Has all this changed your opinion of tourist spots you used to love?

[Makeitgoaway]

There's one in particular that we used to visit for a few days several time a year. The last time was January and under normal circumstances we'd have been there this week.

Obviously we have no intention or desire to go there until the relevant restrictions are lifted but the venom being directed towards tourists and visitors by people fortunate enough to live in beautiful places is making me think it won't be comfortable there, we won't be welcome for a long time after restrictions are lifted. I understand people are scared etc but they also love to see us and our money in happier times and, I assume, do want tourists to return at some point.

Will you be rushing back to your favourite places to support their economies or will you wait?

Because I don't want to be "lashed out at" while in trying to enjoy a relaxing break ThursdayLastWeek.

That was the reason for my post, to gauge how soon the welcome might be back.

Most of the animosity where I’m from is for second home owners anyway.

Then I think you'll find that it is also a minority in the area that might feel that way under strain, perhaps they witnessed hoards of second homers appearing the weekend of lockdown, knowing this could compromise them and their families through lack of resources and bringing the disease with them.

I'd feel sure that most towns will be happy with visitors that act in line with any level of restriction or social distancing, rather than those that couldn't give two hoots what impact their presence might have.

You should still go if you want to, when you are allowed, and follow the guidelines. This situation is nobody's fault. I very much doubt you would come across anyone who'd complain in that scenario.

I live in the South West & yes there was anger & vitriol at some tourists or other selfish people who seemed to think the lockdown rules didn't apply to them, that they would continue with their holiday or go to their second home, often from areas badly affected by COVID & bring it to areas not so badly affected yet, but with less infrastructure of any kind (health, food, etc). But that was 3-4+ weeks ago - I've not seen any vitriol since then on local FB boards etc. Just communities working together to get through.

Ok, it’s your buck. You can choose to spend it where you like.

I think it’s easy to understand that folk might behave differently when they’re scared, and that when movement is allowed again they won’t feel the same as they do now.

I think after this is over tourists will be welcomed back with open arms.

I totally understand why currently if they live in an area where the infection rates are low they don't want people coming who might bring the virus with them.

So yes, I'll be going back. I suspect the days of lowish cost foreign travel is over for many, many years. So the UK domestic tourist rates will rise.

They might not feel the same when the local shops etc have to close due to lack of business,no.

Yes of course I understand that, but the virus isn't going to miraculously disappear when restrictions are lifted. Some people will still be scared.

It has made me feel a little unsure about returning to an area where locals have been very vocal about tourists. I love the area and we've had many happy holidays there but now I'm not so sure how welcome we would be. May stick to closer to home, although the weather will be crap.

I'm sorry if you feel offended but unbelievably selfish people kept flocking to our area and they didn't give a damn. Their money seemed to be the only asset they possessed. They are never very polite to the locals to begin with and they clearly didn't care if we were safe or not. It was distressing and frightening to see them arriving in droves and knowing our peak would be higher as a result. The only thing that has held them off are police check points and the idea that locals could get shirty. What option do you have with people who couldn't care less if you ask politely?

And there's a possibility that some counties remain out of bounds whilst others don't, to continue to manage restricted resources to local demographics. And yes some people will still be scared but that's the same everywhere and every situation.

Those signs would only really be seen by the people who were flouting instructions of lockdown. Were you planning to go during lockdown? That's the only real reason I could see why you would feel put off going in the future when lockdown lifts.

Atm I’m looking at long haul travel differently.

Reading all this with interest as it's been a thought at the back of my mind. I love travel and as going abroad looks like it might be off the cards for a long time, I've bought a GB guidebook to get myself excited about exploring this country more (when we are allowed to travel again of course!!) But I do worry about the reception we might get as there does seem to be a lot of vitriol around at the moment particularly against Londoners (where I live). I expect it won't put me off travelling but I might try to avoid the real tourist hotspots and go to some of the still beautiful but less popular places, and try to keep a low profile, if you see what I mean...

If/& when travel restrictions are lifted I'd expect most places will welcome tourists back - yes there maybe some people still scared etc but they will be a tiny minority. Most people accept that tourist areas/hotspots need tourists so once we can travel again there will likely be no more hostility.
That was purely because selfish people were ignoring lockdown.

I live in a coastal town. I bought a house here because the locals were so friendly. Like a PP has said, I really enjoy chatting to visitors to the town, most visitors are lovely.
It is a small but vocal minority of people who are making vitriolic posts on SM. If you haven't ignored the lockdown guidance and visited a tourist area then the posts are not directed at you. I am very concerned about the impact this will have on local businesses and would hope lockdown is lifted in time for them to generate some income this season. However as other people have pointed out there are a number of people who have decided to visit despite lockdown and it is those people who are generating anger. People arriving in the dead of night or getting luggage couriered to their holiday address to avoid police road checks obviously don't respect the areas they are visiting and don't appear to care if they place additional strain on the limited health resources. I am aware of one person who has been challenged and reported by locals for visiting a second home but they did admit leaving their primary residence because someone else in the household had C19!
I do not work in the tourist industry but will be pleased for those that do when visitors can return when it's safe to do so.
Some posters have indicated that they are regular visitors to an area so I can only presume you have found locals welcoming enough until now, perhaps it's worth pausing to ask why that might not be the case just at the moment.

I’m personally keeping my holidays (2 staycations 1 abroad). I haven’t given this a second thought.

I guess you could avoid going on holiday mainland Europe too, based on a few unfriendly comments about us leaving EU.

I live in a seaside town that absolutely relies on visitors to keep the shops open for the few (mostly elderly) full time residents in the winter. A few people who should know better strung up banners telling visitors not to visit.

This resulted in vigilantism. A lot of bad feeling ensued. The banner was removed. Locals made it plain the bannermen were not speaking for the majority.

We want and need visitors. It’s what we as a seaside town do.

Please come back and enjoy our lovely town.

I live in a tourist town

What pissed me off is the city folk coming out and raiding our SMALL shops. We know it happened, we can tell non local cars and some were stupid enough to admit what they were doing to staff.

For over a month now our shop has had no toilet paper, tinned tomatoes, pasta or sauce, tissues, cleaners and so much more.

Come supplied and no issue but we are not your (general your, not at you OP) panic buy backup shop.

Are you just not going to go on holiday, then? Or only visit places which are generally not considered attractive to tourists?

It's the 'we can tell non local cars' attitude that is the problem and a bit weird if you ask me.

Are all local cars logged?

I work in tourism, as does my DP. We live in a village that depends on tourism. During normal times, we love tourists coming.

These are not normal times and we do not want tourists in our village or on our island right now. We still value your custom and your presence during normal times, but we don’t want you here right now. If you aren’t coming, then none of it was aimed at you.

The problem with small, seaside/rural communities is that they often have the resources to match. We have one hospital for 2 counties, with 11 ICU beds. One of those counties alone has 70k people.

Do you remember the weekend just before lockdown and people flocked to Snowdon? I live at the bottom and residents were adhering to the rules. After that weekend, I was genuinely scared to take my small child out for a walk because of the sheer number of day trippers that came and touched everything, spat on the ground, pissed in the bushes etc.

People are scared for themselves and for their loved ones. If someone believes their need to go an a holiday during lockdown trumps the CV19 government advice, then it’s inevitable that they will receive criticism and vitriol. Our police force have stopped many people on the roads that still think it’s ok to drive from England to spend the day/weekend/week here. Second home owners are sending their luggage via courier and then driving up during the night. That is not ok, and people like that are not welcome.

Just to clarify, it’s not that tourists will not be welcome back when this is all over - it’s that the rule breakers are not welcome now - there’s a difference.

It's not venom. We desperately need you to come back but please don't come now.

And of course we recognise local cars. You do when you live in a small place you know. There's nothing that weird about it!

Surely you were not labouring under the delusion that the locals thought you were anything other than a necessary nuisance in the first place?