Overtourism: How to be a responsible tourist - The Global Story podcast, BBC World Service

I’m a hotel front desk agent for 30 years here in the big island of hawaii, I have experienced a lot from the tourist there are good and bad. Back in the 80’s when social media wasn’t that popular the tourist were more caring and more respectful, now a days a lot of tourists are more rude, demanding, and some of them when they check out they forget to even flush they’re own “shit” and leave trash everywhere. Our housekeepers are extremely exhausted and tired, I know it’s there job to clean the rooms for the next guests. Hawaii depends on tourism please do your part treat our islands like your home, show some respect, read and follow the rules of each resorts, we’re here to service you with Aloha ❤😊

You are a guest when you travel is exactly what my grandmother used to say. Be a polite guest, not a rude intruder.

I went to Japan, avoided Fuji, I took a slow train so saw plenty of it, and Kyoto, went to secondary quiet cities, and still got upset by tourist who couldn't behave. Japanese people told me it disturbed them a lot.

“You are a guest …” 👍 that’s so true! Respect the local culture.

What everyone is tired of is obnoxious wannabe influencers with a bad case of Main Character Syndrome ruining it for everyone, locals and polite tourists.

It is absolutely absurd this Selfie-madness.

The problem is the gentrification of the cities. Airbnb has destroyed the market, making impossible por locals to rent. This turns the cities into photocopies, so artificial.

This topic is really engaging. Living in a tourist destination, I can see clearly the benefits as well as drawbacks due to overtourism. Travelling is great but just please respect, being a well-behaved guest☺️

I live in Japan and overtourism is crazy here. It is impacting work commutes for locals on already packed trains. If I were in a position to do so, I would charge an entrance tax on people coming from abroad and hotel taxes both national and local. The tax should exceed what is required to deal with tourism issues, but also go to offsetting the income tax and residential (local) tax burden. I would also tax international chain hotels at a higher rate since they will mostly send their profits abroad.

this problem also happens in Japan it is so serious problem I often hear the news about scribbling shrine and temple we want to respect our culture😢 if you visit Japan,I want you to behave like other Japanese people 😢 （i have just started learning English,i can’t explain it well,,,sorry 😭）

Stay in hotels, guest houses and apartments built for tourists, avoid housing on Airbnb, it's destroying communities.

I don't think there is a solution. More and more people from all around the world - 8 billion of us - we all want a better life, we all want our dreams to come true, we all want to travel (I personally don't, but I'm the minority). More tourists is a reality for every single destination on this planet (and beyond!). More tourists means huge issues in every single country. These destinations will belong to tourists, not the locals. AirBnB like rentals, expats, people working from 'home' they can move to anywhere they like = house rental/sale prices will skyrocket. More people more problems. Add the mix of climate crisis to the mix ... the future is grim.

Sadly some tourists treat destinations as a theme park not a real place with real people. I have seen american tourists walk up to a Masai woman and touch her earrings and clothes as though she was an exhibit. Imagine the Masai doing that to a woman in New York. And another American loudy declare that a lift should have been put in when they built the tower of London. 😂

In Seattle we don't have a lot of tourists but when the cruise ships dock and we get tourists for a couple of days, it's always really nice to see them. So I guess the key is to find the places that want you to stop by and spend money. 🤷

"I just discovered this place. Practicing gratitude, manifesting abundance...."

I have just come back from Barcelona, the influencers draping themselves over Gaudi's masterpieces, hogging views was disgusting, so self involved and selfish. It was laughable to see these idiots.

Recently in Galway I had a conversation with English tourists that were very keen to know what life was like for the “ex-pat community” here in Galway. On further questioning this discovered that they meant “British Immigrants” and that arrogance is the nub of the matter. I explained that I lived and worked in London for eight years and was considered to be an Irish immigrant all the time I was there. I could quickly see that they weren’t “getting it” so I bid them good day.

Same problem in Queenstown New Zealand workers living in their cars to service international hotels many of them foreigners on short-term work visas. It is about the dollars paying workers as little as possible and maximising the return to shareholders😢

Explore your own city and region. I've been surprised by delightful views, great food, quirky museums, and such. I've also reached an age where I take 1 or 2 pictures, then put the cellphone away. Live in the moment and take in the experience fully engaged with what is around you.

As a backpacker, we spend money in local shops and stay at local hostels. All that money stays in the region. Staying at high end hotels means all that money goes out to MNC hospitality companies.