We all know what it’s like to be a tourist. You’ve been looking forward to this vacation for months, possibly even years, and you finally have the chance to visit the Colosseum or swim in Thailand’s most beautiful beaches. The excitement of traveling can lead some of us to forget that there are plenty of people in that city or town who are not on vacation. They are just minding their own business, going to school and work and the grocery store, with a massive amount of tourists around. 

Tourists have to try to put themselves in the shoes of the locals of wherever they are visiting and remember that they probably would not be too happy to find litter in their backyard or in their favorite park. They likely would not be thrilled to find drunk tourists wandering through their neighborhood loudly at 3am either. And there is no way they would want to find a visitor sitting on their property. It is a wonderful thing to live in a beautiful city that can make a lot of money from tourism, but it is crucial that tourists don’t leave a mess for someone else to clean up after they’ve gone home.  

We reached out to Winterbeers on Reddit to hear what inspired them to start this conversation in the first place. We asked if they had ever lived in a tourist destination or had recently been traveling, but they told us they're just a nosy person. We also wanted to know why they think locals often find tourists obnoxious, and they said, "If you have to ask, you don't live in a vacation spot." I might not currently, but I have lived in Los Angeles, so all I can say is, fair enough.

Lastly, we wanted to know if they learned anything from this thread that they will remember the next time they plan a trip. "Yes, actually people posted some really good information I think," they told us. "Not just what not to do (which mostly seems like common sense) but some even offered information on destinations. You have to really sort through the comments but next time I travel I’ll probably look into some of the things various people have mentioned."

What is it about traveling that makes some people lose all sense of judgment? Perhaps it’s the excitement of finally being away on holiday and trying to make the most of their week off from work. Or maybe visitors feel entitled to do whatever they want if they've paid a large sum of money for their trip. Traveling internationally might also lead to tourists acting particularly ignorant when they don’t understand the language or culture of wherever they are.

But these are not valid excuses. The internet is an amazing tool that can provide travelers with plenty of information about their destination and how to get around seamlessly. Countless blogs can teach tourists the best spots to see that won’t charge them an arm and a leg, and a quick Google search can usually help visitors learn enough about the culture of any location to avoid being offensive. Just because tourists benefit the economy of wherever they travel to does not mean that their actions have no consequences. The least they can do to enhance their experience, and to prevent disrupting locals, is do a bit of research before traveling. I promise, it’s not very hard. In fact, you will likely find it exciting!

We got in touch with travel expert and creator of the blog The Invisible Tourist, Alyse, to hear her thoughts on this topic. When asked why locals tend to dislike tourists, Alyse told us, “Tourists can sometimes forget people need to live and work at their vacation destination. They can be loud, get in the way and do disrespectful things in public they likely wouldn't at home. A lack of understanding of their culture means tourists can also unintentionally offend locals.”

Alyse also explained how her idea of being an “invisible tourist” can prevent upsetting locals. “Traveling in this way helps to preserve the local cultural heritage. Making a conscious effort to ‘blend in’ helps to minimize any negative social, cultural and economical impacts of tourism,” she says. “Learning local customs, etiquette and basic language before our trips will lead to more positive encounters with locals once we're there. What may seem like small things can actually make a big difference!”

We also asked Alyse what she thinks tourists need to keep in mind when visiting extremely popular destinations. “Consider staying longer in busy places to experience more. While it sounds counter intuitive, staying longer means we can visit popular places before day trippers arrive and after they leave for a less crowded experience,” Alyse explained. “Staying in locally-owned accommodation and spending at small businesses means giving back to locals, rather than contributing to economic leakage (where tourism money is sent abroad from the big global chains, not trickling back down to local communities).”

Lastly, Alyse added that, “We can experience more from our trips by being prepared: Pre-purchase any popular tickets days (if not weeks or even months) beforehand to avoid disappointment; Research in advance how to get around at the destination to avoid winging it and wasting precious time when we're there; participate in cultural experiences to learn new ways of thinking and enrich our trips. And most importantly, travel with an open mind - it can change our lives!”

If you’re interested in hearing about Alyse’s personal travels or getting more tips from her, be sure to check out her blog The Invisible Tourist right here and her book How to Not Look Like A Tourist: Unlocking Your Hidden Power for Overtourism Solutions right here. 

We also reached out to The World Counts to hear about some of the ways tourism can be harmful to the environment. They told us, "Tourism can put enormous pressure on local use of land and natural resources, and can lead to soil erosion, increased pollution, natural habitat loss, and increase the pressure on endangered species. These effects can gradually destroy the very basis on which tourism itself depends. On the global scale tourism is also a major contributor to CO2-emissions."

They went on to explain that, "The harmful impact of tourism is partly explained by the massive growth of the industry in the past decades." They also provided us with some harrowing statistics about the tourism industry. For example, "There are 1.4 billion tourists arriving at their destination every year. That’s 45 arrivals every single second."

"The number of tourists arriving at a destination somewhere in the world has grown by a factor of 56 between 1950 and 2018 - from 25 million to 1.4 billion. The level of tourism worldwide has seen a drop in recent years due to COVID 19, but numbers are expected to catch up again," The World Counts explained.

"Transport-related emissions from tourism are expected to account for 5.3% of all man-made CO2 emissions by 2030, up from 5% in 2016. This means that by 2030, transport-related CO2-emissions from tourism will reach 1,998 million tons. The level of tourism is very likely to keep growing together with the growing number of consumers globally. By 2030, we will be 5.6 billion consumers (compared to 3.5 billion in 2017)."

We asked if The World Counts would advise that people stop traveling altogether. They told us, "No, but we do recommend that people think about ways to travel in more sustainable ways, including: take the train instead of flying, look for 'eco-tourism' options at the destination that offer greener practices/alternatives compared to traditional traveling, make an effort to buy local products and support local businesses that are environmentally conscious, travel locally instead of going across the globe, observe earth-friendly habits also when travelling, i.e. paying respect to nature, stop littering, no excessive use/consumption."

"It is also worth mentioning that while tourism certainly can have negative impacts on the environment, eco-tourism can promote sustainable awareness and solutions in travel destinations, which in turn can help to both conserve natural resources and contribute to local economies," they told Bored Panda. "And not to forget, embracing eco-tourism can also help us adopt better and more earth-friendly habits at home as well."

Lastly, we asked The World Counts what they think travelers should keep in mind before making their next trip. They told us, "That our choices of products and services have global consequences that are very real. This is true at home, but certainly also (and maybe more so) when it comes to travelling. Put an effort into making your next trip contribute to your own understanding of sustainability and habits, and how it contributes to our planet’s health."

"To illustrate the pressure, consumers in western countries put on the planet: If everyone lived like the average American consumer, we would need 5.2 planets to support us." 

If you'd like to learn more about how to protect our planet and live a more sustainable life, be sure to check out The World Counts right here.

We consulted Ecotourism World to find out their best recommendations for traveling more sustainably, and you might be pleasantly surprised to hear how easy some of their tips are. The first one is to be mindful of where you’re going. Traveling to a lesser known destination is a great way to reduce the strain on resources in more popular sites. And if you are really determined to see that famous landmark or national park, consider going during the off season. With less tourists around, it is easier for the environment and the locals to handle visitors then. Plus you're likely to encounter much smaller queues and crowds, and might even get to pay less for accommodation and tickets.  

After choosing your destination, you’ll need to find accommodation. Nowadays, there are plenty of eco-friendly options from hostels to B&Bs to hotels. Opt for locally owned establishments over chain hotels, as your money will be doing more for the community in the hands of the locals. Do your research about how where you’re staying handles waste and how they manage to cut down on water and electricity usage. An added bonus of staying in smaller, locally owned accommodation means you are more likely to have an authentic experience. Being around locals gives you the opportunity to learn about their culture and cuisine and avoid the masses of tourists that would be staying at a larger hotel. 

Another way to be an eco-tourist is to seek out eco-tours operated by locals. “Not only will this return some profits back into the local community, but it’s even more beneficial for you because the locals always know the most ideal locations to offer you the best possible experience,” Ecotourism World notes. The best way to learn about any place is to hear from the locals, and you are likely to be more welcomed when they know you care as much about their environment as they do. Do a little research online for the best eco-tours wherever you are traveling to, and you will be sure to find a unique and meaningful experience.  

With all of this being said, tourism is not inherently bad. I love traveling as much as the next person, possibly even more, and I do not intend to demonize it. Tourism can have wonderful benefits for economies, as it is one of the top 5 exports of 83% of countries in the world and employs 7% of the world’s workers. It is also a great way for us to understand our planet better. What better way is there to learn about another culture than to experience it? We just have to be mindful when visiting other places. Let’s keep the golden rule in mind when traveling, treat your travel destination the same way you would want your home to be treated. 

We hope you’re enjoying this list of insight from locals and that you’ve learned something useful for your next trip. No matter where your travels take you, remember to make as small of an impact as possible and to support the natives as much as you can. Even if you would never want to live in a tourist destination, it's important to be empathetic to people who do. They love their homes, and they shouldn't have to work overtime trying to preserve them. Be sure to upvote the responses you found most informative, and then let us know in the comments if you have ever lived in a tourist destination. We would love to hear about your experiences.