 The Travel Hierarchy |
AfricaAntarcticaAsiaCentral America CaribbeanEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaOceaniaSouth AmericaOceans and SeasThe Travel Hierarchy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Does it exist and have you been sucked in? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Matt Matt W Post Count: 455 Msg: #1 1679 days ago, May 1st 2005 | Has anyone else noticed the strong idea of a hierarchy amongst those who have travelled or are travelling. | The idea that visiting one country makes you more of a traveller than another, and those who visit other countries are just falling victim to the mass commercialisation of travel. When anyone asks me where I travelled I always begin with 'only....' or 'where everyone has been...', myself falling victim to the hierarchy. Surely there exits a common desire to see new places, and where they are is irrelevent? By the very visiting of places 'unvisited' do we not cause the downward spiral to commercialisation? Does anyone agree? Or am I just ranting? : )  Ali Ali Watters Post Count: 3877 Msg: #2 1678 days ago, May 1st 2005 | > Or am I just ranting? | You're ranting - but not without cause :) There is definetly a perception that visiting places that are relatively easy to get to or cater well for tourists is less valuable as an experience than roughing in an off the beaten track country. There are many countries in which tourism is not common, and sometimes the reasons are that it is difficult or dangerous - unless there is a compelling reason to go there - such as a lifelong interest in something that is only found in that one place, why go there when there are so many other options? > By the very visiting of places 'unvisited' do we not cause the downward spiral to commercialisation? I don't think this is inevitable - but in some situations this has obviously happened. Tourist trails do emerge, often for one good reason - something to see and easy transportation. If you're on the tourist trail and enjoying it - nothing wrong with that. If you can get bannana pancakes with honey for breakfast - why not? (an example from Gringotenango in Guatemala) everywhere else it's refried beans - a bit of commercialisation is sometimes a good thing - without it, no where to stay and no where to eat. The ideal level - I have no idea... I know it when I see it, and I know it when it's gone to far.  Black_I_Purl Lucille Post Count: 2 Msg: #3 1605 days ago, July 13th 2005 | I don't think tourism alone has to ruin a ruins a place but a lack of the locals taking controls of what kind of businesses goes on in the area does have an impact. I have been to places that became popular for visitors, but almost all of the hotels and restaurants were owned by the local moms and dads, not the international chains.... | Unfortunately I have also been to other places that were almost completely taken over by the large chain hotels and restaurants and it was hard to see any sign of any atmosphere that was unique to that local areas.. and that is not much fun to see..I can get the same satisfaction going to a mall It is the same with the individual sights as well.. I've had to resort to going to cathedrals early in the morning because once the tour buses come in, the peaceful church begins to sound more like a gynasium. things like that go on too..  Wocca Warren Rodwell Post Count: 31 Msg: #4 1603 days ago, July 15th 2005 | Once you go to one country, then the next closest beckons. | I've travelled quite a lot. Now I am more interested in people rather than places irishdoll cheska thornton Post Count: 17 Msg: #5 1595 days ago, July 23rd 2005 | I agree with you Wocca. I have been to too many tourist destinations before and I found out that the best way to travel really is to meet interesting people and learn their culture. Actual interaction with the people provides great learning and friendship you can't just find in commercialized travelling destinations. |  We may have four seasons in a day in Ireland, but we only have one season in our hearts, that is to rejoice and smile brightly like the sun."  Rikyboy Erik Poirier Post Count: 2 Msg: #6 1593 days ago, July 25th 2005 | Like any other activity, travel will have it's elitist attitudes and it's condescending shmoes patronizing people as to :" having to eat .... at this fine place" or " seeing this piece of art in this museum" and so on. I guess it's up to the individual to filter these annoyances and just live for himself. I love the fact that most of these so called travel experts go around on rube tours and get packed into rube restaurants. Anyways, your experiance is your own to live and to forge. I will be looking for those off the beaten path places and those untouristyish sites but I guess at some point or another, i'll fall into the tourist trap (wich seems inevitable at some point or another in your travels). |  Stuart Stuart Morgan Hurlbut Post Count: 116 Msg: #7 1498 days ago, October 29th 2005 | There is some justice in your rant. Also the reason that some places are tourist honeypots is because they are very good places to visit - in terms of what there is to see and the culture. There are of course dangers in mass tourism - one of them being the ignorance of the tourists, and when I talk of tourism I include people that prefer to call themselves travellers. | Wocca Warren Rodwell Post Count: 31 Msg: #8 1307 days ago, May 8th 2006 | The expression that irritates me | most in this respect has to be ... BEEN THERE ! DONE THAT !  Usually accompanied by a cheesey look on the face of a social climber. Number of Users: 7 | Number of Posts: 8 | ||||||||||||||||
