Reflection #1
Badge #7 is based on the story of overtourism and the podcast on the issue of overtourism that identifies the challenges and impact of too many visitors at destinations around the world. In the video, with more visitors come travel, that the biggest problem of overtourism is not only affecting residents’ quality of life, but their ability to live in the area. The local residents from Venice and Barcelona tells people how overtourism affect their daily life, what have been hugely impacted by overtourism. They want over tourism issues getting more and more attention. I remember one lady says “they just forget about their behavior, they come here just to do everything they can’t do in their home country.” In my opinion, every tourists should be respect the destination, not only for the facilities, and also for the people. Respecting local customs seems to be common sense, but it’s hard to do if we don’t pay enough attention. So research before travel is particularly important. Moreover, the local business also changing their mind to see how they can make business through tourist, rather than offering value to local residents. The local government need take actions for that, to start manage overtourism and appeal tourists to perform their responsibilities to the local destinations. Travelling responsibly not only helps avoid overtourism, it will give us a greater connection with local people and ways of life, and more authentic holiday experience.