Tourists 24/7 365 days a year..

[IsawwhatIsaw]

I have lived in a tourist town for several decades.
And we always had tourists but it felt manageable with a quieter time during the winter.
But now there is no quiet time at all, and I actively avoid the centre as so many coach loads of people arrive daily . It’s so busy it feels oppressive.
So it feels like there is no let up at all. I spoke to a friend in Edinburgh who had a similar story - she is now looking to move out.
Just wondering if other cities experience this?
we are wondering about moving elsewhere, but like where we live.
Is it unreasonable to resent how our City has changed?

Can’t reply to everyone individually….

I don't think anyone expects you to.

When it prices locals out of living where they grew up then it IS a problem. I know in some areas they have caveats on buying property.

I live in a tourist area on the coast, but it's not as popular as some areas close by. It does get busy in summer but I like the buzz. If it wasn't for the tourists spending money over the summer a lot more businesses would close. We've lost a children's theme park and a watersports business this year.

I have visited really popular towns in the summer and it's unbearable. I have real sympathy with some of you. You can welcome tourists at the same time as recognition that it's negatively affecting the QOL of people who live there. Once the residents go, it's just a Disney theme park, no soul.

I think we probably get quite a lot (beautiful cathedral) but it doesn’t bother me and I can’t tell the difference between tourists and local people walking around anyway. Everyone has an equal right to be there and I’m sure the local businesses are glad to have the tourists.

I live about 2.5 miles south of York. There’s times where York gets full especially near Christmas. And there are a lot of hen and stag dos. But overall I love it here and I don’t find it hard to find somewhere less crowded.

I don’t think anyone objects to a reasonable number of tourists. Obviously some places are attractive and/or historical and many will understandably want to see them.. But it has become ridiculous and has particularly exploded since the pandemic.

Is it that people have more money? Is it the soaring popularity of cruises? Whereas people used to sit in Benidorm for two weeks now they’re hopping all over Europe and Fjords and beyond.

I went to NY last year after 25 years. Omg it was chronic - and at a low time of year! The Staten Island ferry used to be a hidden gem…no longer. It was rammed with jostling tourists. Pity the poor commuters.

I think it's probably a combination of increased number of cruise ships and airbnb accommodation which dramatically increases the number of people who can feasibly visit a place in a day. The latter also makes it more expensive for local people to live in their city driving out young people and making it more of a. tourist attraction than somewhere people live.

I went to NY last year after 25 years. Omg it was chronic - and at a low time of year! The Staten Island ferry used to be a hidden gem…no longer. It was rammed with jostling tourists. Pity the poor commuters.

So you’re a tourist complaining about other tourists!

I feel like this about my city. Not because it’s a tourist centre but because it feels like a crime ridden dump. I’ve only been to the centre once in the last 6 months, possibly longer.
I do however go to the ‘tourist’ areas where the theatres etc are as that at least feels a bit safer.

we all have our crosses to bear

I live in a seaside town in the north west and believe me I don’t feel blessed about the behaviour of many of the tourists we have here. Rude and entitled are on another level much of the time.

Yes of course - but I was noting the difference. Not just double the number of visitors - thousands of times more such that the experience becomes really unpleasant.

I live in York city centre and it’s honestly completely fine. The Christmas market is the only problem.

You think putting a badge on removes their competency?

Not a fan of cruises?

No I don't find any of that annoying or frustrating. I live in central Edinburgh.

Tbh a lot of what you're saying sounds very exaggerated. I've never once been run over by an out of control oversized wheely case.

The Edinburgh Christmas Market looks bloody awful but it's easy enough to just not go there. It doesn't impact on me at all.

My parents live in a tourist town and they hear this a lot. It's true tourists and visitors do boost the local economy. However, a tourist-heavy economy doesn't make for a good balance. Tourists want to dine out, buy souvenirs and eat ice-creams. If that's all you have on the high street, you end up with lots of shops that are no use to the locals and a surfeit of not-very-well-paid jobs.

Also, tourists need somewhere to stay. That used to be hotels and pubs, but now it's more likely to be AirBNBs. Plus, tourist-related jobs generally don't pay well and the roles are insecure. The accommodation shortage means it's harder for anyone to build a life in the area. After a while the schools, GP surgeries, pharmacies, council offices and banks all become non-viable and the gorgeous, charming destination town or village is completely hollowed out and basically becomes another version of Butlins.

It's not that tourists aren't welcome. But you simply can't build a healthy, stable community if the tourists massively outnumber the residents for the majority of the year.

Used to live in Edinburgh and It was delightful in the early days post pandemic when there was few tourists. It's hit home then the mass problems of over tourism and I agree with the posters who say it causes as many problems as it solves. August as a resident in Edinburgh is horrible and we tried to say the fringe needed scaled back but like most corrupt councils it fell in deaf ears. A lot of these tourists forget that these towns are people's homes and they are trying to live their lives.

Airbandb needs to be banned worldwide in my opinion as it just awful and i side eye these cruise ships and coach loads that come to all these towns- i feel a lot of them don't bring much benefit to the towns they Infest

I live in an incredibly touristy city, I actually see it as a compliment that people want to visit a beautiful city that I can call home. Is it annoying when you are trying to get into town and there are hundreds of tourists blocking your way? Yes. But I figure we are tourists when we are traveling so I don’t let it bother me. I certainly wouldn’t move to another town because of it and when I get home it’s not like they’re outside my house!!

I used to live in Windsor so feel your pain. When Diana died, it was hell on earth for weeks!

DS lives in Manchester, quite near where the Christmas market is and it's awful apparently. I think it must be on his route to work

I should say that York has a massive problem with day drinking visitors on Saturdays etc (largely from the NE), but I wouldn’t regard them as tourists.

Also, I can’t avoid the markets, as they’re too close to where I live.

Where do you live? It won't be "outing", I suspect other people live there too.

Even my unremarkable market town is snided with visitors. My main bugbear is every single terrace house (sorry, artisans cottage)that comes up for sale becomes a holiday let, pricing locals out.

Or you could wish to live somewhere less beautiful. You can't have it both ways

I've lived in Edinburgh since 1987 and always less than a 10 minute walk from the Usher Hall. I couldn't disagree more what you're saying.

August in Edinburgh is brilliant.