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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if people in tourist areas are happy about tourism opening up

65 replies

Snufkin2 · 24/06/2020 19:33

Thinking about booking a UK holiday end of July, probably a cottage somewhere in Scotland or Yorkshire. DH thinks people living in these areas will still be very unhappy to have tourists coming in, I was wondering if locals might be quite glad to have tourism related businesses etc starting back up now for the sake of the local economy. If anyone reading this lives somewhere like that, I'd love to hear you opinion on whether you'd be pleased to see tourists coming back or not and whether we should book?

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Snufkin2 · 24/06/2020 19:35

Sorry, didn't mean to enable voting. YABU to visit, YANBU to visit.

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Westfacing · 24/06/2020 19:42

I'm in London and although I have thoroughly enjoyed having the streets to myself, literally at times, even the most famous of streets, I'll be happy to see the tourists back!

Too many livelihoods dependent to begrudge their return.

Snufkin2 · 24/06/2020 19:49

That's good to hear Westfacing. Voting's 50/50 at the moment so some people must feel differently.

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Westfacing · 24/06/2020 19:53

I think posters who vote should give a reason for that vote! Grin

SpnBaby1967 · 24/06/2020 19:57

If you live in an area whereby tourists are the majority of the business there, its surely absurd to not want tourists back?

No tourists means businesses closing and seaside resorts dying and we know they havent always done well with things like unemployment levels anyway.

Proudboomer · 24/06/2020 20:02

I live on the coast so as long as you are going to book proper accommodation and not turn up in a camper van and park it on conservation land for a bit of free camping then feel free to come and visit.

flack · 24/06/2020 20:07

I would love my teens to get some paid work so the more tourists the better here.

ClashCityRocker · 24/06/2020 20:20

Live in a tourist area in Yorkshire, ecstatic to see tourists coming back.

Provided you aren't the type to have bbqs in fire risk areas and leave a load of shit behind (although, as it turns out, of two groups who have been copped for that round here, they were sadly locals).

SomewhereInbetween1 · 24/06/2020 20:25

Live in a country estate, happy to see people come back and frequent the cafes and pubs, as long as they don't leave litter and park respectfully we're happy to see you again 😊

Lancrelady80 · 24/06/2020 20:28

Depends who you talk to.

Many residents who do not rely on tourists get grumpy at local areas being rammed in normal times, and so many businesses aiming at tourists with money to burn rather than catering for locals. There are several pubs and shops around here which are basically off limits to us because "normal" people are not welcomed - we are not the demographic wanted. Our bank accounts aren't full enough. On top of that, some holidaymakers (not all, but we do tend to get a certain type here!) treat locals as beneath them and so there is a weird kind of inverted snobbery from some residents. Roads get clogged up and residents struggle to go about their daily activities- awful being a postman along the coast road in summer! And all of that is before you throw a pandemic into the mix.

Those with businesses on the line are quite rightly worried and desperate for tourists to come.

Those who don't are quite rightly scared and angry that business owners seem to care more about themselves and their bank accounts more than the health of other locals.

The kind of areas you are talking about have an appalling lack of infrastructure for roads and public services such as health, as most of the year they don't need as much, so locals fear there won't be capacity for them if needed.

Second home owners and holidaymakers have been demonized by some local residents who see each of them as a potential Typhoid Mary. They are terrified. Knowing we have a huge percentage of the "let's retire to the seaside" population here, I'm not surprised. Especially since cases here have begun to creep up again. Everyone is worried.

Fighting on social media between business owners and residents who do not rely on tourists has been vicious. There has always been a certain amount of strain but this has really brought it to the fore.

People will come anyway so we just have to cross our fingers and get on with it really.

I think it's safe to say we don't mind a few who actually behave with respect to the locals esp re queuing for chips /wandering around with no regard to social distancing/ cramming on the beach. But we would prefer more limited ones than those we are likely to get.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 24/06/2020 20:30

Different people have different views.

If you work in a tourist industry then you will be desperate for the tourists to come back. If you don’t and are medically vulnerable then you will be desperate for them to stay away.

For someone like me - don’t work with tourists but not vulnerable - there will be mixed feelings. It is scary to imagine the scrum that the city will become again when tourists come back. But I am so aware that without tourists we are basically just another Northern city with very little industry and a load of very old, very expensive buildings to maintain.

VeryQuaintIrene · 24/06/2020 20:34

My US town is very tourist-dependent so yes, please do come and please wear a mask and be sensible about crowded places.

PeasInAPot · 24/06/2020 20:40

Yes and no, its obviously good to get tourists back, money in etc.

However there are downsides, tourists can be quite disrespectful. Caravans/campervans coming down lanes that are too narrow, parking at the side of the road. Loads of traffic, and people who just dont know how to drive the roads

People turning up at beaches with masses of stuff and not really thinking of others, lots of people have very little self-awareness and seem to be able to take over a whole beach. Littering, little children shitting on the beach (happens disgustingly regularly)

stillathing · 24/06/2020 20:59

In London, not central but in an area that can become super crowded with tourists. Happy for tourists to return if they are respectful. We desperately need the council to open the public loos up though.

I live with a clinically vulnerable person and to be honest their life will continue to be extremely restricted whether or not tourists return to the area and to a lesser extent so will mine. We won't be visiting the cafes and small shops for some time but I think on balance of risk I want other people to. I want the local businesses to survive.

LadyPrigsbottom · 24/06/2020 21:04

I'm near London and nearer Windsor. I'll be happy to see tourists back. But then, we sent have the one small hospital for one huge county issue that they have in Cornwall.

LadyPrigsbottom · 24/06/2020 21:05

Don't*

YellowEllis · 24/06/2020 21:06

I live in rural Wales. We've barely been touched by coronavirus. We have around 900 holiday parks in this area alone, though. I'm fully understanding that we need the tourists back, but I'm also very scared.

Tellmetruth4 · 24/06/2020 21:28

Live in a popular area of London and happy to see smiling faces and people coming to spend money as long as they socially distance.

tinytemper66 · 24/06/2020 21:28

I can't wait to visit London again.

tumbleweed222 · 24/06/2020 21:32

I'd like the paid attractions such as museums to open, not have hordes in parks or on beaches.

sleepingdragon · 24/06/2020 21:39

I live in a tourist area, and welcome people back to visit. We have had it so good during lockdown- beautiful countryside and beach exercise trips. People who have been stuck in cramped homes in built up areas deserve their opportunity to have the boost to their wellbeing that a day on the beach or a walk in the country provides. There is an issue with a small minority leaving litter/leaving field gates open but this doesnt mean that others should be banned from enjoying it. In terms of the virus local people are still going on the walks and to the beach, we just need to plan our trips if we are worried about crowds. Someone I know is doing a 6.30am jog around a single track footpath extremly popular with day trippers at the moment, and not seeing another soul.

Snufkin2 · 24/06/2020 22:30

Thanks for all the responses with quite a range of very reasonable opinions. Not sure what to do now, going a bit stir crazy at home and feeling a bit sorry for the kids having 6 weeks off with nothing to break it up at all, but will give it some more thought over the next few days.

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gonewiththerain · 24/06/2020 22:36

In a touristy area of the north. Not many attractions are open, there are also no toilets open.
If you’re very organised and book your meals out ( pubs are doing bookings only) and preplan toilet breaks, attractions you’ll probably be ok.
Personally I’d rather tourists stayed away for a while longer as we don’t really have nhs capacity to deal with an outbreak but I don’t earn all my living from tourists..

KnobChops · 24/06/2020 22:47

London. I don’t own it, people can go where they please.
Tourist areas need tourists to thrive and even survive.

We1rdandW0nderful5 · 24/06/2020 22:49

Went for a day trip this week to a touristy town
Some of the main car parks were still closed
Paid to park
Some of the shops were still closed
The market was open
Takeaway food available
Public conveniences looked to be open

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