Countries Putting Up “Closed to British Tourists” Signs

[RampantIvy]

I keep seeing articles about how certain countries don’t want British tourists.
IMO what they don’t want is a certain type of tourist – the ones who are loud drunks, who disrespect local customs and traditions, who display antisocial behaviour and basically who are an embarrassment to the rest of us and who know how to behave.

One of the countries listed was Greece, where we have just had a lovely holiday. We met nothing but a friendly welcome from all the locals. We didn’t see any antisocial behaviour, but then we don’t holiday in the kind of places where drinking all day and all day English breakfasts is the main attraction.

If these holiday destinations don’t want these kind of visitors perhaps they should make them less attractive to them – put up the price of drinks, don’t offer cheap AI holidays to include as much alcohol as you can drink, increase the minimum age for drinking alcohol, close down a few bars and nightclubs etc.

As far as I'm aware, the anti tourism movement right now isn't aimed at brits, its all tourists.
It may be our press angling that they don't want Brits but reading about the protests, their gripes are with Airbnb and being priced out of their own homes which being a londoner, I completely get.
Case in point, Mallorca. Reading the Daily Mail, you'd think they actively hate the Brits. They don't. I holiday there fairy regularly and stay in some lovely hotels all around the island. The island itself is huge, and attracts tourists from all around the world, including their own Spanish visitors. Germans are quickly becoming the largest delegation, then Brits, Dutch, French, some Scandis, Chinese and until a few years ago, a lot of Russians.

The protest groups intend to target Arenal beach as they are fed up of not being able to use it during peak season. Now Arenal is a lovely beach, and its open to anyone using it all year round. It's also smack bang in the middle of the German resort and let me tell you, young Germans are just as badly behaved abroad as Brits. The effects of sun, sea and alcohol isn't limited to one passport!

It's usually clickbait on my laptop that has articles like this, but I get frustrated that we all get tarred with the same brush in the gutter press. The reality isn't like that at all.

Interestingly, Australians in Kuta in Bali have the same lairy reputation.

Victim blaming there. It's not their fault the misbehaved tourists can't behave

Not really the point of the thread but living in a seaside place in the UK we increasingly have a problem with anti social drunken behaviour when the weather is warm and sunny. It makes life difficult for locals here.
I think it is just so connected with the widespread break down in what is normal acceptable social behaviour. I don't think it's linked to just one nationality and it definitely occurs in a wide variety of locations.

I don't see it as victim blaming. If they are going to offer cheap AI holidays with all you can drink alcohol it isn't rocket science to work out what kind of holiday maker they are going to get. although, I agree that it isn't their fault that some visitors are badly behaved.

We avoid busy resorts with loads of clubs and bars, so we never come across this kind of behaviour.

The people who make efforts to attract tourists aren't the same people who want to keep them away (obvious when you think about it)

It's complex as tourism brings money and employment, I guess in some places are saying the downsides outweigh the upsides when you have to live with lairy Brits puking everywhere all the time, I don't blame them.

Lots of resorts were built cheaply in 70s/80s and will be approaching the end of their lives, I'm sure lots of places are wondering if they can pivot to a classier, more profitable tourism. The egg and chips crowd don't pay enough to rebuild all the hotels.

Agree.In the UK anywhere scenic is rammed on a day with even remotely sunny weather.
In fact since the pandemic even formerly quiet places are just so busy. And the littering is much worse too.

I think it is just so connected with the widespread break down in what is normal acceptable social behaviour.

I think this is a good point.
I'm currently on holiday in a Spanish resort and I've been surprised at some of the behaviour I've seen.

I'm not talking drunken antics but It's like people have forgotten how to behave out in public and how to be respectful to other people sharing the same social space.

I think that there is a very bad binge drinking culture amongst Brits. My family are not originally British (have lived in the UK my whole life) but even when they do have lots of alcohol, and if they did get their hands on cheap alcohol - they wouldn’t be jumping in lakes, screaming their heads off etc - they’d most likely stay in a small circle, play a game of cards, have a laugh and do some dancing.

I do not think that these places should increase their pricing because a group of people are known to misbehave when drunk. It’s not fair.

Again I don’t think all Brits have this drinking culture but sadly we Brits seem to have this international reputation of misbehaving and it’s unfortunate for those of us that know how to have a good time without being anti-social.

It's also to do with housing. If people are staying in air b&bs, they are taking homes away from the locals. The locals can't find accommodation or have been priced out by foreign tourists. Like in Cornwall, North Wales and other touristy parts of the UK.

Ds19 went on holiday with his whole class to the Algarve last year - not a school trip, they organised it themselves. They had to book out big air bnbs and restaurants etc. Ds is Italian (and British) and was surprised that some places refused to have big groups of Brits but were happy for his group. Guess why? They didn't get lairy, drunk or trash places - all of which has happened with British groups (and possibly others). I think the fact that you are saying it's inevitable because of AI is part of the problem. Most people don't think it's necessary to drink to the point of being antisocial or not. We need a change in attitude.

Yep - and it also becomes an issue for students in some uni cities. Because houses and flats that might previously have been let to students are now more profitably let out as AirBnbs, particularly in tourist destinations. Student Roost etc have capitalised on this by building loads of private student halls, which are £££.

No difference to Cornwalls message for everyone to 'Fuck off Home'

Some will agree, some won't..

If they don't want that 'type' of tourist they need to to close down or remodel the €5 breakfast and a pint places. Spain has already limited drinks on AI in parts of the Balearics.

Air bnb is a big problem. Edinburgh is limiting it, Cornwall wants the tourists out. The
Same problems are here too.

Not sure tourists come under the category of victim! No one forces them to get blind drunk and indulge in ASB.

I'm not talking drunken antics but It's like people have forgotten how to behave out in public and how to be respectful to other people sharing the same social space.

I agree with this, I live in a uk tourist spot (on the nc500) and it’s not drunken behaviour, it’s just complete lack of respect, people emptying their chemical toilets just wherever, dumped beside a bin, in toilets that say not to, in fields, dumping their rubbish. Parking in their motor homes where it says not to park in motor homes etc. People have got very me-centric and just zero respect for others or nature, as long as they’re getting what they want.

Not the tourists. The resorts

The areas need better licensing laws so they close cheap and nasty bars. Limit the ownership to locals rather than Brits. A lot can be done within a town to attract or repel the visitors it receives

British holidaymakers manage to behave appalling in our own holiday resorts/destinations, without all inclusive packages or cheap booze.

I'm not surprised that people have had enough of them. We've had enough of entitled, selfish Brits even in Cornwall.

In my experience, if you're polite, respectful, clear up after yourself, and understand that a greater world exists beyond your personal holiday, then most people won't even notice you.

Are the signs against British tourists or all tourists?

I keep seeing both on here and not sure

Do holiday makers behave like this in Dubai where alcohol is available?
Or are they scared of the consequences?

I'm in palma airport waiting for my flight home. Everyone is lovely and we have had no problems. However I have been day drinking and love a full English as well.

Agreed, we live in a place that was visited a fair bit during the semi lockdowns of ppl
not going abroad. And is visited in summer. It’s only tiny. But the mess and rubbish people leave is horrific.

Why is it if a bin is full people put their rubbish by the side of it? Are they really that stupid they don’t realise they should take it elsewhere or home with them?

Society in this country has become very selfish. That’s what 14 years of Tory rule does, IMO. Hoping the tide will start to turn….

@Barbadossunset in Dubai drink and drugs are rife! Just closed into hotels or private residences. When I was there the heaviest drinkers were the Russians!

If these holiday destinations don’t want these kind of visitors perhaps they should make them less attractive to them – put up the price of drinks, don’t offer cheap AI holidays to include as much alcohol as you can drink, increase the minimum age for drinking alcohol, close down a few bars and nightclubs etc.

With the exception of AIs, all your suggestions curtail the lives of locals as well.

Who exactly do you think 'they' are, anyway? I doubt the large, profitable, probably foreign owned hotel and club businesses feel the same way as everyday residents and small business owners who are just trying to live their lives. It's the latter who are complaining and they have absolutely no control over what the former do. And, like anywhere in the world, it's the former, with all the money, that has greater political influence.