Over the past few days, two news stories have caught my eye, covering tourism protests in major cities.
First, I saw this one about how the Louvre staff in Paris, France had recently abandoned their post due to overcrowding. Next, I read how there were tourism protests occurring in Barcelona, Spain, where Brits who were on vacation were squirted with water guns and told to “go home”. Similar activism is being reported in Lisbon, Portugal and Venice, Italy.
The crux of the protest rests heavily on the fact that the tourism industry has grown so large in European capitals that for locals, the cities are becoming unliveable—that housing for residents is becoming less available as landlords turn their properties into short-term vacation stays. When housing is a limited resource, the price is driven up, and locals of these cities are forced to pay up or move out.
I live in London; one of the top-ranked international cities in the category of “everything costs so bloody much.” Flat-hunting is a nightmare for renters. My flat (which I love, and am very grateful to have) was one that I got lucky in getting; I saw it at 11am, had to blind bid against other potential renters by 5pm, and when my bid was accepted at 6pm, my partner and I needed to turnaround the paperwork within 4 hours or they would start showing it again that evening. The competition is fierce, and rent prices across the board are steep.
I’m lucky to have found my flat. But there are a lot of people in London who aren’t so lucky; who are in social housing, sleeping rough, or homeless. There are currently an estimated 183,000+ homeless people living in London.
I feel firmly that housing is a human right. There are some arguments that I’m on the fence about, and this isn’t one of them. Whether your arguments are emotional (people deserve housing; we owe it to one another to take care of each other) or financial (community spending that doesn’t put people in housing costs communities more; therefore, it follows that we should choose the cheaper option and just house people) or even utilitarian (people should contribute to society; it’s easier to do that when you’re housed, clothed, and fed), homelessness shouldn’t exist.
And there are a lot of things that happen that lead to homelessness; mental health issues, aging out of the foster care system, and joblessness among them. Many of us live closer to the poverty line than we’d like to admit. But a major one is lack of resource; not having enough money to make skyrocketing rent.
The fact that there are people who are being forced out of their own communities, because of people who are literal tourists—coming and appreciating architecture, food, culture, fashion, and art, then leaving—feels somewhat enraging to me. These are the people who make the cities we want to visit; not just architects, curators, and city planners, but everyone making up communities, turning cities into places worth visiting. The woman driving the bus; the grocery putting out fresh produce; the dog walker stretching his legs—all these people deserve affordable housing as a human right, and the fact that tourism makes that more difficult is maddening.
And yet, I’m a hypocrite. Because I love to travel. I can’t pretend that I’m not one of the people on the wrong side of my argument. I’ve definitely stayed in an Airbnb or a holiday rental and not even considered how it would impact rent in the areas I’m staying. In fact often I think of travel as a net positive; I see somewhere I want to, and I contribute to their economy. I shop in boutiques, I eat in restaurants, I pay for entry to museums. So I’m making a positive impact…right?
There are tons of ways in which tourism can help bolster communities; I’ve been reading many pieces about how the tourism industry is impacting the USA right now, with the political unrest causing many people to cancel their trips. Industries like airlines, restaurants, and hotels are hurting. So no longer travelling isn’t the answer, I don’t think.
But all of this has got me thinking; what can I do to stand in solidarity with people who are saying, your vacation is impacting my livelihood negatively? The immediate answer is, of course, to stay home. But if you’ve got a trip planned, I think that there are ways that we can travel while supporting the communities that make up the cities we want to spend time in:
Support the local businesses. Opting for a hotel over a holiday rental when possible is a good start, but trying to go a step further is also a good idea. Can you stay at a small, locally-owned hotel instead of a Hilton or a Fairmont? Instead of shopping at Zara or H&M, are there local markets or small boutiques you can frequent? Not only is this ethical, but it can make more authentic experience; and you’ll go back home with some unique souvenirs, instead of mass-produced things that you can get anywhere.
Tip well, in cash. I know that I’ve complained before about tipping, but the reason I get irritated is because it’s important to me. Learn how much you’re expected to tip, and whether you’ll have to do math on the fly or if it’s included in the hotel service or restaurant bill. This is the fastest way to put money in a local worker’s pocket!
Educate yourself about local protests. Part of being a responsible traveller is knowing what the political, or social/economic issues are in the area you’re going. Make sure you know how locals feel about tourists, and if they’ve got preferences for tourists who are visiting. (I’m not saying that you need to follow everything anyone tells you; that in itself can be dangerous. But hearing what the community you’re visiting wants is a good place to start when deciding where to travel.)
Remember; we’re guests here. Respect for the communities we visit when travelling is the least we can do; learning customs, and assimilating as much as can, isn’t a big ask when people’s housing is on the line. And maybe get prepared to get squirted with a water gun if you’re in Barcelona!
No Small Wander 