“Don’t be a tourist be a traveler”
I am not sure if this has crossed anyone else’s mind as they travel around different parts of the world. I knew about the over population of Tourism by seeing this in Mexico because I visit it so often and I did not take the time to notice this because I never really felt like a tourist. Mexico has always felt like a second home for me because of my ethnicity. I did visit ‘tourist’ attractions but I would also just enjoy the time with my family and being in their small neighborhood. However, I did not noticed how much of an impact Tourists can have on certain countries like Europe. My first time in Europe was only for about two weeks and I was very much a tourist and took tourist buses and went to the most well know tourist attractions. Not thinking much of it because I felt at such an awe for seeing a new country besides Mexico, for the very first time. I loved every second of it! I felt like a traveler and I did not even think twice about the locals and how they felt about people like me who come and see their most visited destinations.
It was not until I came to Spain and lived there for about 2 months that I finally go to see the other side of things. Over tourism occurs when there are too many visitors to a particular destination and gentrification is the process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businesses. After being in Spain for more than a “tourist” amount of time I can see how Spain suffers through both of these. As I was going around and also visiting the tourist attractions while I was in Spain I could not help but notice the often time long lines to be able to get into the certain destinations you wanted. For example, to go into the Picasso museum it would be in your best interest to buy the tickets online or go in super early to be able to secure a ticket and be able to get in the museum. The lines would be often very long and I could also not help but to notice and realize that this happens. Every. Single. Day. Like the same day I wanted to visit La Sagrada Familia, well so did hundreds of other people and this happens every day all year round!!!! Like how exhausting must that be for the locals who live in the neighborhoods where hundred of tourists come to see a certain place. Us as non-locals do not see the immense damage we have on these old neighborhoods and the people who are native to Spain. I put myself in their shoes and I too would not like tourists as well. It is just so many people all the time!! Especially if the neighborhood in which you live in is ‘famous’ even just getting out of your house and going to the supermarket down the street can become a whole mission because their is always so many people walking around and buying things around you.
Now as far as Gentrification, I also have seen this first hand as I walked around Barcelona. Some neighborhoods would have shops that were specifically only for tourists because they were a bunch of gift shops. Smaller neighborhoods were changed completely to cater to the hundreds and thousands of tourist that would come every day. There is more bugger chain restaurants, gift shops, dessert places, etc. All to lure in the tourists. Just by seeing Barcelona I already know that Tourism is a huge part in the economy and they thrive off of it but I also can’t help but to feel a little sorry for the natives who have seen their childhood neighborhood being taken over and changed over the course of their lifetime. Even my host parents told me that they have seen the city drastically change and they are also tired of the tourists that some in and out of the country because they are not always the nicest. They even have not been to La Sagrada Familia in many years because they say that the prices just keep rising and there often is no discount give to locals. Everyone just pays the same to go inside and they find that ridiculous as do I. So I can totally see their frustrations with this topic. This is not really a huge problem in the United States as compared to such a popular place like Europe. Even the clubs would be packed of Americans and once the night is over people tend to get messy and loud and most study abroad students live in a building where other live so even locals have to deal with students.
I guess what we can do know is just be aware of this and students who are traveling abroad I encourage you to shop local. Be nice to the people there, as that place is their home and not just a tourist destination. I really loved that I noticed and learned this I am glad that I am growing into a more self aware traveler. (-:
Thalia's Blog in Barcelona, Spain 