To detest people that think they own beautiful parts of the world?

[Bumpitybumper]

I grew up in a very ugly and undesirable part of the country and now live in a tourist hotspot. I am becoming increasingly frustrated by people that are born and raised here trying to restrict tourism or stop 'outsiders' moving here. The houses are expensive here because it's such a lovely place to live but there isn't much employment except for from tourism. Despite this many locals that I know feel that tourism should be restricted as it makes the town extremely busy in high season. They also think housing should be subsidised for locals.

I feel that there are only so many beautiful places and those lucky enough to be born in them are no more entitled to live and enjoy them than the rest of us who by luck were born elsewhere. This would effectively condemn future people like me to live and visit only the less desirable of areas whilst my children could stay in this lovely area and be subsidised for doing so. It just feels incredibly unfair!

I did the opposite to op and moved from a beautiful part of Ireland to the London area. In my case it was for work. I'd be so annoyed if people said I wasn't "allowed" to live here and the idea is frankly laughable. Nobody in London would say that ever. Apparently my hometown is getting a lot less insular and thank god for that. My family there are delighted. Yanbu

It's about balance. Second homes should be banned . Holiday lets should be limited to a proportion of the total available housing. Beyond that I don't really see why locals should have more of a claim than anyone else who wants to live somewhere full time, send their kids to local schools etc.
Councils could say you must have planning permission to let your property for short term lets.
Prices get too high for locals because of holiday lets and second homes. If these didn't exist, rich commuters might buy some if the big expensive properties but wouldn't be interested in the 3 bedroom terraces so these would remain available for the lower paid.

People born there think they're entitled to live near their families and support networks

No one is entitled to this. They can desire it but should not think they’re entitled to it. It’s nothing to do with desirable areas/second homes. My son is buying his first home. It’s in a far less desirable area than the one he grew up in. He’ll work and earn his way up to that.

Your comparisons of beauty and money are relevant. Some people are born with these things or born in a beautiful area. I think everyone accepts that we are all subject to luck and fortune in this regard.

Where it differs is that if I can't afford to maintain my looks or my fortune, can I ask the state to step in so that I can retain this privilege I was born with? I could argue that my family had been rich for generations and all my friends live in expensive areas but almost any sane person would accept that it isn't for the government to intervene so that I can sustain my advantage at the expense of others who will ultimately be funding this and denied the same privilege. Somehow living in a beautiful area is treated completely differently in some people's mind and they think that it's a lifelong, intergenerational entitlement.

I'm not bitter but just can't get how people can't see quite how entitled all of this is and how it will directly impact those who are born without privilege from ascertaining a home in a beautiful area.

I voted YABU.

I agree that you can make a case for "some" tourism, but it should also be limited.

In Venice the tourist industry has gotten so bad that most of the locals have been driven out. Many houses in touristy areas have turned into Air BnB's and most days you'll find more tourists than locals in the city.

In some islands in the pacific ocean you can't buy land unless you were born and raised there. They didn't do this in Hawaii and a lot of the land has been bought up by hotel chains and real estate developers. It has not been good for the local people.

Tourism can bring a nice revenue, but if you let it run rampant none of the money will actually benefit the area.

So presumably you agree that the inverse is true? Why should born and bred Londoners be forced out because people from Devon want to move to London to work in marketing or whatever?

If you got your dream job here would you be ok with being told no you’re not allowed to come?

I’m a born and bred Londoner and most of the people I grew up have been forced to leave because they can’t afford to stay.

We can agree that locals should have priority but it would work both ways.

Oh come on, I'm sure if you wanted to rent it out on a permanent basis, you could, epc rating or not

Communities aren't decimated but they change and adapt. I am a part of the community as are many other outsiders. The fact that you believe that community can only consist of people that have lived in a place for decades is completely wrong.

Of course you'd say that. This thread is pretty pointless.

supported my town in becoming that desirable place in the first place

I think you’re misplaced in claiming this credit. It’s Mother Nature most likely who created the desirability of your town. You just were lucky to be born there

Ok I will jump in on this thread, being one of those locals born and bred in an area which is deemed very desirable and visited by over 20 million tourists per year.

I firmly believe anyone can live anywhere they want but they have to accept more desirable areas will be more expensive - it is how society works, if every house was priced the same in every part of the country then you are in communism territory . Market forces will decide property prices.

I really enjoy that people not local want to live in such a beautiful place that I call home, if they move here to retire, or to setup a busy, or to work or for any reason that is great. I love my home and environment, it is a joy that others make a choice to come and share it, but some locals can be a little precious about being local and the area - people have different dispositions.

We accept that tourism is a huge economical benefit to the area but also it has its cons that the area can become busy and some visitors do not respect it as much as they should. For many who live here the tourists provide a source of income which locals fully appreciate.

I have friends, and family, who are of the mindset, which I think is wrong, that they have sold property to incomers, gaining the highest price possible but then complain their children cannot purchase property due to the high prices. They really do seem to think they can have it both ways. Yes there are more and more affordable homes being built new along with existing homes having s106 restrictions. This helps of course and does mean locals, or those who work here, so not necessarily born here, can purchase or rent at affordable prices.

Now what does annoy locals is those people who move here and then within 2 minutes of being here try and change things. We are not some backward yokels against change but we do expect people coming here to try and become part of the community, that sometimes means accepting things are not how you would like them to be.

Do not come to a valley where the majority of the locals livestock farm and tell them to eat less meat, do not tell them not to drive a 4x4 especially when it is that vehicle which is likely to be used for the rescue services and/or will help you out when the weather is bad, do not tell them they should not renovate and convert farm buildings to holiday lets as it will encourage more tourism. It is those type of incomers which cause a bad name for others and can lead to maybe the situation the OP is experiencing.

Life is for living, there are nice places in the UK and not so nice places, some people will always want to live in those nicer places and prices will reflect that.

My mum's family is Cornish. I can understand the frustrations re affordability, but ultimately, it's the same for everyone else. I can't afford to live in Cornwall, or the area I grew up in, or where DH works. It is what it is. The world doesn't owe me a cheap house in my preferred location. I do also find that these areas are somewhat lacking in ambition - there's no jobs waiting for me, so let's not bother trying to do anything. I'll work at Morrisons and moan instead.

It is a fact.

My kids are in local schools, we have lots of friends and contribute to local institutions. We know lots of people and they know us. We are a part of people's support network and I know we could rely on them too. This is what community looks and feels like. I won't be told by people like you that it's all about how many years you have lived somewhere when I know from lived experience that this isn't the case.

But she's absolutely right, community is not just made of 'locals'

But the impact needs to be managed. A town firstly does need to support its residents - otherwise there is no one to run the bars, cafes etc which tourists want to go to. Plus its residents pay council tax and contribute to the local economy too. re: normal shops no longer being viable- councils can do something to help this though. They can provide business rate incentives or support for amenities which support their residents - and they can provide incentives for residents to encourage them to shop in town more (such as discounted parking, discounts for shops etc)- the argument that it’s either a town centre filled full of tourist shops/ attractions or a ghost town is a failing of the councils and doesn’t have the be the way things are. Unfortunately town centre regeneration funds or local business support in tourist towns is often disproportionately given to tourist businesses. Now if a tourist tax was introduced (like in many European cities) that would provide funding for tourist businesses , pay for some of the increased costs associated with tourists and it would allow for non tourist businesses to get a bigger piece of the regeneration money/ business support pie. Towns and cities need to be planned strategically so they are sustainable, safe and attractive places that support everyone and everyone can enjoy them!

There must be a lot of in breeding going on in some villages! Ridiculous to think that people can't relocate, move with their jobs, improve their lot in life in case it upsets the locals.

I'm guessing you've got a second home.

Excellent post by @schloss

I mostly agree, I think there should be some subsidised housing for people with essential jobs though. One point about tourism, in my very touristy part of the world tourism stopped being automatically seen as a benefit to the economy with the rise of airbnb, a family staying at an Airbnb (owned by someone who doesn't live here) self-catering for the week and exploring beaches etc brings almost zero income to the area but puts pressure on roads and services, water supply and the hospital. In that respect I do understand the grumbling about tourists.

Where does this "I'm richer than you, therefore you can find elsewhere to live" mentality end? People often cite a great sense of community as a reason for moving to such areas - yet don't realise that the influx erodes that precious and fragile thing. What about an entire country? Is it entirely reasonable for more powerful nations to displace native populations because they want the natural resources there?

Well, lots of people do criticise the situation in London which is basically the same but on a much larger scale - rich people buying residential properties as an investment. The rules should be the same everywhere - houses and flats are either lived in full time by their owners, let on an assured tenancy, or are registered as short term accommodation with the accompanying planning controls, taxes and safety regulations.

My dad was raised in a poor rural area close to the sea (which was looked down upon as barren). With the widespread use of cars, the area is now very desirable. We have yuppies moving into the area (who have more money than locals), and the natives are struggling to get on the property ladder. A balance is needed. You don't want to push the locals out altogether. Community spirit is needed to stay strong.

Legally we couldn't... if there is a low epc rating we cannot rent it long term.
This is where some landlords fall foul and rent bad properties to any suspecting renter and make tons of money. A responsible landlord has all legalities covered.

Sure, but the locals sold their homes to the holiday let folks in the first place. Or opened them up so they could make money.

You are part of a new community that exists after driving out the old one. The original community hasn't just adapted to assimilate you, it's disappeared to make room for you. The change you refer to is the swapping out of communities of less well off local people for wealthy new people. Which if you're part of the original community and see it scattered would seem like decimation. It is ever the way that money buys the best, and that includes location but surely its not difficult to understand why less well off people feel one advantage they did have, a beautiful location, has been taken from them?