We all love to travel, but hate it when tourists invade our own town. I know, as I live in a tourist town. I see red when absentee owners list their homes on Airbnb to secure high rentals, despite a lack of rental properties for locals. The inconsiderate tourists who leave their trash all over the beach. Worse yet, after having a bonfire on the beach, they merely walk away without ensuring that the fire has been extinguished properly. Rude tourists who abuse servers in restaurants because they don't have a booking and there is no table available when they want it. Or tourists who insist on crossing the road anywhere but at a pedestrian crossing, believing it's their right to walk where they want. Then there is the drama of driving on the wrong side of the road. Yes, I am having a cranky rant at inconsiderate travelers, even though I know that many small tourist towns rely on the tourist dollar to survive.
How many travelers actually read the local laws of the country they intend to visit, which are usually found on their homeland's government travel site? It should be a prerequisite for obtaining a country's tourist visa that attendance at a travel charm school and a study of the local laws of the intended destination be required. If you fail, you don't get to go!
Badly behaved tourists are invading many tourist hotspots globally, and local governments are reacting. Is it too late for individuals raised on the philosophy of 'spare the rod and spoil the child,' where time-out, grounding, or limiting time with tech gadgets has no impact on the fact that they have actually done something wrong? Visiting a country as a tourist should be treated with the same respect that one would like to receive if someone were visiting their own home.
Apart from the issue of how children who become traveling adults are raised, there can be numerous factors contributing to obnoxious, demanding, and self-righteous tourists. A lack of knowledge of local customs, being influenced by social media, or the 'away from home' mentality that negates anything inappropriate when in holiday mode. Crowded spaces may lead to frustration and impatience. Or when travelling in a group, a few will form a 'bubble' of like-minded souls, becoming selfish in a way that their behaviour affects the other members of the group. One would need to be a psychiatrist to pinpoint what goes on in the minds of those who engage in crazy and impudent actions. For most, traveling the world is a luxury.
Bad behaviour, wherever you are in the world, is acting out of step with what is socially acceptable for intelligent, law-abiding citizens. It's being harmful, disruptive, disrespectful, or inappropriate to a person, place, or object. From not covering yourself up when coming off the beach, to standing on monuments to get a better view, or being loud and raucous in a sacred or religious place. The list of horrid tourists' actions goes on forever.
Europe, especially, has had enough of the scourge of tourist humanity frolicking through its towns and is implementing new laws aimed at combating this ugly, growing trend. It's always a sad day when one bad apple ruins it for the majority. Still, it is necessary to protect both the locals and the respectful holidaymakers. For offensive and unpalatable actions, you won't just be sent to the corner for a time-out; the punishment will hit your back pocket and make your holiday a costly exercise.
- Venice – do not go for a dip in a canal – The fine for swimming amidst the gondolas is €350 (£305)
- Mallorca, Ibiza, Magaluf, Canary Islands – no alcohol can be consumed in public places – Fine is up to €3,000 (£2,615)
- Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Greece – do not drive in bare feet, sandals, or flip flops – Fine is up to €300 (£261)
- Barcelona, Albufeira, Split, Sorrento, Cannes, Venice – cover your swimwear-clad body the moment you leave the beach – Fine is up to €1,500 (£1,307)
- Greece – do not pocket that shell or pebble from the beach – Fine is up to €1,000 (£871)
- Italy, Cinque Terre Park trails – do not wear shoes without a non-slip sole or open-toe sandals – Fine up to €2,500
The list of what not to do is quite exhaustive, and even airlines are getting in on the act to remedy unruly behaviour whilst on a plane.
You can avoid doing the wrong thing in a foreign country by reading their local laws and customs before stepping on a plane, and behaving like a responsible and considerate human being, even if it’s not in your genetic makeup to do so.
Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.
