if the Spanish don't want us,don't go there

For those who might be in the Almensilla (Seville) and in Benalup-Casas Viejas and Vejer de la Frontera (Cadiz). The West Nile virus has been detected in the region,just keep safe every one.

Irrelevant-and unnecessarily anti Spanish?

The Spanish really don't help themselves

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c729r8py9yeo

They are Australian- that’s why we don’t like ‘em, we know what they’re like! Westies haha

Too many tourists! ! I think the majority of the tourists in Bali are probably Australian.
Expect there are plenty of tourists in Thailand. Fact is there are too many tourists everywhere. One half of the world is wealthy and can travel to the other half which isn’t, though do benefit from tourism, except where there are those huge all inclusive hotels where they benefit much less. .

Do many tourists stop and think of the poverty gap between the “charming” inhabitants or “characters” in their Indian or Greek village or Mediterranean resort and the tourists who flood in, cameras at the ready, conspicuous spending and possibly lack of empathy with people who may well not speak fluent American or English or German or whatever?
I’m not excusing anybody or even blaming the tourists (except the tour companies or the owners of cruise ships the size of an office block) but faced with the economic disparity the local inhabitants have to make what they can - hopefully legally but there will always be others.
All I’m saying really, is be sensitive to local customs and needs, learn a few phrases to at least be able to say please and thank you, don’t flash the cash or ignore local requirements of dress or behaviour.
Look at the Horseguards thread to see how bad behaviour by tourists can turn sour - there are countries where you would not even attempt a selfie with armed guards!

Reverse for us - we loved Barcelona and no problems at all. We like the inland part of Bali ,Ubud etc but the coastal areas not so much. Too many tourists !! I prefer Thailand.

We went to Bali and had no problem at all, friends and daughter have also been. No problems for them either.
We had a lovely time, and found the people friendly and helpful.
Pickpocketing is everywhere nanna, apparently Barcelona is one such place to be careful in . No doubt there are even pickpocketers in Australia too.
It’s upsetting and your relatives were just unlucky. There is a lot of poverty in Bali. Not an excuse but it happens everywhere.

Bali seems to love tourists. More pockets to pick. That was the unfortunate experience 3 members of my family had recently. Have to admire the skill, really, really efficient and totally undetectable.

Over tourism is a massive global problem.

Fresh water and accommodation are limited resources that local people need.

Sharing those limited resources with culturally insensitive tourists has become increasingly unappealing after lockdowns reminded local people why they like their own countries without the hoards of energy, water, and space hungry tourists.

Japan and Bali join Venice and Barcelona in the news about over tourism.

I like the idea of banning shorter lets like air bnb and having stricter tourist visas and tourist prices to limit numbers of locust like tourists, and promote and fund sustainable development of the tourism sector.

It's not only Spanish towns and villages that are being killed by the tourist trade. It has happened to English villages by the sea as well. Perhas fortunately for the western Highlands the Scottish midge will guard the lovely places against tourists and owners of second homes especially the homes let by the week or month.

The time has come for tourist accommodation to be taxed to the extent that there is a sustainable balance between tnumbers of ourists and numbers of local people.

I know OldFrill. That's the theory. The practice is a bit further on I was hearing from those involved. Fingers crossed.

We heard about this protest in Barcelona. We have a trip planned for the beginning of September. My DH was a bit worried, but I think we will be ok. It seems you can't go to any large city without some sort of protest or march going on.

I do understand the dilemma that tourism brings, it is indeed a double edged sword. We have also learned over the years not to stop at cafes right in very popular spots. They are usually overpriced and busy, so we will view the sights, then go a few blocks away to a quieter cafe for a break.

Aveline

Yes. I think the tourist tax will be going ahead. Maybe complicated to set up how the hotels etc can pass it on to the council. Tourism chiefs were saying it should be spent on tourism but we're screaming for it to be spent on our infrastructure: roads, cleansing, buses, social care etc etc rather than a bunch of holidaymakers on a binge.

There are restrictions as to how it is raised and how it can be spent
"The levy must be a percentage of the cost of an overnight stay in some types of overnight accommodation
Before a levy can be introduced, the local authority must consult with local communities, businesses and tourist organisations
Revenue generated by the levy must be used to develop, support or sustain local facilities and services substantially used by business and leisure visitors."
All the information is readily available online.

Yes. I think the tourist tax will be going ahead. Maybe complicated to set up how the hotels etc can pass it on to the council. Tourism chiefs were saying it should be spent on tourism but we're screaming for it to be spent on our infrastructure: roads, cleansing, buses, social care etc etc rather than a bunch of holidaymakers on a binge.

The law allowing Scottish councils to charge a Visitor Levy "tourist tax" was passed in May 2024.
There are requirements councils must meet before setting the charge so it will be 2026 before Edinburgh can implement the levy (should consultations & the council support it.

A tourist tax in Edinburgh is long overdue*Aveline*,wasn,t it recently an option put forward by Holyrood? I don’t understand why it wouldn,t be supported,the revenue could be used to cover at least some of the extra costs of the hordes who descend at festival time.The extra rubbish the needs collecting ,the e tra policing etc.I have many friends who live in the Capital who are in favour of a tourist tax and like us have had no problem paying one in other European cities for 20 odd years

Other more sensible Grans have mentioned the need for tourist taxes and zoning so that local people can find somewhere to live and the local infrastructure can be supported.
That's what we need here in Edinburgh.

I wouldn’t waste a penny in Spain. We have spend a lot of time and money there in the past and no more. They will be squawking soon that the tourism is failing - tough!!!

The obvious solution for places who want less tourism is to price out a proportion of the tourists. That would cut out low spending tourists. Hotels and restaurants could raise their prices to offset any losses.

I live on the outskirts of London and after 11 am Oxford Street is horrendous and very difficult to move. The shops need the trade but "locals" stay away.

This is not about just tourists. People have been priced out of the housing market as more are being bought as holiday homes. The youngsters are in the same position as a lot of people in our tourist areas, they are desperate for housing but cannot get any at an affordable price.

Mallorca residents are staging a tourist protest on Sunday night 21st July 2024.

Yes, M0nica, those longère buildings are ideal for converting to a row of say three gîtes, and why not as they provide additional income for the owners who were traditionally farmers? Ours all had their own patio and small garden. The grounds were communal. We invested in an inground swimming pool, and an all weather studio in the barn which locals could use out of season too.
Our farmer across the lane sold fresh milk and eggs to the guests, my French hairdresser friend in the village could be booked for a cut and blow dry, we had a gardener etc.
I realise ours was a unique set up but we tried to make it work for everyone.

It is not a question of shutting down all tourist accommodation but getting a fair balance between tourists and local people.

If all the locals are priced out of the local housing market, who is going to work in all the facilties that tourists expect from bars and restaurants, to hotels and tourist attractions.

Some one in one of the newspapers today spoke highly of the island of Ibiza where the local authority long ago zoned the island with area set aside for tourist accommodation and other ares where property can only be bought or rented by local people.