How To Be A Tourist | Katrina Gulliver | TEDxBoulder

Summary

This transcript discusses the long-standing concerns about over-tourism, tracing its history back to the 19th century. It explores how travel, once considered a privilege, became accessible to many, leading to the common distinction between 'tourists' and 'travelers.' The narrative reflects on the desire for unique experiences, the competitive nature of travel, and the illusion of authenticity. The speaker argues that, in reality, we are all tourists, contributing to the tourism industry, and suggests that we embrace this fact rather than criticize it. They conclude by reflecting on the futility of seeking transcendence through travel.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Overtourism has been a concern for centuries, as seen in a New York Times article from 1852 about crowded travel on the Rhine.
• 🏨 Tourism's growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to overcrowding in popular cities by 1920.
• 📈 The narrative of overtourism persists today, as more people travel and issues of overcrowding and damage to historic sites are raised.
• 🤔 The term 'overtourism' carries judgment, distinguishing between the 'traveler' (us) and the 'tourist' (them).
• 🚍 Mass travel became more accessible with Thomas Cook’s package tours in the 19th century and expanded further with the rise of automobiles and buses in the 20th century.
• 📸 The pursuit of a 'unique' travel experience is often undermined by shared tourist experiences, like crowded photo spots.
• 🛣️ Infrastructure such as roads, airports, and hotels is necessary for travel, yet travelers often wish to feel like pioneers in new destinations.
• 🏞️ The tourism industry exploits the desire for authenticity, often offering inauthentic experiences marketed as unique and local.
• ✈️ Acknowledge that we are all tourists and that the conveniences we enjoy while traveling exist because of tourism itself.
• 🛑 The solution to overtourism might be to stay home and enjoy remote experiences through other means, like books, rather than contributing to overcrowding in popular destinations.

Q & A

What does the script suggest about the history of concerns around overtourism?

The script suggests that concerns about overtourism are not new, as similar complaints were raised as far back as the 19th century, such as in a New York Times article from 1852 about crowded riverboat passengers on the Rhine.

How does the script define the difference between a 'traveler' and a 'tourist'?

The script highlights a perceived distinction between 'travelers' and 'tourists,' where the traveler is seen as having a more authentic and personal experience, while the tourist is viewed negatively as part of a crowd, often seen as the 'other.'

What role did Thomas Cook and 19th-century package tours play in the travel industry?

Thomas Cook and 19th-century package tours made travel more affordable and accessible to a wider portion of society, which contributed to the rise of overtourism and the judgmental distinction between 'tourists' and 'travelers.'

How does the script describe the travel experience post-World War II?

Post-World War II, the rise of long-distance bus tours led to a new form of travel typified by rapid sightseeing tours, like 'if it’s Tuesday, it must be Belgium,' which was often criticized for being less authentic than slower, more immersive travel experiences.

What issue does the script raise about Instagram and travel photography?

The script critiques the tendency on Instagram to create an illusion of personal and unique experiences in pristine landscapes, when in reality, there are often many other people waiting to take the same photo, which reflects the commercialization and standardization of travel experiences.

What does the script suggest is the irony of seeking 'authentic' travel experiences?

The script suggests the irony is that people often seek 'authentic' experiences but end up engaging with inauthentic or reconstructed experiences, such as fake ceremonies or tourist traps, while believing they are discovering something unique.

How does the travel industry exploit the desire for unique experiences according to the script?

The travel industry exploits this desire by marketing destinations as unique and untouched, using imagery such as empty beaches in advertisements or slogans like Airbnb's 'stay like a local,' even though these experiences are far from genuinely local or unique.

What is the script’s view on the infrastructure needed for modern travel?

The script emphasizes that modern travel is only possible because of extensive infrastructure—such as roads, airports, and hotels—built by other people, which paradoxically contradicts the desire for a private or unique travel experience.

What suggestion does the script make regarding concerns about overtourism in places like Venice?

The script suggests that rather than contributing to the problem of overtourism, one could opt to stay home, enjoying the essence of a destination like Venice from a distance, such as reading a book or having a local experience without traveling.

What point does the script make with the reference to Henry David Thoreau and his book 'Walden'?

The reference to Henry David Thoreau’s 'Walden' illustrates that one doesn't need to travel far to experience personal reflection or connection with nature, as Thoreau himself wrote his famous text of retreat near his mother’s home, implying that meaningful experiences can occur close to home.