OT: Banning the TikTok Tourism Influencers.

[XXtwindad]

Went a party last night that had quite a few cyclists and travelers in attendance. When I mentioned a possible Amalfi Coast trip, one of the guests warned against it.

“Don’t go,” he said. “The TikTokers have ruined it.” Evidently, the AC has become “infested” (his words) with social media influencers looking to snag a picture of an iconic site for their followers - and little else. Apparently, they spend very little money in the local economy and the AC is considering steps to limit activities. I have no idea what that entails.

Apparently, one town in Vermont has already taken similar steps: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/2...ed-influencers, something which was previously alluded to by Louis in the New England thread: https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...foliage&page=3

Seems like a fantastic idea, and one that’s overdue.

[peanutgallery]

Just because you have a few bucks and an internet connection doesn't mean you can/should poke a hole in the ionsphere

What's wrong with where you live? Bay area is considered a destination

[jlwdm]

A friend just got back from Rome, Florence, Venice and some smaller Italian cities. She said there were so many tourists everywhere that it was not enjoyable. I see why Europeans are protesting the overabundance of tourists.

Jeff

[Mr. Pink]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

A friend just got back from Rome, Florence, Venice and some smaller Italian cities. She said there were so many tourists everywhere that it was not enjoyable. I see why Europeans are protesting the overabundance of tourists.

Jeff

The way things are going in the EU, tourism is all they'll have to survive soon. Industrial capacity is destroyed with expensive energy prices now that Russian gas is sanctioned and the Nord Stream is down. German economy is dropping like a stone, and they were the industrial heart of the continent. They have no tech industry to speak of. They don't innovate. The labor market is clogged by various regulations. And, of course, demographics are bad because everyone is old and nobody is making babies. That costs a lot in generous social programs. Then, there's immigration. So, really, deal with the TikTok hoards.

[9tubes]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pink

The way things are going in the EU, tourism is all they'll have to survive soon. Industrial capacity is destroyed with expensive energy prices now that Russian gas is sanctioned and the Nord Stream is down. German economy is dropping like a stone, and they were the industrial heart of the continent. They have no tech industry to speak of. They don't innovate. The labor market is clogged by various regulations. And, of course, demographics are bad because everyone is old and nobody is making babies. That costs a lot in generous social programs. Then, there's immigration. So, really, deal with the TikTok hoards.

It's sad. Widespread war is coming to the mideast (well, it's here) and there will be another large wave of immigration to Europe that will cause political disagreement and problems of assimilation. Might be good in the long run but the short run is not going to be fun for the EU.

[kiwisimon]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

I see why Europeans are protesting the overabundance of tourists.

Jeff

Here in Japan too as more and more influencers try and find that one spot for that one photo.. Be careful what you wish for, nothing is free.

[harryschwartzma]

You all sound like a bunch of New Yorkers

[sg8357]

Originally Posted by harryschwartzma

You all sound like a bunch of New Yorkers

Take a star, anyway this is cycle forum, use your bike to ride thru
rural France, Luxembourg, Germany etc etc.
You won't see many tourists and you'll have fine time.

"Coney Island?, no one goes there anymore,
it's too crowded" Y. Berra.

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by harryschwartzma

You all sound like a bunch of New Yorkers

Whats funny about this is that its the new yorkers are part of the crowd that overruns vermont and drive the prices up

[dgauthier]

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

(...) Apparently, one town in Vermont has already taken similar steps: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/2...ed-influencers, something which was previously alluded to by Louis in the New England thread: https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...foliage&page=3(...)

Go to places where the tourists aren't that are still great. If you want fall colours (co-loooors), the Algoma region of Ontario where I grew up is second to none:

https://www.algomacountry.com/fall-c...dle-in-algoma/
https://www.lortzphoto.com/blog/islandbound
https://northernontario.travel/algom...seat-your-bike

They won't ban you. They need all the tourists they can get.

[eddief]

I hear it's not so crowded...yet.

[fourflys]

I think the easy button is to blame the "tick-tockers", but, really, isn't it possible that there are just more people in the world now and it's a decent time to travel the last couple of years?

Tourists have always gone to iconic areas and been in the way taking pictures.. really not a new thing.. as far as spending money in the local economy, I assume they might come in for a day, eat some food, maybe buy a nicknack and move on.. is that much different than any other day tourist?

I was talking to someone in a class I was teaching the other week.. they were from Sitka, AK and were talking about how there are groups that protest the cruise ships/tourists that come into Sitka.. I've been to Sitka and, from what I can remember, tourism is one of the main economies there.. protesting kind of sounds like cutting your nose off to spite your face..

If you have an attraction in your area, there is bound to be folks coming to see it.. and I can't imagine those folks aren't a big part of your economy..

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by fourflys

I think the easy button is to blame the "tick-tockers", but, really, isn't it possible that there are just more people in the world now and it's a decent time to travel the last couple of years?

Tourists have always gone to iconic areas and been in the way taking pictures.. really not a new thing.. as far as spending money in the local economy, I assume they might come in for a day, eat some food, maybe buy a nicknack and move on.. is that much different than any other day tourist?

I was talking to someone in a class I was teaching the other week.. they were from Sitka, AK and were talking about how there are groups that protest the cruise ships/tourists that come into Sitka.. I've been to Sitka and, from what I can remember, tourism is one of the main economies there.. protesting kind of sounds like cutting your nose off to spite your face..

If you have an attraction in your area, there is bound to be folks coming to see it.. and I can't imagine those folks aren't a big part of your economy..

Gotta agree..lots of 'nimby'-ing sounding like. Maybe do some research and see what chunk of the local economy comes from visitors and then decide if you should slam them 'damn tousitas'....

Yup, Boulder gets crowded too, all year..particularly with them 'darn students' who are nothing more than extended stay tourists...BUT, Boulder and Colorado is healthy, healthy...because of the $$ that comes in so...a little longer drive up 28th St or tougher to get a table on the Paerl St Mall??..oh well....I'll live...

[Fat Cat]

get off my lawn ! ! !

[goonster]

Originally Posted by fourflys

Tourists have always gone to iconic areas and been in the way taking pictures.. really not a new thing..

Monetized, real-time sharing from your phone is new. The image takes precedence over the experience. Heck, it is the experience.

The bus tours that race tourists from selfie spot to selfie spot, those are new.

Gone are the days when you bored your friends with vacation slides.

It was the influencer complaining about Amalfi Coast access that sent me over the edge. She was miffed that reality didn't match the social media image. FOMO 'gram culture, influencers, flattened discourse . . . into the sea with all of it.

No Sir, I don't like it.