Is There A Word For Phobia Of Tourists?

[SanFranciscan]

I am currently reading "Overbooked: The Exploding Business Of Travel And Tourism" by Elizabeth Becker. This book is newly published and judging by what I have read thus far does not have much positive to say about tourists.

I do realize that there has long been a certain snobbery about this with many on vacation, or on holiday if you prefer that term, insisting that they are "travelers" and not tourists because tourists are their social inferiors. This leads me to wonder why we don't have a term for the fear of or hatred of tourists and tourism the way we have terms like homophobia or misanthropy or misogyny given that the condition of hating or fearing "tourists" is so prevalent. This particular form of animosity is directed at the one industry that every country on the planet seems very determined to get a larger slice of. Has anyone else thought much about this?

I live in Orlando and moved here two years ago from San Francisco, which is also heavily reliant upon tourism for any economy, so perhaps I am just more sensitive to this matter.

 

[Malibustyle23]

I am currently reading "Overbooked: The Exploding Business Of Travel And Tourism" by Elizabeth Becker. This book is newly published and judging by what I have read thus far does not have much positive to say about tourists.

I do realize that there has long been a certain snobbery about this with many on vacation, or on holiday if you prefer that term, insisting that they are "travelers" and not tourists because tourists are their social inferiors. This leads me to wonder why we don't have a term for the fear of or hatred of tourists and tourism the way we have terms like homophobia or misanthropy or misogyny given that the condition of hating or fearing "tourists" is so prevalent. This particular form of animosity is directed at the one industry that every country on the planet seems very determined to get a larger slice of. Has anyone else thought much about this?

I live in Orlando and moved here two years ago from San Francisco, which is also heavily reliant upon tourism for any economy, so perhaps I am just more sensitive to this matter.

I'm from the Eastern Shore side of MD. The difference between off season and summer here with tourists is ridiculous! I do think that there is a name for those that hate tourists it's called locals.

 

[Social Worker Sue]

I do think that there is a name for those that hate tourists it's called locals.

And yet, many of the locals are the first to complain when tourism is down and their economy is hurting

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am currently reading "Overbooked: The Exploding Business Of Travel And Tourism" by Elizabeth Becker. This book is newly published and judging by what I have read thus far does not have much positive to say about tourists.

I do realize that there has long been a certain snobbery about this with many on vacation, or on holiday if you prefer that term, insisting that they are "travelers" and not tourists because tourists are their social inferiors. This leads me to wonder why we don't have a term for the fear of or hatred of tourists and tourism the way we have terms like homophobia or misanthropy or misogyny given that the condition of hating or fearing "tourists" is so prevalent. This particular form of animosity is directed at the one industry that every country on the planet seems very determined to get a larger slice of. Has anyone else thought much about this?

I live in Orlando and moved here two years ago from San Francisco, which is also heavily reliant upon tourism for any economy, so perhaps I am just more sensitive to this matter.

Well you have Xenophobia which is fear of strangers, foreigners, or aliens?

Hatred is just hatred.

I don't really think about it. And yes, locals hate non locals that relocate as well as tourists.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I thought local was the name of the person that lives in the area not one that hates tourist

 

[MarineVet]

I'm from the Eastern Shore side of MD. The difference between off season and summer here with tourists is ridiculous! I do think that there is a name for those that hate tourists it's called locals.

Here in Charleston SC, we don't have much of an off season anymore, there are people here from all over all the time as well as cruise ships that stop in the city.

But I have always thought there are two groups of people of people who travel to see other places; tourists, and visitors. The distinction? Visitors are people who feel they are guests in a new location, and have some respect and appreciation for the differences in the places they visit, and for the people who live there, and for their fellow visitors. Tourists think its all about them and only them, don't mind who they offend with their belief that their hometown is way better than this place, and that the rules don't apply to them.

I don't know if there is a word to describe a fear of tourists, and many of the businesses here do rely on the dollars they bring. I actually live one county away but work in Charleston. I've learned just to avoid downtown and the beaches during the busiest times.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I spent a Summer working at Six Flags, and 6 of them as a tour guide. Whatever bad things the book claims, the truth is far worse

 

[SanFranciscan]

I spent a Summer working at Six Flags, and 6 of them as a tour guide. Whatever bad things the book claims, the truth is far worse

Technically I am still a Disney World cast member, although I have been out on medical leave for months now, so I have probably witnessed what you are referring to. I do know that perfectly nice people can turn ugly in a crowd. They get excited so it is up to me to defuse the situation if I can when I see what is happening. I would love to hear your stories about your experiences as a tour guide though because I am sure some of them are funny. Maybe you could write a book.

 

[mmouse37]

When I travel I try to be respectful of the customs, culture, vibe of a place I visit. I hate the term "ugly American" and do my best to not be that person when I travel. Even within our own country I am respectful when traveling.

But, it is the tourism trade that keeps many places/areas in business so going around saying you hate them is sort of like biting the hand that feeds you. If you are working at place where you encounter/work with the tourists and have a fear or hatred of tourists maybe you should look for another place to work.

I do agree people should never be rude wherever they are or go.

We were once on a very crowded bus in London....an elderly lady boarded and I gave up my seat for her. After she left the bus a few stops later I sat back down in the seat I had offered her. The older gentleman who was sitting in the adjacent seat the whole time thanked me for giving up my seat for her and said it was a very nice thing to do. He asked where I lived and I said the United States and he was literally shocked. He said he thought all Americans were snobs and rude and didn't expect an American to do what I did. I explained we are not all "ugly Americans".

MJ

 

[712Alliance]

I think there is a difference between a tourist and a traveler. I once read a definition of the two - I can't remember where - and it made so much sense to me. What I read said that a tourist goes places with set expectations, and is upset when those expectations are not met. A traveler goes places with few to no expectations, thus, does not get upset. Rather, the traveler just goes with the flow and adapts.

A traveler can enjoy both Disney and Paris (just an example), but is more flexible.

It really did make sense to me.

 

[lovebug33]

I think there is a huge distinction between visitor and tourist also. I have witnessed some nasty behavior by people who feel they are entitled to everything just because they are on vacation. I was in a restaurant in Mexico (a cruise ship stop). This one family came in who had been rude the entire cruise and started ordering really slowly and loudly, like the people were deaf or something. The waiters couldn't understand them (or so I thought) and the people left without food. So, when they came to us, I ordered in Spanish best I could. The guy totally started talking to me in perfect English. He told me that is common and they don't take to being treated rudely! I thought that was funny, but what got me was how rude these people were everywhere we went. They gave Americans a bad name! And don't get me started on tourists in Vegas.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Technically I am still a Disney World cast member, although I have been out on medical leave for months now, so I have probably witnessed what you are referring to. I do know that perfectly nice people can turn ugly in a crowd. They get excited so it is up to me to defuse the situation if I can when I see what is happening. I would love to hear your stories about your experiences as a tour guide though because I am sure some of them are funny. Maybe you could write a book.

Most of my stories are less about rudeness than about people shutting off their brains on vacation. I did a paper on it in college and the professor loved it. I was a tour guide a Meramec Caverns. The all time best story was the lady who was mad that we "didn't build it closer to the highway"



:facepalm

 

[pogo791]

I am currently reading "Overbooked: The Exploding Business Of Travel And Tourism" by Elizabeth Becker. This book is newly published and judging by what I have read thus far does not have much positive to say about tourists. [ . . . ] This leads me to wonder why we don't have a term for the fear of or hatred of tourists and tourism the way we have terms like homophobia or misanthropy or misogyny [ . . . ]

I do think that there is a name for those that hate tourists it's called locals.

Joking aside, I didn't see Becker's book as negative towards tourists, but as a (very) critical look at the tourism industry. Anyone whose been to Torremolinos in Spain, or the Angor Wat temple area in Kamputsea, or braved the crowds in Dubrovnik or at the Taj Mahal, can see that those places are suffering from overdevelopment.

More and more people can afford to travel, and that in itself is great for a number of reasons. One big reason is that a number of people - and in some cases, the entire national economy - depend on the tourist dollar. Becker is good at pointing out how much of the money doesn't benefit the locals or the local community, but instead the developers. And some of the things she has to say about the negative economic and ecological impact of the cruise line industry is disturbing.

 

[eliza61]

.

But I have always thought there are two groups of people of people who travel to see other places; tourists, and visitors. The distinction? Visitors are people who feel they are guests in a new location, and have some respect and appreciation for the differences in the places they visit, and for the people who live there, and for their fellow visitors. Tourists think its all about them and only them, don't mind who they offend with their belief that their hometown is way better than this place, and that the rules don't apply to them. I don't know if there is a word to describe a fear of tourists, and many of the businesses here do rely on the dollars they bring. I actually live one county away but work in Charleston. I've learned just to avoid downtown and the beaches during the busiest times.

I spent a Summer working at Six Flags, and 6 of them as a tour guide. Whatever bad things the book claims, the truth is far worse

I can't tell you how many times I go oversees and cringe when I see the typical "ugly American". Usually they are complaining while uttering the words "you know how much I spent on this ____?" as if that gives them carte blanche to be rude.

I love it when I see an American in the store and they get pissed because they can't get their change back in American dollars. I saw this in Italy one year and the shop owner told the women, "you want American dollars you should have stayed in America". Every one in my party applauded!!

 

[SanFranciscan]

Most of my stories are less about rudeness than about people shutting off their brains on vacation. I did a paper on it in college and the professor loved it. I was a tour guide a Meramec Caverns. The all time best story was the lady who was mad that we "didn't build it closer to the highway"



:facepalm

See what I mean y'all? Now that is funny!

 

[DeaverTex]

Try viatorphobia.

I've lost track of the times that I've been embarrassed by other American tourists. Or, for that matter, French, Japanese, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Irish, Spanish, and English tourists. Get people away from their normal rules and routines, and it seems that there's an almost overwhelming urge to run amok at the expense of the locals. Just look at the vikings -- the original tour groups.

 

[ebtbmom]

Brazzilliaphobia

With subtypes: Chantingbrazzilliaphobia, Linecutbrazzilliaphobia

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If it is tourist season, what is my limit?

 

[ChristineNic]

If it is tourist season, what is my limit?

Do you need license?

 

[stm61]

We don't have to leave the country to act like idiots. I was stationed in south Jersey years ago and spent my off nights on a volunteer rescue squad. We swore it was a requirement that people checked their brains on the other side of the bridge before they came into town every weekend. My favorite example was the 15 year old we hauled out from under the boardwalk one night. Local policy was anybody under 18 got a free ride to the ER, where they became somebody else's problem. That night the ER was a total zoo, so my partner, an off-duty cop, made the phone call to the kid's parents. Dad answered the phone, asked 3 times if we had the right name because "my kid would never do that back home in Philly", and kept insisting his daughter was sound asleep in bed. After my partner promised to personally deliver a 6 pack and an apology if his kid was really asleep in bed, dad finally agreed to go look in her room. He picked up the phone again a minute later with "What's the name of that hospital you said you was at? And how do I get there?" We left for another call before dad showed up, he was waiting on his daughter when we returned with our next patient. While we're transferring our patient, the cops show up with 4 kids who decided to start a turf war with the local kids on the boardwalk. The cops are trying to get local phone numbers (this was almost 30 years ago so no cell phones), kids aren't being very cooperative, they sound pretty wasted, my partner and I are watching the show. The charge nurse yells the next patients name and 3 people answer: 2 of the kids the cops just brought in, and the father of the kid we hauled out from under the boardwalk. Turns out dad, Sr, misplaced Jr, as well as his daughter. Jr and his cousin, with the same first name, were 2 of the kids the cops hauled in from the fight they broke up. Dad was not a happy camper and left swearing the local cops were out to get his kids just because they were from Philly. The cops wanted to know how both his kids managed to get out the house with enough money to get that drunk without him even knowing they were gone.