I often wonder why tourists don't visit less famous places like Avilés and Oviedo in Asturias or Baeza and Ubéda in Jaén. I believe Spain is reaching the limits of overtourism and that the future will be shaped in the next elections. Anywhere you look people are fed up. Thanks for the shout-out!
I think we've already reached the limits of overtourism, the damage is done, and the question now is if any of it be reversed. I hope so. Yes my god... Úbeda, Ávila... there are so many wonderful places to discover. Thing is, most people don't actually want (or don't have time) to travel, they want to arrive, have their experience, leave again. Box ticked.
I know how passionate you are about this Shawn and love the idea of compiling the “local and authentic” list if it’s possible. We are just back from San Sebastián, a place we have been visiting since 2001. We can see the difference since it became “grammable”. Whilst we were there we witnessed several groups with professional cameras and teams making videos for the insatiable socials. I don’t know what the answer is. We try and be authentic and local and have respect whilst are away, using local businesses for transport and food. The worst thing is having to fly freaking Ryanair everywhere. Nobody else flies to most of the places I want to visit in Spain
Great article with a unique point of view! Local government should take action. 1. Suspend all new tourist licenses 2. The airport should pay a city tax for all travellers from outside of Spain 3. City centers should have a tourist fee. All fees should be used to pay for clean up, water and electricity, security and other expenses caused by (over) tourism.
As someone who lives in a tourist area (which happens to be so poor that it qualified for extra help from the EU before we shot ourselves in the foot by voting to leave) I absolutely agree with you. Those visiting for a couple of weeks a year would run a mile if they had to put up with wages so low that many locals move out of their homes into caravans during the season so they can let them out to tourists. Or found their journey to work taking twice as long because of seasonal tourist traffic. Or A&E jammed with tourists who have left their brains at home.
But the fact is we couldn’t do without them. So we grin and bear it and say we hope to see them again next year.
I just checked out the organisation you founded, Shawn. Pretty interesting! I do agree with you on that topic you mentioned, most tourists don’t really want to have the ‘local’ experience, just to take a couple of staged shots for Instagram
Thanks! The Gastro Guías have been going for about a year and a half and we are now 34 members strong. It's a lot of (non-paid) work for the founders but it's also gratifying and I think it will help elevate the status of gastronomy guides. I think that most tourists end up thinking they are having a "local" experience, but yes, it's mostly for show. Anyhow, here we are. Thanks for commenting.
The bar list is easy because I've been working on it for years. The hotel and tourist apt one not so easy. Not sure if I'll do them separately or together. What do you think? I could almost do the local-owned bar one tomorrow.
Yes, thinking it over I that seems to be the best way to go. The thing is that I will have to positively promote the family-run local bars without "naming names" with regards to all the fake ones out there. On it!
Hey Shawn, This was such a great post. Thank you for making this excellent point, it's so true, living like a local isn't actually what tourists want! I fully support your message!
This week I'm writing a post about the wider Substack conversation about moving to Europe to enjoy a slow life. I realise your post is more about tourists than the people who live abroad, but I do feel like it might fit into the conversation.
Are there any posts that particularly inspired this one?
Hi Kaila. My post is directed as much towards the "perma-tourists" (digital nomads, expats) as short-term tourists. The ones who "live" here without actually living here. There seems to be no shortage of lifestyle influencers trying to sell their "dream locations" to fellow expats. I come across them here almost daily.
I often wonder why tourists don't visit less famous places like Avilés and Oviedo in Asturias or Baeza and Ubéda in Jaén. I believe Spain is reaching the limits of overtourism and that the future will be shaped in the next elections. Anywhere you look people are fed up. Thanks for the shout-out!
I think we've already reached the limits of overtourism, the damage is done, and the question now is if any of it be reversed. I hope so. Yes my god... Úbeda, Ávila... there are so many wonderful places to discover. Thing is, most people don't actually want (or don't have time) to travel, they want to arrive, have their experience, leave again. Box ticked.
I know how passionate you are about this Shawn and love the idea of compiling the “local and authentic” list if it’s possible. We are just back from San Sebastián, a place we have been visiting since 2001. We can see the difference since it became “grammable”. Whilst we were there we witnessed several groups with professional cameras and teams making videos for the insatiable socials. I don’t know what the answer is. We try and be authentic and local and have respect whilst are away, using local businesses for transport and food. The worst thing is having to fly freaking Ryanair everywhere. Nobody else flies to most of the places I want to visit in Spain
Great article with a unique point of view! Local government should take action. 1. Suspend all new tourist licenses 2. The airport should pay a city tax for all travellers from outside of Spain 3. City centers should have a tourist fee. All fees should be used to pay for clean up, water and electricity, security and other expenses caused by (over) tourism.
Are high speed trains an option?
Potentially
As someone who lives in a tourist area (which happens to be so poor that it qualified for extra help from the EU before we shot ourselves in the foot by voting to leave) I absolutely agree with you. Those visiting for a couple of weeks a year would run a mile if they had to put up with wages so low that many locals move out of their homes into caravans during the season so they can let them out to tourists. Or found their journey to work taking twice as long because of seasonal tourist traffic. Or A&E jammed with tourists who have left their brains at home.
But the fact is we couldn’t do without them. So we grin and bear it and say we hope to see them again next year.
🫶🏼
I just checked out the organisation you founded, Shawn. Pretty interesting! I do agree with you on that topic you mentioned, most tourists don’t really want to have the ‘local’ experience, just to take a couple of staged shots for Instagram
Thanks! The Gastro Guías have been going for about a year and a half and we are now 34 members strong. It's a lot of (non-paid) work for the founders but it's also gratifying and I think it will help elevate the status of gastronomy guides. I think that most tourists end up thinking they are having a "local" experience, but yes, it's mostly for show. Anyhow, here we are. Thanks for commenting.
So many great points here. Looking forward to your list of *actually* local-owned bars! 👏 larga vida to those places
The bar list is easy because I've been working on it for years. The hotel and tourist apt one not so easy. Not sure if I'll do them separately or together. What do you think? I could almost do the local-owned bar one tomorrow.
I would do them separately - one for bars etc, one for accommodation
Yes, thinking it over I that seems to be the best way to go. The thing is that I will have to positively promote the family-run local bars without "naming names" with regards to all the fake ones out there. On it!
Hey Shawn, This was such a great post. Thank you for making this excellent point, it's so true, living like a local isn't actually what tourists want! I fully support your message!
This week I'm writing a post about the wider Substack conversation about moving to Europe to enjoy a slow life. I realise your post is more about tourists than the people who live abroad, but I do feel like it might fit into the conversation.
Are there any posts that particularly inspired this one?
Hi Kaila. My post is directed as much towards the "perma-tourists" (digital nomads, expats) as short-term tourists. The ones who "live" here without actually living here. There seems to be no shortage of lifestyle influencers trying to sell their "dream locations" to fellow expats. I come across them here almost daily.
Great piece Shawn.