A very insightful read. I believe in the “balance” that you are talking about. As a travel writer, I’m trying to reach a similar balance where I can highlight a destination in a way that can be beneficial to local communities in a more meaningful and wholesome way, alongside the financial gain. I don’t have all the answers to how I can achieve that but simply talking to a diverse group of local people is a step I’m taking. Also, not geotagging remote locations on social media is something I follow strictly.
Namrata, talking with locals is a great first step! And I definitely agree with you about not geotagging places. Thank you for your comment and sharing the post!
Thank you, Richard. For a while, Japan Airlines was offering a free domestic flight (to lesser visited regions) for travelers who book it with a round-trip international ticket. Not sure how long the promotion lasts but could be a good option for your trip. :)
Your photos are gorgeous! And I appreciate the perspective you had on this. It’s a gift to be able to explore many places in the world and there’s a level of respect that is crucial for the residents of a place but to also preserve and nurture it for the people to come.
Thank you for a lovely and well written piece. I, too, am troubled by overtourism and have been happily surprised to find ways to avoid the crowds. No good answers but identifying the problem is part of the battle. I also wonder sometimes if I should write about a place I have found, or keep it secret.
Great article, I noticed this in Kyoto, too — one of my fave cities in the world but absolutely crawling with tourists! I’ve even seen people insistent on getting pictures of geishas, as if it’s their right as “customers” of the place (?), and it makes me want to hurl. I remember putting myself in the local’s shoes and thinking I’d hate all the tourists so much. But what a beautiful city! I also don’t have an answer.
Lovely photographs. You raise such and interesting topic here. Nobody enjoys being six deep at the water tap. I have for a few years now left my small coastal town in Spain in the summer. I can't stand it. And I am convinced it will get violent one of these days. Airbnbs and other short term rental signs get painted over with 'tourist go home'. Locals cannot afford to live in their own community. I would hate to be 25 in my town. I would have to either live at home, or move so far into the burbs that I might as well move somewhere else all together. It is too expensive and there is no housing available, the speculators and tourists have taken all of them.
I don't think travel should be cheap in the sense that it cannot be cheaper to go to Prague for the weekend to get wasted, rather than go to the local. It just isn't right. We cannot continue this way. Travel should be something you save up for and look forward to..... It cannot be a spontaneous 'ah, what the hell, let's go'.
We need a better balance. When the locals leave. It is just disneyland left behind, and who the hell wants that?
This is wonderful, Ashleigh. Thanks for sharing this thoughtful essay. Maybe the answer is inside it - you don't necessarily need to avoid places you'd love to visit, like Kyoto, but do so in a mindful way. Explore further afield to find pockets of peace where you can support local businesses, rather than following the crowds. As you discovered, there are often similar or more beautiful places that are not as famous.
I am intrigued by this article, and I have been in places like Venice, where tourism is a hazard to the city, I am convinced that tourism does not take precedence over the sustainable life of a city, country, or culture. Travel is a great gift and pleasure, but it should never be at the cost of the citizens who live there.
Overtourism has become a problem around the world, especially after pandemic. And on top of that tourists don't ever bother to keep the area neat and clean. A month or two ago, I read somewhere that huge walls have been built to avoid tourists from watching Mt. Fuji, because the influx had created inconvenience for the locals as tourists tend to climb their rooftops, block the roads to have a glimpse of it.
A very insightful read. I believe in the “balance” that you are talking about. As a travel writer, I’m trying to reach a similar balance where I can highlight a destination in a way that can be beneficial to local communities in a more meaningful and wholesome way, alongside the financial gain. I don’t have all the answers to how I can achieve that but simply talking to a diverse group of local people is a step I’m taking. Also, not geotagging remote locations on social media is something I follow strictly.
Namrata, talking with locals is a great first step! And I definitely agree with you about not geotagging places. Thank you for your comment and sharing the post!
Hi Ashleigh, this insightful piece was one of the ones I used to address the issue of overtourism in my recents post https://addthistoyouritinerary.substack.com/p/beyond-the-crowds-rethinking-travel
Excellent reflection, and relevant for me as I plan a trip to Japan for this year.
Thank you, Richard. For a while, Japan Airlines was offering a free domestic flight (to lesser visited regions) for travelers who book it with a round-trip international ticket. Not sure how long the promotion lasts but could be a good option for your trip. :)
Thank you!
I love the reflection in this post. In many cases we are invaders even when we're not intending to be that way. This was a powerful read!
Thank you for reading and re-sharing, Dan :)
Your photos are gorgeous! And I appreciate the perspective you had on this. It’s a gift to be able to explore many places in the world and there’s a level of respect that is crucial for the residents of a place but to also preserve and nurture it for the people to come.
Thank you for a lovely and well written piece. I, too, am troubled by overtourism and have been happily surprised to find ways to avoid the crowds. No good answers but identifying the problem is part of the battle. I also wonder sometimes if I should write about a place I have found, or keep it secret.
Great article, I noticed this in Kyoto, too — one of my fave cities in the world but absolutely crawling with tourists! I’ve even seen people insistent on getting pictures of geishas, as if it’s their right as “customers” of the place (?), and it makes me want to hurl. I remember putting myself in the local’s shoes and thinking I’d hate all the tourists so much. But what a beautiful city! I also don’t have an answer.
Lovely photographs. You raise such and interesting topic here. Nobody enjoys being six deep at the water tap. I have for a few years now left my small coastal town in Spain in the summer. I can't stand it. And I am convinced it will get violent one of these days. Airbnbs and other short term rental signs get painted over with 'tourist go home'. Locals cannot afford to live in their own community. I would hate to be 25 in my town. I would have to either live at home, or move so far into the burbs that I might as well move somewhere else all together. It is too expensive and there is no housing available, the speculators and tourists have taken all of them.
I don't think travel should be cheap in the sense that it cannot be cheaper to go to Prague for the weekend to get wasted, rather than go to the local. It just isn't right. We cannot continue this way. Travel should be something you save up for and look forward to..... It cannot be a spontaneous 'ah, what the hell, let's go'.
We need a better balance. When the locals leave. It is just disneyland left behind, and who the hell wants that?
This is wonderful, Ashleigh. Thanks for sharing this thoughtful essay. Maybe the answer is inside it - you don't necessarily need to avoid places you'd love to visit, like Kyoto, but do so in a mindful way. Explore further afield to find pockets of peace where you can support local businesses, rather than following the crowds. As you discovered, there are often similar or more beautiful places that are not as famous.
So beautiful Ashleigh.
Thank you, Jeanine :)
I am intrigued by this article, and I have been in places like Venice, where tourism is a hazard to the city, I am convinced that tourism does not take precedence over the sustainable life of a city, country, or culture. Travel is a great gift and pleasure, but it should never be at the cost of the citizens who live there.
Sandy, I absolutely agree that travel should not be at the expense of local communities; thank you for your thoughts!
Overtourism has become a problem around the world, especially after pandemic. And on top of that tourists don't ever bother to keep the area neat and clean. A month or two ago, I read somewhere that huge walls have been built to avoid tourists from watching Mt. Fuji, because the influx had created inconvenience for the locals as tourists tend to climb their rooftops, block the roads to have a glimpse of it.
Insightful read Ashleigh!