Tourists need to realise one thing when they are visiting the UK’s most overcrowded tourist city. Overtourism has become a topic of conversation in many areas of Britain. Not only does it often push locals out of the housing market as more properties become holiday lets, but it also causes great annoyance for people who live in the area, constantly dealing with crowds. Large numbers of tourists are to be expected in certain areas that boast interesting history, pretty architecture, and a huge number of things to do, but if you are among the people visiting these places, there is one thing you need to stop doing.
I recently visited Bath in Somerset, a city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasting well-preserved historical sites that date back thousands of years. The first thing that struck me about Bath was its architectural beauty. You can really see why so many people want to come here to soak up the history, indulge in the old-timey charm and take photos of the truly unique city, but when I was there, I found one thing incredibly annoying when it came to other visitors.
Overcrowded areas can be a nightmare at the best of times. But tourists need to realise that they are in a place where many people live and work. They are not in a theme park.
Don’t get me wrong, my time in Bath was gorgeous. I walked around the city centre, grabbed coffee from some of the local cafes and popped into some of the small independent shops.
Most of my experience was relaxed, despite the large number of visitors. But Bath is an extremely old place. Many streets are narrow and pavements are small. There were a few moments that boiled my blood, each time getting stopped in my tracks as a fellow visitor halted to take a photo.
Of course, tourists want to take photos. That isn’t the issue. The problem lies in the lack of consideration for others around them. I can’t imagine how incredibly frustrating that is for locals who deal with that all of the time.
There were moments where I bumped into groups of tourists who spotted another old, aesthetically-pleasing feature of the city and stopped dead in their tracks.
I also took plenty of photos when I was there. But I also come from a city where it also feels like tourists take over sometimes. Back in my hometown of Dublin, Ireland, I often come up against groups of tourists who take up whole pavements as they take photos of the iconic sites.
I know the frustration and I have learned that the best thing to do is pull over to the side, to not take up the whole pavement, and to look around before I stop dead in my tracks and cause others to bump into me.
Tourism has boomed in a way it never has before, with cheap flights and packages giving people from around the world more opportunities to visit some of the most fascinating places on earth. I see the attraction to Bath very clearly.
In fact, I was obsessed with Bath when I visited. I couldn’t believe how well-preserved the place was. But I like to think of myself as a conscious tourist. I was aware that I was taking up space in someone’s hometown, where they live and work.
When tourists come to visit the UK’s historic cities and towns, and when we go abroad to visit destinations around the world, consideration for locals should be the top priority. Tourism is a huge economic driver but when locals aren’t on board, we have a problem. You just have to look at the protests happening in Spain as an example of what could happen elsewhere.