take a big hit. However, if they choose to do nothing, tourists will abuse the location and become so detrimental that eventually the beauty of the spot will be destroyed. This is a difficult decision to make, but the disruption of tourists must stop.
A tourist attraction can provide sources of income for a town or country, but at the same time is detrimental to the sustainability of the environment. As a long-time traveler, I’ve experienced the joy of discovering a new place only for that joy to turn into annoyance with huge crowds of people pushing and pulling to get the perfect picture spot.
That atmosphere is the 100% perfect way to kill the mood to sight-see. Who wouldn’t want to relax on a vacation that consists of playing Where’s Waldo in a crowd of people to find the “Real-life Frozen” photo spot?
Ms. Holson perfectly points out the effects that waves of tourists can cause on a town or its inhabitants. It has caused inconveniences on the people and added burdens like trash and cleanliness. The biggest problem is society’s urge to chase trends and the “cool factor.” This changed traveling into a checklist, changed admiring the view to bragging about “look! I was here!”
@Francine Wei I think you make a good point when you say traveling now is more of a checklist. They are less interested in the immersion of culture or learning about society and more interested in checking those boxes all while getting the perfect picture for the "gram"...... I think the way we travel needs to be seriously rethought.
I certainly think there is a spectrum of good and bad ways to travel, and mostly that just lies in realizing that a.) you are the visitor, not the expert, and the place you view as your vacation is likely someone else’s home, and b.) you are not more special than any of the other tourists. My family travels more to natural areas and museums than movie locations or places in a similar vein, but all of us always hate seeing the “one person doing it won’t hurt anyone” people who do things like carve their names onto rocks or touch delicate things they shouldn't touch, which in turn makes other people feel like it’s okay to do collectively. I also agree that actually being sensitive and curious about culture in the area you’re visiting is a much better way to travel than viewing it as a pretty, two dimensional photo, for the travelers and the people who have to deal with them.
I do believe that there is always a right way to travel. One of many good ways to be a tourist is to be kind and respectful to the natives that are already there, and to be respectful of monuments and not to touch or climb on any of them without permission. Another good way to be respectful and kind is to learn and embrace the culture and religions that the country has to uphold.
I would argue there is certainly a correct way to travel. Some who might have lack of experience don't realize that merely taking pictures and selfies will give them the full experience. I am definitely someone who takes a lot of pictures and I don't think there is much wrong with that as it's a way to hold on to those moments for the future. However there is a line you have to draw in order to correctly travel. For me this means completely submerging yourself into the culture of the destination. Eat their food, do things that are popular there, and experience life and a local does. Overall, to travel correctly you need to be open to their culture or else can you really say you have traveled?
I do believe that there is a right way to travel. With an increase in the use of social media, many people now travel to get the perfect picture for Instagram or their Snapchat story, but I don’t believe that this is the best way to travel. When we go to a new place, we should take in the culture and try to learn about the customs and traditions while showing respect for the locals that live there. If you want to get pictures while you’re there too that’s great, but I just feel that they should not be the main purpose for you visit. I am guilty of going of some trips with my family to get pictures for our Christmas cards, or when we are on a beach my sister always wants an Instagram picture, but hopefully in the further we can remember to stop and learn more about the location we are visiting.
I do believe that there is a correct way to be a tourist in today’s culture, especially when considering the advent of social media. Many people travel to say that they had been there, or to gather pictures to increase their clout among those around them. However, that tends to be shallow travelling, as one isn’t visiting to experience the culture. If one wants to travel correctly, they should dive into the rich cultures that most destinations already have while also being respectful of those who call that place their home. The article is correct in promoting going to different destinations within a location to learn more. On the other hand, I think Holson is mistaken because she overlooks the important fact that not all tourists are like the ones that Hallstatt is dealing with. Therefore, one should be more cautious in seeking to generalize a group based on a problem like that.
Sincerely, I do think there is a right way to travel. Traveling to me means letting go of your worries and your problems and allowing yourself to become completely submerged in different cultures, languages, and sights. The world is a beautiful place with beautiful sights that are rich in culture and history; sights that should be appreciated and valued. Although, memories are kept in a photograph, a picture does not do any sight justice—not like your own two eyes do. While traveling, one should appreciate every aspect of their surroundings: the scents, the honks of cars, the overlapping voices, the very essence of the environment. Traveling requires an open and curious mind; willing to discover more things than one could possibly imagine. If hopping on a plane and flying to a beautiful destination is not completely cherished and valued, one is not truly traveling at all.
I do think that there is a “right” way to travel, and I think that traveling should be for personal enjoyment as well as exploring other cultures and seeing what that particular place has to offer. In many popular tourist destinations across the world, you can see that the culture of that place is definitely infiltrated by tourism, and sometimes Americans in particular. While many people see these things as enjoyable to travelers, maybe to make them feel more at home, I definitely think that it disrupts the charm of the place. I think that when traveling, it is important to involve yourself in the lifestyle of the place that you’re visiting; with that, it’s also important to respect that lifestyle, and I think that large amounts of tourists do tend to disrupt it.
I love traveling and experiencing the cultures of new places, and strongly believe that is a right way to travel. Speaking from personal experience, I can say that the way one acts and treats the environment they are in can alter it entirely. One year when visiting Zion national park, I was shocked to see the difference in how wildlife at and interact with tourists as a result of tourists interactions with them. Specifically, the behavior of the squirrels whom often were crawling on you and following you in hopes of being fed. Additionally, I witnessed the impacts that the people around you can have on your experience. The huge masses of people on the trails taking pictures took away from the beauty of Zion. So while I think everyone should be able to travel and have exposure to new places and cultures, I think there is a right way to travel.
While I don’t believe there is a right way to travel, I do believe there is a respectful way to travel. I think it is fine to take a trip dedicated to pictures and Instagram, however I think it is important that the picture taking and Instagraming doesn’t disrupt people’s lives. When I travel I prefer to take fewer pictures and instead delve into the culture of the place I’m in, and learn as much as possible. I feel learning about the culture and meeting new people makes me like a more well rounded person and makes the experience feel more fulfilling for me. However, I do understand that some don’t see the value in that, they’d rather see all of the sights that make our world beautiful, and capture that moment forever. I think as long as they’re not disrupting anything or disrespecting any part of someone’s life, that’s perfectly fine.
@Kaylee W.
You present a reasonable argument as to why one should travel: to experience new sounds, smells, and feelings that make one a more well-rounded person. Travel has the ability to expand our horizons and force us to be more independent. I experienced this myself when I stayed with host families in Luxembourg, Germany, and France during a trip with an orchestra over the summer. I learned that the skills needed to communicate with those who do not speak one’s language—necessary to function when alone in a foreign country—can only be taught in context. Because travel can teach these abilities, it is important to explore the world. With this in mind, I also believe that it is necessary to treat locals with respect. Imagine if a large group of foreigners were to walk into your town, take a few photos, and leave. Not only would you—the local—feel disrespected, but you would also want to teach the foreigners about your town and why they should visit for a longer period of time. I imagine this was how the people of Hallstatt felt when tourists poured into their village for the purpose of personal photography. For this reason, I believe that travel for the purpose of photography is insensitive and that respectful tourists should plan to spend a reasonable amount of time in places they visit in order to absorb their cultures and history.
Personally I do not travel that often but when I do my family and I ask others what they enjoyed doing at the place we were going to. We usually end up taking their advice and booking the trip. For that matter, I do not think there is a right way to travel, but more so a popular way. For example, when going to Disney world most people go on all the popular rides like space mountain, check out the shops, get a Mickey or Minnie Mouse headband and then go to Disney Springs for their lunch or dinner. However some people do think that is the right way to travel, while others may want to explore the culture more; many travelers who travel a lot tend to want to see the culture rather than be with other tourists. To conclude, in my opinion there is no wrong or right way to travel because so many people travel in different ways.
I believe that there is a right way to be a tourist. This includes staying in one place and explore everything that place has to offer even if it means you stay a night. I personally am against going on tour busses as they move to quickly and barely give their passengers enough time to enjoy the destinations they travel to due to increasing tight schedules to make as much profit out of each tour. Tour busses also bring in crowds of people who tend to overcrowd destinations leaving little room for any other tourists to get a good vantage point of scenic views. As a frequent traveler who is always looking to explore new places I find it best to truly dive into the culture of a new destination. I find the best way to do this is too avoid touristy spots and instead explore the unknown as well as staying in air b&bs instead of American chain hotels. I believe this to be the right way to be a tourist as you get more out of your vacation.
As someone who loves to travel, I do believe there is a right and a wrong way to be a tourist. As Americans, I think that we’ve become extremely ignorant to cultures that perhaps are different from our own. With this in mind certain behaviors that are viewed as “ok” and “normal” in the US can actually be perceived as negative in places elsewhere. In my opinion, if you’re going to book a trip to a select foreign destination it's YOUR responsibility to research the customs and culture of that place. Perhaps it’s just the person I am but when I travel I enjoy it the most when fully immersed in a place’s different cultures and languages. For me it’s all about experiencing something new or exciting, however I don’t believe this is the case for everyone. I don’t wish to generalize but I would suspect that a large amount of people today only take these trips to popular destinations to “fit in” or to gain some kind of social media clout. The stereotypical instagram influencer has hundreds of photos of exotic vacation getaways on his page so why shouldn’t you right?
I don’t believe that there’s necessarily a right way to be a tourist, and I think it’s all about doing what you want to do personally. For me, I like to experience and really dive into the cultural side of places so that I can see just how different it is than my own. I find it very interesting to try all of the different foods, and going to communities to see how other people live and things of that nature. However, some people are just there for the social media pictures and showing off, which isn’t wrong, but you’re also not really experiencing the new country or place and you’re just there for show. If you paid all that money to go why just take pictures and leave, as people should want to try and see all of the cultural experiences, and maybe bring some new ideas or recipes home with them. For me especially it’s really interesting to see the world through alternate perspectives and realize that the world isn’t just your hometown, and it’s a vast place with a lot of different cultures and beliefs. It’s great to understand this before you travel, so you can pick up a few new things to take home with you.
Becoming cultured through traveling is one of the most beneficial experiences you can have for yourself. Although when being a tourist you never have the intention of being disrespectful to a lifestyle or culture casually taking photos and videos in certain areas very much might have that impression. One thing you should always remember is we all have different values so imagine if someone disrespected one of yours. I think it is important that before traveling you make sure you are aware of appropriate customs and the values of a region, just to make sure you prove to have the upmost respect to others.
Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. I love immersing myself in different cultures, meeting new people, and enjoying the beauty our world possesses. Tourists who snap photos mostly have the best intentions of appreciating the beauty of a place, but sometimes it becomes intrusive and disrespectful. Being aware and respectful of one’s surroundings is the key issue many tourist destinations like Hallstatt lack. I believe tourism should be experiencing and appreciating a new place or culture, not an activity to get more attention on social media. To truly travel is to take the time to learn about the culture and customs of a destination.
I believe there is a difference between the words “tourist” and “traveler”. The former, as described in the article, is generally associated with taking pictures for social media and visiting only the most famous landmarks. The latter tends to dive deeper: true travelers try to get a sense of the culture, maybe by wandering the streets, trying the cuisine, or talking to locals. In the case of Hallstatt, the tourists are those drawn in by the Frozen connection, while travelers may be more interested in the fact that it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. I disagree with the article’s implication that the tourists are disrespectful of the town, though, and I think that instead of turning visitors away, Hallstatt should ensure that they get to see both sides of the town. Some of the town’s efforts to limit tourism could end up harming its reputation and keeping people away — not to mention decreasing its tourism revenue. However, I think the two-hour minimum is a good idea, as it will encourage the tourists to truly experience the town, causing them to become travelers.
When being a tourist, whether it’s in a different town, state or country It is necessary to be aware and respectful of the beliefs of that area. I’m not one to leave the country, but when I go to other states for vacation or trips for sports I treat the area as if I were to own it, treating it with respect. When visiting other places you need to take into account what the cultural values are, what are some regulations in place that you need to follow and to just be respectful to the locals of the area in order to be a good tourist.
There are many different kids of tourists. Some people want to experience the world and submerge themselves into new cultures while others solely want to go just for the pictures. I feel like the best way to travel is learning about the place you are going. Immerse yourself in their culture and know what it feels like to be one of them. Although I am a sucker for a good picture, I feel like if you are only traveling to get cool photos for social media you are defeating the whole purpose of traveling. Take advantage of the beautiful place and learn something new!
The way in which to travel is something that is dependent on the individual, and whether or not the way they believe they are traveling in the "right" or "wrong" manner. The reasons for traveling often vary upon each person, and what they seem worthy of seeing is very subjective to themself. But I do believe that there is a proper way to travel, not in regards to what people are seeing, but rather how people are conducting themselves when abroad. Tourists must be respectful of their surroundings and see from the prospectives of those native to the given location. Tourists are often insensitive to those that are around them, and do what they must to capture the best view or picture. We must do our research before hand to get a better grasp of what a certain location is like, the whole point of traveling is to immerse yourself in a culture/place that is unlike yours. It is hard to see from a different perspective if you are unwilling to bend towards the culture. There are times tourists must get out of their comfort zone and savor the moment, and learn to abandon their own ideologies.
Holson’s claim that tourists only bring negative attributes with them rests upon the questionable assumption that all tourists are the same. I would argue that while there are some who travel for likes and views, others travel for experiences and interactions with the locals. Rather than scolding these narrow minded travelers, we should work on educating them on the native customs and proper etiquette when visiting a foreign country. My favorite part about visiting a new place is learning and practicing the culture because it allows me to interact with people I would have otherwise never met. By pushing yourself to go outside of your comfort zone while traveling, you learn more about the destination and it’s history.
I do not think there is a specific way people are expected to travel it is more what you make of it. While traveling can prove a social status that should not cause people to have different experiences when at the same location. Often times people prefer to relax on vacation, however there are still many tourists who would like to see every landmark and known thing at a given location.
In this specific article I find it interesting the number of viewers who visit Hallstatt as a result of the 2013 and 2019 film “Frozen”. I personally am not a huge fan of the movie Frozen so I would not plan a trip solely on seeing a location where a movie took place. However, even if this was a movie I enjoyed, I do not think that would change my decision. Personally, I prefer to embark on trips where I can explore, relax, and make memories. Not go somewhere to take photographs and be satisfied.
I found it interesting how overwhelmed the village was when being deluged by fans. Living near such a populated city has allowed me to adapt to the crowded streets, yet I see why this could be so problematic for a village with few people.
While visiting “iconic” places may be important to some tourists, I believe, it should not determine why people go places if all they plan to do is take a picture and they can return home happily.
I agree that tourists often come in the masses to popular destinations for pictures and can often become overbearing. Last year on our school trip to Italy, we saw big tourist cities like Rome, Florence and Venice, but also went to smaller cities and towns like Siena, Lucca and Padua. In these smaller places it was great to interact with the locals, feel immersed in the culture and I sometimes did like the smaller cities more than the big cities that are full of tourists looking for the perfect Instagram picture. By eating and shopping, you are contributing to the economy which will support the city to be open for future visitors to experience it. I believe it’s important to keep in mind that you as the tourist need to be respectful of a destination’s customs and cultural norms, especially smaller places that are not equipped for a large amount of tourists.
I love to travel. I love experiencing new places, learning more about the culture and background of each spot and of course, having a time to get away from my life at home. Throughout my entire life, I’ve enjoyed all aspects of travel. While I agree that some tourists become slightly obnoxious for pictures or touristy actions, I think most people have good intentions when they travel. One experience I’ve had with this was on a school trip to the Galápagos Islands. 50 or so students and a select group of chaperones were piled on to buses and were exposed to the beauty of the islands with our appropriate tour guides. While our bus was extremely touristy and everyone loved getting to snap photos of sea lions or turtles in our paths, we all loved getting to experience such a beautiful place and learn more about the environment.
There is not necessarily a “right” or “wrong” way to travel. It is all subjective, and based off of what you intend to get out of your trip, and wether or not you are successful in achieving that. If all a tourist wants to visit a foreign country for is a few good Instagram shots, then that is their definition of a successful trip. However, that is in no way beneficial to the locals in the country of which they visited. In fact, if a town or country receives too many visitors that are solely using up their resources (water, electricity, etc.), and not spending money and supporting the local economy, the visitors can quickly become a financial burden. In my personal opinion, the correct way to be a tourist is to attempt to emerge yourself in your destinations culture. Spending time straying from typical, “tourist hubs”, can be very educationally beneficial to you, and create unique, immersive experiences. Spreading out the amount of tourists in one place at once can make it easier on your destinations locals to keep up with the large numbers of tourists as well.
I agree that even the kind tourist become barbarians. Last year my school took a trip to Italy which a major tourist spot for the entire world. Buses and buses filled with at least 50 people come all with their phones out ready to capture the best pictures, not to really learn about Italian history. They start to become aggressive so I see what the author is talking about, but I disagree with the overall conclusion that we should restrict tourism because for a lot of the places it’s their main source of income, Hallstatt I feel will end up regretting this decision because they will lose money.
I think that since the arrival of the “Frozen” movies, the majority of buildings in Hallstatt are hotels, restaurants, and stores because of all the people coming to visit Hallstatt. If I lived there, I would suggest tearing down all the buildings that inspired frozen so nobody would be interested in visiting the town and it would be less crowded.
I agree with the statement “‘even nice people start to act like barbarians’ when visiting crowded ‘tourist spots’” because when a place like Hallstatt has a tourist attraction and a lot of tourists come, they are often not mindful of how they are affecting the place and how they are affecting the people living there. I have witnessed a very crowded tourist attraction when I was walking in Seattle and I happened to see the first Starbucks. I noticed that there were more people waiting outside it to get in and a lot of them were taking pictures of it. I think that if too many tourists visit places and it gets too busy there can be environmental problems such as pollution.
Since I was younger I hated the idea of being seen as a tourist. In the places I’ve visited I always preferred being seen as more of a visitor and getting to know the local restaurants and shops and getting an overall more genuine experience. When I’m older I want to travel all over and maybe even live somewhere vastly different from the suburbs of a large city. When I travel I want to learn all about the culture of a location while remaining respectful to its inhabitants.
I think that since the arrival of the “Frozen” movies, the majority of buildings in Hallstatt are hotels, restaurants, and stores because of all the people coming to visit Hallstatt. If I lived there, I would suggest tearing down all the buildings that inspired frozen so nobody would be interested in visiting the town and it would be less crowded.
I agree with the statement “‘even nice people start to act like barbarians’ when visiting crowded ‘tourist spots’” because when a place like Hallstatt has a tourist attraction and a lot of tourists come, they are often not mindful of how they are affecting the place and how they are affecting the people living there. I have witnessed a very crowded tourist attraction when I was walking in Seattle and I happened to see the first Starbucks. I noticed that there were more people waiting outside it to get in and a lot of them were taking pictures of it. I think that if too many tourists visit places and it gets too busy there can be environmental problems such as pollution.
Life in Hallstatt has changed since the arrival of “Frozen” and turned from a small quiet town in Austria to a pop-culture tourist town with tourists visiting for reasons other than the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, I agree with the statement “even nice people start to act like barbarians” because especially at tourist attractions related to pop culture, visitors tend to not respect boundaries when in contact with a favorite attraction. In other words, pop-culture attractions tend to attract pop culture tourists.
I don’t think that when traveling there is a “right” or “wrong” way to be a tourist. Mainly because, depending on who you ask, many people have different ways of spending their vacation. But, I think it is important to acknowledge and be mindful when in different environments. Personally, when I travel, I prefer to see how the natives to the region live, instead of mainly visiting more touristy areas.
What kind of traveler are you? What kind of traveler do you want to be when you are older?
As of now, I am a traveler for fun, I like going to different places to do different fun things. The kind of traveler I would want to be is a traveler who learns from traveling and respects the place I travel to
How do you think life in Hallstatt has changed since the arrival of the “Frozen” movies? If you were one of the 780 people who lived there, what suggestions might you make to prevent the village from being overwhelmed?
I think that life Hallstatt has changed after the arrival of the Frozen movies by increasing the amount of tourists first of all, then it would also increase the amount of customers a buisness would get. A suggestion would be to accept them into your country or to just ignore tourists all together if it is too uncomfortable.
@Owen Cheung I am a traveler for fun, too. When you mentioned that you wanted to respect the place you travel to, what did you mean by that? If it’s outside of the country, do you mean learn their language? Or did you mean to gain knowledge of the place and learn about it. I love traveling, and I have been outside of the country multiple times but I haven’t bothered to learn Italian (because I’ve been to Italy) or French (because I’ve been to France). If you meant learning the language as a form of respect, I would argue that you are respecting their country by wanting to visit, traveling all the way from home, and paying to be there. If one travels from far away, people should be happy that they want to visit their beautiful country and take it as a form of respect for that country.
I do believe there is a right way to be a tourist. Although it’s unfortunate that they don’t want people to visit, it is understandable due to the circumstances. The right way to tourist is blending in and it being like you were never there. You want to leave things how you found them so others could have the same experience as you. I see how it's frustrating that people spend less than two hours there, which indicates they’re not visiting for the right reasons. Moreover you shouldn’t waste time and money to visit a foreign place if you won’t take advantage of it.
Hallstatt, Austria is a popular tourist destination because of it's similar appearance to the fictional Disney city Arendelle. They have been getting so many tourists that they are trying to limit the number of tourists they get. They are caping the number of people on a tour bus to 50 and are trying to do what they can to make sure the tourist that do visit aren’t just there to take pictures and that they are actually spending time there. Their main goal is to lower the number of tourists while making sure the tourist that stay spend alot of time and alot of money there. While seeming like a good idea in theory due to Hallstatt’s small population they don’t have much industry and work in the village. Because of that, a large portion of their income is from tourists, which is why they want tourists to buy more stuff from there. That doesn’t explain why they want to cut the number of tourists they are getting, it is understandable to e annoyed with the number of people who are just visiting for a short time they play a big roll in the village’s income. Overall I believe the decision to cut back on the number of tourists to be an illogical one since such a big part of their economy is based on tourism. Limiting the number of tourists would also lower the income for Hallstatt’s 780 people.
There is not necessarily a “right” or “wrong” way to travel. It is all subjective, and based off of what you intend to get out of your trip, and wether or not you are successful in achieving that. If all a tourist wants to visit a foreign country for is a few good Instagram shots, then that is their definition of a successful trip. However, that is in no way beneficial to the locals in the country of which they visited. In fact, if a town or country receives too many visitors that are solely using up their resources (water, electricity, etc.), and not spending money and supporting the local economy, the visitors can quickly become a financial burden. In my personal opinion, the correct way to be a tourist is to attempt to emerge yourself in your destinations culture. Spending time straying from typical, “tourist hubs”, can be very educationally beneficial to you, and create unique, immersive experiences. Spreading out the amount of tourists in one place at once can make it easier on your destinations locals to keep up with the large numbers of tourists as well.
My parents are both actors and writers so in my life I have been able too travel to many places and ever have the expericen of living in some of these locations as well. I believe that in order to be a 'right' tourist, you need to have respect for the places that you are visiting. While I was in Paris, my family and I were able to visit some very historical churches and holy places. It horrified me to see so many people in these places with such utter disregard for the signs all around asking for quiet and for no photography. People were talking loudly and taking very obvious photos with flash in the very pristine chapel.
I believe that tourism can be a useful form of travel to experience other parts of the world. But the people doing it should be able to have respect and knowledge of the places they are visiting. If there is no sense of respect, and people are just visiting to have bragging rights on social media then, there should be more limits on tourism. However, by having tourists that really know where they are visiting and have a sense of respect for where they are, we build a foundation for people to be tourists the 'right way'.
I have been a tourist since I was a kid. Exploring either through air or land. But then my family and I just did the simple basic things. Book the activities, eat the “local” food, and take pictures of the places that we see in the brochure. But now that I am older, I want to do it differently. I want to visit unknown places and just enjoy where I am. Like the article said, I don’t want to “act like barbarians.” I want to visit countries but explore its roots.
So I have visited India many times and attended many weddings there. I was scrolling through my YouTube homepage and I found this vlog. This youtuber visited India and just did the basic things. I think to be a good tourist, a person should know about the place. People should never go visit a place because everyone else is going. They should visit because they feel a connection with it.
The article said that many tourist destinations see a surge in water usage and trash when they become popular. Tourists have to be mindful and respect the space that they are in. They have put themselves in the shoes of the natives and acknowledge that they are people also. They have a life also and their home shouldn't be treated like a zoo.
I consider myself a fairly avid traveler. My parents have given me many wonderful opportunities to travel to a plethora of countries around the world. Through this, I have gained respect and appreciation for culture and different ways of life. I always do my best to be respectful of a certain country's traditions and not be intrusive.
I believe that by nature, the tourism industry is intrusive, so we as people have to do our best to be as respectful as possible. I do believe that there is a right and wrong way to be a tourist. Some of the tourists mentioned in this article, like the people interrupting funerals and only coming to take pictures, are acting as tourists the wrong way. Those who are able to go to a place and appreciate it for what it is and not be obnoxious to its people are the ones doing tourism the right way, and those who are doing it wrong should look to them as an example.
I am still young, therefore when I travel I think of the trip more for entertainment purposes, not to learn. I enjoy the attractions, taking pictures of the views, and having “fun”. Since it’s not a school trip, I try to avoid doing educational things. When I am older I plan to be more into learning about the history of the place, although having fun will still be a priority. This is mainly because I will probably be using my own money, and I would want to get the most out of the trip, while right now I don't have to do anything except go and enjoy. I would be sure to have fun but also use the trip as an advantage to get to know the place better, but as of right now, I will just enjoy myself.
Right now I’m the type of travel that just doesn’t want to be there. I don’t enjoy leaving my room as I am sure others don’t. I just feel safer in my house and I prefer to stay where I feel safe. I don’t need to travel to some spectacular place just to relieve my stress and on top of that it costs tons of money. I could just calm myself down talking with friends or playing something, alone or with someone else. I want to stay this way when I grow up, at least for myself because it will save a lot of money and student debt is a big problem so most people probably won’t be able to even afford to go on a vacation, so it wouldn’t bother me too much to not be able to go on a vacation.
When I travel I try to just blend in and not be rude or arrogant to the people who live there. For example I know people who like to really be very outgoing when they travel and constantly are asking questions and talking to strangers, however I am shy at heart and would prefer to just try to figure something out myself to go out of my way to disturb someone who is just trying to go along with their day. When I get older I hope to know bits of certain languages so that when I travel I am able to more fully engulf myself in the foreign countries I'm visiting. If I know these languages I will probably be able to navigate myself without needing things like a guide, or to be constantly checking my phone to figure out what to do. Overall I think that traveling is great and I highly encourage as long as you are mindful and respect those who live their year-round.
There isn’t a “right” or “wrong” way of being a tourist. There’s a respectful way. Personally, I don’t travel often but I would love to experience the world more as I get older. The few times I have travelled I just remember a huge horde of people wherever I go. I can see how locals of Hallstatt would be annoyed with the massive influx of tourists who only go there to relate to a children's movie. In my opinion, the statement “even nice people start to act like barbarians” when visiting crowded “tourist spots” is definitely true. When you visit somewhere that may be overcrowded with tourists, it would be rather tiresome to do anything against the mob of people. When I was visiting China a couple of years ago, although I had a lot of fun, it was very crowded everywhere I went. People end up doing whatever they can to get that photo, eat that food, or do whatever activities they had planned regardless of whoever is around them. It is a real shame that people are reduced to acting like “barbarians” when travelling at a overcrowded tourist spot.
For me I’m the kind of traveler that respects the country I’m visiting, for example if I’m visiting a country that has a certain dress code for men or young boy I would try to the best of my ability to fit the expectations. You never want to enter into a country you don’t know doing any old thing, you have to be civilized because you are a “foreigner”. You have to respect the countries different cultures and traditions, not just come in acting like your a king. When I grow older I’d like to be a traveler that is seen as a friend not a foe, someone who can be trusted to enter without making a riot. A person who travels and enjoys the countries numerous rules and traditions to be able to fit with the countries people, and to be accepted by the people in the country.
Starting with the main question, I don’t believe that there is a ́Right Way ́ to be a tourist. For example, I do not think that anyone should be rude or disobeying a culture if they are visiting. Also, it is important to not just go for a picture, but a learning experience. With places with famous monuments, such as the Eiffel tower in Paris, you can take a selfie or picture without being rude. I mean, who wouldn't take a picture, I know I would. I would also try to learn about it Historically as well.
I do not travel very often, and when I do, It is usually a place not so far away, or a place I have studied. For example, I've traveled to New York plenty of times, Arizona a couple of times, and California once. Prior to going to California, I studied and made myself a pamphlet on it, so I knew about it. For Arizona, I got information on prior visitors, such as my dad.
When I’m older, I want to be a traveler that is respectful and interested in the area’s culture. I do not want to bombard an area, just like Hallstatt was after frozen came out. It is hectic when there are more than a tenth of the people there just as visitors. The name “barbarians" is not kind, but true. People have started to be rude, just for a selfie to post on Instagram
I think I would be a pretty good traveler when I’m older. I think that the wrong way to be a tourist is clear, but the right way is not as definitive. The wrong way would be to litter or destroy the environment of a place you’re not from or taking advantage of a country’s hospitality. Unlike tourism in a wrong way, there are many right ways to be a tourist. Being a tourist is more about traveling the country in your way but still adhering to the country’s government and culture in a way that isn’t offensive. I could understand how the 780 people living in Hallstatt might feel if a bunch of disrespectful tourists come and irritate them by destroying the landscape or annoying them without helping the people of Hallstatt in return. It is important to respect the culture of the country you are visiting because if you are disrespectful and do not do anything but take photos, they would probably be very annoyed.
My family and many people we know generally try to avoid places that are too crowded, and I think if everyone did this most of the time, the problem of crowded tourist destinations would be solved, as fewer people would visit the extremely crowded places and they would no longer be extremely crowded. Younger people I find usually are very global with their mindsets and what they choose to do. For example, at the New Year’s celebration in Times Square, you often see people around 15-25 years old. Children, parents and grandparents are usually the ones that have a New Years party on the block. As the world is getting more attached to technology and travel is becoming easier, it’s natural that people will be moving around more and now, even field trips are one way that there is more movement and travel with kids and teens.
I think I would like to go, but not for the reason you might think. I am probably going to get a lot of hate for saying this, but I didn’t really enjoy Frozen. If I were to go to Hallsatt, I would probably go because of the culture or to see the views. When me and my family travel, we usually stay away from the touristy areas, and it can some times be annoying but I sometimes enjoy the quietness.
I would describe myself when traveling as a person that tries to learn about the place that I am visiting and enrich myself in the culture. I don't like to “just take photos” for social media because if I just focus on the photo or what I am going to post next, I don't get to really enjoy my surroundings and take in the beauty country I am in. I also think that you should respect the local people and not be too rowdy in order to leave and have the locals not think that you were rude or disrespecting their culture. I would like to stay this way when I grow up because there is no point in traveling if you are going to be focused mainly on a screen, you should take in and appreciate the culture and scenery around you with your own eyes, then share it with others if you want.
I do think there is a right way to be a tourist. You should definitely be sensitive to the culture, especially when you could do something to offend someone in the country you are visiting. If you miss some vital social cues or don’t know about certain differences between cultures, you could definitely land yourself in some trouble. A great example of this is Japan. They are a country that looks down upon things such as littering, being very loud/disrespectful, and taking calls and being loud on public transportation. If you came from America and weren’t used to these norms, then people would probably judge you for doing these things without thinking.
My family and I have started to travel more often since my sisters are older. Wherever we travel, we usually go to a museum or go for a hike. I think when you travel that you should enjoy what that place offers you instead of just taking pictures and then leaving. I’m not saying that taking pictures is bad. My mom loves to take pictures wherever we go. When I was little, I hated it. But now I understand why my mom takes so many photos. Now when I look at those photos I get to see the memories we had when we went there. I want to travel like how my family does right now when I grow older and can travel by myself. I want to take my time and look and take in everything that the place has to offer. I want to take that opportunity to learn something new that I didn’t know about. I think that’s what makes traveling so fun for me. The new information, culture and anything I learn.
I never really traveled to places like Hallstatt but I have traveled/ visited my home country and my family's home countries. I don’t think there is a right way to be a tourist but I do think that tourists should respect the people around them and they should be considerate and thoughtful. It does make sense to be overwhelmed and excited when visiting a new place but you should also think about how others around you would feel. You can be excited but at the same time you should respect your surrounding because some people just don’t like those types of things.
I have been traveling from a very young age. I have been to 30 different countries each with its own unique tourism appeal. Having this perspective, it gives me a lot of knowledge about how different places look like and how many people visit them.
I think the statement about “even nice people start to act like barbarians” when they are visiting crowded “tourist spots” is true. Throughout my journey, I have experienced a lot of famous places, which were crowded with many tourists.
The first time I have been to the State Hermitage Museum, I have been waiting for a few hours just to get it. The actual inside of the museum is so crowded with tourists that it is impossible to see displayed items.
I think too much tourism in one place can be very bad and cause many problems. One big problem that could potentially occur is damage to the natural landscape. In my travels, I have witnessed people time and time again go into areas that are restricted or blocked off and take photos. This can not only harm the natural environment but can also lead to safety risks for the tourists. Another problem with tourism is overcrowding. Overcrowding can cause issues like traffic and make it hard for residents to go about day to day activities.
There is always a right and wrong way of being a tourist, especially in areas with different traditions and cultures. Many countries have various gestures of respect, and it would be great of a tourist to research the traditions of the specific area that they are visiting. There is always a wrong way to go about touring, and, not singling out any people, there are many Youtubers who default to saying that they "didn't know" when people call them out for doing something extremely disrespectful when they chose to disregard all of the practices of the country. By taking the time to research what is respectful and disrespectful in a country, tourists are touring the country the right way in my opinion. Unlike immature tourists who disturb the native people of the country and cause a ruckus, those tourists go about the country touring in the worst way possible. Learning to observe and tour the country respectfully is the right way to tour, while disrupting the peace and disturbing the citizens of the country that is being toured is the wrong way.
There is definitely a bad way to be a tourist, no doubt about that. Leaving trash around a city, giving negative opinions about a person, place, or thing in front of local residents, or getting caught up in tourist traps are all good examples of the wrong way to be a tourist. However the right way to tour is a bit more difficult to define, and can be subject to opinion. I believe it also depends on the place that is being toured. In areas with long and deep history, it could be best to join a tour group to gain the most out of the experience, and to appreciate the past. In areas better known for their natural landscape, it might be better to go out on your own and explore the beauty at your own pace. In a country like Italy or France, you might want to do a little bit of each: allow time to just walk around a city, go to some restaurants off the common roads, and enjoy the local ambience, but also join a tour group to engage with the past and avoid missing out on all it has to offer.
I’m the type of tourist who likes to embrace the culture of the country I’m visiting, and do activities that are enjoyable and memorable. I think it is important to understand the history of a country, not so much as traveling to the country just because it’s from a movie or known for one specific monument. I think that some places you visit can have a lot of meaning and tourists don’t necessarily always factor in all of the things you can do in the country or area you are visiting. Take Paris for example. There is the Eiffel Tower. This is a huge tourist attraction. But many tourists don’t usually see how much more of France there is and how much you can do there. There are beautiful mountains and areas in nature to visit there, but most tourists normally visit the big metropolitan areas. The way I hope to be a tourist when I’m older is to embrace a culture and do things that locals would do. I would like to also visit these areas with other people, like friends and family, so I am sharing the experiences with others.
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I agree with the statement "even nice people start to act like barbarians" when visiting crowded tourist destinations, because I have witnessed it when traveling. Over the summer, my family and I go to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, and there are many tourists there. Many people can sometimes become drunk, high, and do immature things. There was one time a drunk man who cut in line, a large one too, so he could order at a very popular restaurant on the island. Even people at Disney and Universal studios have attempted cutting in line or stealing from exhibitions.
I think that when some people, even nice people, want something extremely bad, they start to ignore their conscience and make decisions that they regret later. In a spur-of-the-moment situation, people don’t think about their actions and are so overwhelmed with emotions that they ignore their values. They can end up hurting themselves and other people, and it can have a large effect on whatever community they damaged or caused commotion in.
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I love to take pictures wherever I am. But I agree that when you go somewhere, you should not only go to take pictures for your Instagram or to get bragging rights. Honestly, the bragging rights part of this is kind of snobbish.
When you only focus on taking pictures, I don’t think you really “immerse” yourself in the place or get the full experience or being there. Plus, if you have one million pictures of the same thing, each picture is not as special. You should try to learn some history about the place, or about the culture there. Try a new cuisine, listen to a new style of music, or visit a museum.
I agree that tourism can become barbaric. When I went to Italy and visited the Trevi fountain, a tourist took the liberty to bathe in it. That is certainly barbaric and disruptive to people who just want to relax. Also, many tourist sites are littered with teeming amounts of trash, which ruins the fairy-tale effect that these places are supposed to give you.
I do agree that there should be more incentives to indulge in the culture of a place and that tourists should respect the inhabitants there and natural state of the place. If I lived in Hallstatt, I would probably be sick of all the tourists. I don’t think that you should restrict what people can do, like having to stay for two hours, though I respect the mayor’s decision since he wants to promote retail and restaurants to make some money. But requiring people to stay is is like limiting the freedom of their vacation.
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I don’t think there is a right way to be a tourist. You’re going to another place for an amount of time and you want to enjoy the place’s features. In my case, my family and I usually go outside of where we live to see relatives/friends or just have fun doing whatever. We plan what we will do before we get there but most of the time we just improvise and go do anything. For example, when we had gone to Rhode Island, we went on a tour bus, to a music festival, then to the beach. That’s all that I can really remember about Rhode Island that was impactful and I have the pictures to prove. In Hallstatt’s case, I strongly agree that more people should focus on its other features rather than the Frozen bit. What kind of traveler I would like to be when I’m older is probably the same way I am today. In the end, when traveling, try to enjoy the place’s cultural differences like its restaurants and tours rather than focusing on one specific thing like how a show you like is based on the place.
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My family travels fairly often, and I do believe that there is a 'right way' to be a tourist. While most of the problem does come from the sheer number of tourists in Hallstatt, it is important that those guests need to be respectful as well. Yes, they may have a tight schedule and only have an hour or two to do all they want to, maybe slow down and instead of driving up into the mountains just to get the perfect pic, they could stop and have a nice lunch by the waterfront, or visit a historical site. It may not be as mainstream, but in my experience it is definitely more rewarding. Take your time and enjoy the less popular yet still very interesting parts of your travels. Maybe take a trip to a small museum- do something that is meant to be public; don't try to take a picture outside of someone's house. While it is not completely at the fault of the tourists, I do believe they cause some harm. But I do not believe that the statement "Even nice people start to act like barbarians" is completely correct, but it does have some truth to it. Yes, people may not trample over someone's garden, but they might be visiting a place that can't sustain tourism- they need to do their research.
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I don’t think that there’s a “right” way to be a tourist. For some people being a tourist IS to go around for an hour while taking some photos for social media. Others like to spend a few days making memories and having fun. They’re still being a tourist; if there is a right way to be a tourist, there could be a wrong one as well, but how do you be a tourist in the wrong way? The only way to do that is to be disrespectful and not follow any rules that have been placed, which already has its own consequences. However, the people who live in Hallstatt should be allowed to establish their own rules as they are the ones who live there. They never asked for a movie to be made (or a sequel), and they definitely never wanted the tourists to come. While these statements are true, I really don’t think that the rules should be so strict, but it is really up to them (the people of Hallstatt).
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When my family travels, we normally skip the overpopulated tourist attractions and go more to the natural attractions and places like museums about the history and culture of the area we are in. Most people would think that this would be like missing the whole point of going somewhere, but most of the time, these overpopulated attractions are not what they are said to be.
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@John Ritsko I agree with that. Often the tourists looking for a good time from attractions are missing out the most. While artificial objects made simply for the pleasure of visitors may get more tourists, nature still has its own tourist industry in some places.
When I travel to new places me and my family almost always rent a house and do all the things there are to do in that area. We go to cool little restaurants and we hang out on the beach or whatever the main attraction to that place is. We walk around and do everything we can in the time we have. We don't go to one place for an hour then go to the next, that’s just not how we vacation. I like doing this because it allows me to see all the little things that each place has to offer.
When my family travels, we normally skip the overpopulated tourist attractions and go more to the natural attractions and places like museums about the history and culture of the area we are in. Most people would think that this would be like missing the whole point of going somewhere, but most of the time, these overpopulated attractions are not what they are said to be.
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I genuinely never really thought twice about Arendelle or its origins, but I understand why Hallstatt, Austria is such a big tourist attraction. The infamous Kingdom of Arendelle from Frozen was inspired by it, and if you ask me they pretty much look the same. I think that visiting Hallstatt would be really cool but I wouldn’t only go because of Frozen. I would want to go to all their local shops and restaurants and maybe even attend a church service their. If I was still 6, trust me, I would die to go visit Hallstatt. I would take tons of pictures and be really loud, and I get that that is annoying. I completely respect what the residents of Hallstatt are saying and that it must be annoying for people to only come for an hour to take a picture for Instagram. There should be rules in place that you can’t just take a couple pictures and go, and that you have to be respectful of people’s culture and privacy.
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@Jayden Vance, I agree with that, but I feel that sometimes their rules can be a little too strict, because tourists should be tourists in their own way (as long as it is not rude). However, it is completely up to the people of Hallstatt, and all visitors should respect their choices on this matter.
I don’t really travel that much, and when I do it’s usually more for visiting family. I wouldn’t consider Hallstatt if I was going to go on a trip but if I did go there I would definitely do more than just take pictures since I’m not on social media anyway.