May 27th 2024.
On a Saturday in Bourton-On-The-Water, a charming town in the Cotswolds, tourists can be seen queuing up for a popular bakery. However, the locals have a different story to tell. They claim that their quaint town, along with many other picturesque destinations in the UK, is struggling to cope with the overwhelming number of visitors.
The problem is not limited to just bank holiday weekends anymore. It has become a year-round issue, causing distress to the residents. They have listed several complaints, including overcrowding, parking disputes, closed public restrooms, and inflated rent and house prices. Some have even experienced roads being blocked by people taking selfies, and others have had to endure bad language from frustrated tourists.
One of the major concerns is the arrival of entire coach-loads of visitors in small villages that are not equipped to handle such high numbers. The MailOnline spoke to several residents who shared their dismay. Jon Wareing, a parish and district councillor, revealed how a visitor recently threatened his neighbor after being asked not to park on his property. As a result, the parish council is considering banning coaches from the central parts of Bourton-On-The-Water.
Wareing further explained that visitors often spend hours driving around in search of parking, which can lead to frustrations and, in some cases, even aggressive behavior. Bernie Roberts, a resident who lives near the High Street, avoids going there on busy days and has witnessed an increase in the number of tourists ruining the area's charm. He also mentioned how the rising demand for holiday rentals has caused prices to soar, forcing young people to move out of the area.
However, not everyone in the village shares the same sentiment. Sarita Tapper, a local business owner, runs a shop in the village and believes that banning coaches from the center could negatively impact businesses. She also mentioned that while there are busy days, the village can also be very quiet, especially during the winter.
In Whitby, North Yorkshire, resident Danny Wilson is planning to move away from the town because of the excessive number of tourists. Wilson, who owns a Goth-themed fashion shop, lives in a rented flat where all the other apartments are now holiday rentals. He shared how the constant noise, lack of privacy, and disregard for fire alarms have made it difficult for him to continue living there. He also added that the town used to be peaceful during the winter, but now it is bustling with tourists all year round.
Barry Snedden, a resident of Whitby for 42 years, runs pleasure boat trips around the harbor and relies on tourism for his livelihood. However, he too has noticed the negative impact of the increasing number of visitors. On busy days, people are forced to walk on the roads, and parking rules are often ignored. Snedden also mentioned that tourists do not check the tides and end up getting stranded. He has also had to deal with damaged boat propellers due to plastic fishing nets left by families near the harbor.
Salcombe, Devon, is another town that has been overrun by tourists, causing chaos for the locals. Sally Hannaford, a business owner, shared how finding a parking spot has become a nightmare, and many tourists end up getting tickets. The high property prices in the area have also made it difficult to find staff, as ordinary workers cannot afford to live there.
This issue is not limited to the UK alone, as many other tourist destinations around the world are facing similar problems. In Menorca, one village is even considering banning tourists altogether. Binibeca Vell, a picturesque Spanish settlement, has seen a sudden increase in visitors after becoming popular on social media. The local officials are now planning to restrict the number of tourists to preserve the town's charm and protect the residents' quality of life.
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