Pastor Ken
According to a recent report, Venice, situated in Italy, planned to implement a daytime city entry tax on tourists as a means to enhance crowd management. Several years ago, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit Venice. We chose to stay inside the city for two days. During the daylight hours, the influx of tourists was so overwhelming that navigating the streets, particularly around St. Mark’s Square, became a daunting task. Capturing a photo without anyone around required immense patience and considerable time. In contrast, the evenings were serene with the delightful sounds of residents’ footsteps echoing through the quiet alleyways and the occasional distant barking of a few dogs.
Numerous popular tourist destinations worldwide face a similar predicament. Opening up to outsiders contributes to economic prosperity, yet an excessive influx of tourists can disrupt the harmony of local communities. Consequently, a love-hate attitude towards tourists often emerges.
As tourists, especially traveling abroad, we also face a dilemma. When traveling, we desire to visit the famous tourist attractions. However, those places are often crowded. Maybe we don’t mind so much about the hustle and bustle in a city. However, if they are scenic areas or historical sites, too many people will spoil our experiences. Other than the noise, travelers are forced to endure the frustration of waiting in line for a long time.
Sometimes to avoid the crowds, we choose to travel during the low season. Unfortunately, during the off-season, shops are closed and services become limited. In addition, the climate can become unpredictable. Either it’s too cold or too hot, too rainy, or too dry. Traveling in the off-season is cheaper, but the atmosphere often seems a bit melancholy.
When traveling, the most important thing is to know your own interests. Some people like to eat and deliberately look for famous restaurants when traveling. However, foreigners may not appreciate the local food. Or what you like to eat simply doesn’t exist at the place you visit.
Some like to buy things when they travel and may run the risk of buying cheap souvenirs made in a third country. A product that is unique to the local culture often appears conspicuous when brought back home. Items that are rarely or never used, or those that fall out of our personal preferences, eventually end up being donated to thrift stores.
Some travelers like to learn about culture and history. They collect lots of information, ask endless questions, and even take visual and audio records. Yet, how many of them will organize those materials and study them periodically once they get home?
When traveling abroad, after knowing our interests, the next thing is to choose the way we travel. We need to decide whether we want to go alone, with friends, or to join a tour group. Nowadays many tours cater to individuals with particular interests such as shopping, culinary explorations, photography, cultural immersion, and more. We need to find out the inclusions and exclusions of those tours. By gaining a clear understanding of what is provided, we can avoid potential disappointments.
The most valuable thing about traveling abroad is to have new experiences. Being able to travel with someone we love is unforgettable. Whether it is good, bad, thrilling, or comfortable, new experiences always trigger meaningful conversations. Being there in person often helps to put aside our stereotypes about other cultures. We will become more humble and open-minded, embracing our own limitations and areas of ignorance.
