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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tourists exodus today relieved

840 replies

justasking111 · 30/08/2021 09:16

Well it's over today the tsunami of tourists will be gone.

We have never experienced such, rudeness, aggressive behaviour from them as we have this summer. Our businesses have limped along short staffed, been abused, threatened as have locals. The littering has been something else.

I know everyone has had a bad year but so have the Welsh our lockdowns harder and longer than others.

We still wear masks in shops fgs

So hopefully you all had good holidays but glad of a bit of peace now

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
lockdownmadnessdotcom · 30/08/2021 10:02

We've all had to pay more for attractions, eating out etc. There isn't a special rate for locals

In a lot of areas there is, you can get a season ticket for the car parks and the attractions and they send out free vouchers for certain attractions. When I lived in Torquay we used to get a booklet through with free and money-off vouchers for things like the museum and Paignton Zoo.

TeenWars · 30/08/2021 10:02

@CampaignToo

I've taken a decision not to visit the UK tourist places I've been a regular customer of for so long, for a while, seeing as they've made it so clear they don't want us. The steep price increases what levt a sour taste too. I hope you don't regret it when this year's visitors go back to foreign holidays and the old ones don't come back.

This year, I holidayed in beautiful countryside only an hour from home, just off the M25. Not a tourist area, reasonable prices, very welcoming and easy too. It's been a revelation.

This! Really do not wish to spend my money anywhere I am not welcome. Of I don't condone bad behaviour - who would but these people unfortunately exist everywhere. For the most part we are all tourists - yourself included OP, have a wee think about that and maybe consider a change of career, hospitality doesn't seem to agree with you.
lockdownmadnessdotcom · 30/08/2021 10:03

As for rowdy behaviour - it appears to be everywhere now. Even in the so-called "naice" areas. Outdoor cinemas, singers at garden parties until the wee small hours. Lockdown madness = entitlement and lack of consideration.

Penistoe · 30/08/2021 10:03

I wonder if OP is in porthcawl but more on the rest bay side so not used to the coney rabble?

2et2font5 · 30/08/2021 10:03

YABU. I would have agreed with you until the point where started complaining about having had a "harder lockdown". Get a grip. So you have to wear a mask for a bit longer than those in England. Stop comparing yourself to England, Wales hasn't had it so hard.

millenialblush · 30/08/2021 10:03

Posts like this and the other Cornwall one that popped up the other day make me not want to holiday in the UK. I lived on the South Coast for 15 years and never ever moaned about or objected to the tourists, I loved the fact people travelled far and wide to see the beauty of the place I lived in and was proud to live there.

TomorrowSomething · 30/08/2021 10:04

@Foxyloxy1plus1

I live in a tourist area and haven’t been to the beach at all the last few months. I’m happy if the tourists mean that local businesses can survive though, but I’ll look forward to going back to a walk along the prom.

I agree about the price hikes and it’s meant that we haven’t booked any holiday at all. Maybe they’re future proofing, but we won’t be paying inflated prices.

Same here. I'm sure there have been the usual mixture of lovely people and rude people visiting my area but I've avoided them all this year. I've also not bothered with a holiday myself. Hopefully next year everything will be a little less crazy.
Hobnobswantshernameback · 30/08/2021 10:04

I'm not holidaying begrudgingly in Wales
I've lived here all my life
I love the place
But it seems I'm not welcome
I want to spend my money here as well as elsewhere
But despite my best efforts to be polite, speak the language and spend money in small businesses not large chains
That's apparently still not good enough
What exactly am I meant to do?

Princessandthepeas · 30/08/2021 10:05

I hate posts like these and have seen a few on here now.

I’m local in a busy South West tourist spot, and worked in hospitality throughout the summers as a teenager (and as my teen DC do now, and I haven’t actually heard any moaning about rude tourists, just coming home with lots of tips and happy to be saving up for things they want)

I love seeing people on holiday here, enjoying the beaches, especially young families where children are all kitted out with their buckets and spades and excited about seeing the sea Smile

Please don’t be put off by nonsense like this as it does not reflect the view of the majority of locals.

It’s a small minority who are so negative but they are the vocal group (as the happy, normal people are generally too busy going about their lives to waste time starting nasty threads about tourists on the Internet!)

There were some years when we had a lot of stag parties and I didn’t feel especially warm to them when working as a teenager but, compared to that, today’s tourists are a dream.

Yes, it has been very busy. Hard to park and there are traffic jams. But it’s always been that way and we have the whole rest of the year to enjoy the beaches and drive around more easily!

We avoided some of the local madness this year to travel abroad… which meant we were the tourists making a lovely area extra busy instead. We were treated with nothing but respect and made to feel welcome by the locals and I hope that is how families feel when they come to the area I live in.

Aposterhasnoname · 30/08/2021 10:05

@OlympicProcrastinator

Don’t worry, we will all be spending our money abroad next year. Cheaper, friendlier and with guaranteed weather.
This.
Hallomother · 30/08/2021 10:05

I’m sorry tourists have been so disrespectful. We aren’t in a tourist spot but have noticed a huge increase in littering and antisocial behaviour which is a real shame.

Everyone has had it tough, all for different reasons. Many shops here are still requesting people wear masks too.

MrsDThomas · 30/08/2021 10:05

Im with you OP.

Traffic, rudeness, littering, arrogance.

They dont say hello when walking past. Locals do, we live in that kinda place. Be polite, smile, but don’t pass us as if were not there when theres only you and me on the mountain.No idea where over the border they came from, but really rude and impolite.

SquirryTheSquirrel · 30/08/2021 10:05

We usually holiday in the UK but were priced out this year - understandable as businesses need to make good their losses - hoping things will have calmed down next year.

We like a quiet time on holiday.

CatMandarin · 30/08/2021 10:05

We still wear masks in shops fgs
This will shock you. So do lots of English people Shock

SecretSpAD · 30/08/2021 10:06

I'm in Cornwall and this summer the combined effects of G7, boardmasters and the usual tripling of our population due to the summer has meant that we are now a covid hotspot.
Every summer our small and underfunded hospital ends up struggling and we are currently very concerned about the winter pressures this year on our fragile health system.
I'm lucky. None of my family are dependent on tourism to earn a living, but I know people whose lives were decimated last year during the lockdowns.
We are all pleased that the tourists are back in Cornwall and it's great that our pubs and restaurants, our tourist attractions and general economy have seen a boost - but, the attitude and entitlement of so,e tourists do, and have always rankled. It's great that people come down here, but this county is our home and our workplace and we still need to be able to go about our normal lives while you are on holiday - and some people make that difficult. Some attitudes are very much thst they see themselves as superior to the people in the SW and that our county just exists to be their playground for a week or two in the summer....

However, the biggest problem that Cornwall has is that we need a more sustainable jobs economy that isn't so reliant on the tourist industry.

CampaignToo · 30/08/2021 10:06

We've all had to pay more for attractions, eating out etc. There isn't a special rate for locals

Maybe you're not local enough? When I lived in Wales lots of shops and restaurants absolutely did charge locals a different rate.

MsTSwift · 30/08/2021 10:06

It’s a numbers game the more people there are the higher percentage of them will be vile. Surprised this op works with the public with that attitude she needs a thicker skin or new job! Even my small role having paying guests over 8 years taught me most people are decent and absolutely fine a small minority are totally dreadful and a small minority are amazing. If you can’t deal with that suggest office work!

fizbosshoes · 30/08/2021 10:06

We've two lovely families staying in an Airbnb nextdoor, from Scotland. I gave them our takeaways menus and suggestions on outings with pushchairs. I like tourists, like the buzz rhey create in the area. Just not some of this year's lot.

I bet they're the neighbors from hell back home

So it's notall visitors ...its just some twattish people, who, as you acknowledge are probably just as offensive in their home surroundings. That doesnt make them any more pleasant to deal with (and I dont condone rudeness or aggression towards others) but your opening posts suggests all tourists are a PITA when in actual fact most are probably minding their own business and being considerate.

Howshouldibehave · 30/08/2021 10:06

I know everyone has had a bad year but so have the Welsh

Has anyone said otherwise?

I’m not sure what you wanted to achieve from this post. You clearly dislike tourists visiting your tourist area-perhaps you should move.

Malteser71 · 30/08/2021 10:07

I live about 45 minutes drive from the Welsh border. My kids asked me why we’ve never been into Wales.

My elder child is sixteen.

I had to stop and think for a minute, but they are right, they’ve never been to wales.

We used to go, years ago before we had kids. Every time I consider it now, I decide against it. I’ve never found it particularly beautiful (I think the lakes is much nicer). I’ve never found the people welcoming. I’ve never found the food anything special. There’s a lot of traffic. I think there are much nicer beaches.

Perhaps if everyone thought like me, the OP would be happy. We could even fence it off, I’ve often laughingly suggested it, but presumably the OP would be in favour.

Honestly, people should go elsewhere with attitudes like that. I agree with the poster who just had a lovely holiday near the m25. I’ve been to Hampshire, it was lovely. We stayed in a quiet cottage and spent our money in the shops and restaurants there. We had a pottery lesson, went for a cream tea, saw boats on the sea, fish in the river. And the people were lovely!

Maharajah20 · 30/08/2021 10:07

I live in a very popular tourist area.This summer there has most definitely been more than the normal amount of impatient, rude, and entitled people around. Not all holidaymakers, the majority are reasonable but there has been a large increase in the number of arseholes visiting. There are some who can not understand that staff who are paid little more than minimum wage are working their butts off. There is a MASSIVE shortage of workers so the ones that are working can’t do more than they already are. All that is asked is patience and understanding for what is a difficult situation for everyone.

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 30/08/2021 10:07

We went to Wales this summer and it was bloody gorgeous. But I sympathise with you, OP- some of the tourists were so rude!! Beeping their horns and shouting at people that they were wankers out of their car windows, queue barging, complaining at servers in restaurants - honestly it was shameful and so embarrassing. Its actually slightly put us off coming back to Wales because the other tourists were so unpleasant and entitled. I don't know if this report will make me very unpopular on here but it's what we experienced. I hope you enjoy your peace and quiet and thank you for having us!

BrushMySmush · 30/08/2021 10:09

@CampaignToo

I've taken a decision not to visit the UK tourist places I've been a regular customer of for so long, for a while, seeing as they've made it so clear they don't want us. The steep price increases what levt a sour taste too. I hope you don't regret it when this year's visitors go back to foreign holidays and the old ones don't come back.

This year, I holidayed in beautiful countryside only an hour from home, just off the M25. Not a tourist area, reasonable prices, very welcoming and easy too. It's been a revelation.

Now I need to know where you went @CampaignToo. Sounds bliss!
HesterShaw1 · 30/08/2021 10:09

My sister was staying with me last week - on her own, three kids (Cornwall). She loves it down here because of how friendly it is, even in August. In a local very quaint tourist village the other day, an older local couple offered to watch the car and the kids, while she ran off to get change to park from the shop. And once in the shop, the lady insisted on just changing her note for some coins, saying "She's on her own with three kids and worrying about her car. Bleddy extortion isn't it, my love?"

You really can't generalise, even if certain behaviour does dominate the narrative.

KatieMcKatie · 30/08/2021 10:10

I think anyone who works in a call centre, in a shop, in a hospital and so on and so on could say the same. It's dealing with the general public.

We rented a cottage in Wales - was interesting how some of the signs for food for sale in the fresh section about allergies were only in Welsh.