Reward instead of shaming...
I can only hope that the news about a Spanish city where citizens have been attacking visitors with water pistols to try to chase them away is only a prank!
What happened to the original meaning of tourism: a meaningful way for cultural exchange, exploration, pilgrimage, education, health and recreation that enables economic growth and peaceful collaboration between countries and nations?
Aggression is NEVER the answer.
Also, there are a few questions I would like to ask those who act this way against visitors:
??What will you do when the visitors suddenly would indeed stop coming, and all the benefits would disappear: no income and job for thousands of people; nobody interested in your culture, food and other unique topics specific to your country; no trading possibilities; no income and innovative thinking to invest into local developments?
??How would you feel if you would be treated in this way in the country you are travelling to spending your precious, probably limited number of holidays, your hard-earned money and bringing your curiosity and interest to the place? Is this the welcome you would like to experience?
??Why don’t you ask your government, organizations to work on solutions instead of blaming those who ensure your economic movement on an individual and country level too?
I know for some this is an unpopular opinion. I cannot stand seeing illogical protests and behaviour against individuals who did nothing wrong. Yes, there is large impact of travelers all around the world. Yes, there is a need for systematic change. Yes, not all visitors are fully respectful. However, targeting selected groups of individuals who are just sitting there having a coffee is definitely not the solution. Adding more aggression to an already burning world when tourism is supposed to bring peaceful interaction between people, is not the way to go.
??On a positive note, I was extremely happy to read the news about another country who takes a different approach. Let`s #collaborate with our visitors, encourage them to work with us, to feel welcomed. Let`s #inspire them to #respect the place and learn about the local life by participating in daily activities. Let`s bring positive approach to a difficult situation to solve. Let`s move forward with win-win.
This needs a lot of #strategicthinking, involvement of several stakeholders and careful plans for execution. But why wouldn’t you put in the effort for long-term changes and benefits?
I look forward to seeing the results of this new campaign (details below) and how it will push others to #brainstorm on alternative solutions. Way to go!
There are so many of us out there with extensive knowledge and the willingness to create good, why not to use that collectively to #maketravelbetter ?
https://lnkd.in/gYajdisB
#regenerativetourism #travelandtourism #collaboration #innovation #businessdevelopment #destinationmanagement #travelisatool