奇速英语

文明出行，争做“好游客”！

No one wants badly behaved tourists blocking views, partying wildly in the streets or pricing local people out of their own cities. So, how to be a better tourist? Here are some ways.

Some residents in Barcelona have taken action against overtourism by getting a bus route removed from Google Maps — the buses would often end up too packed with sightseers for people to get home from work. That is not to say the city is off-limits. But try to understand what is driving the protests and upset of local people. You can travel anywhere with a desire to reduce the negative impact of your trip and increase the positives.

Do research before you go — you’ll get more out of the destination and it will be appreciated. Remember you are taking a holiday in someone else’s home. Travelling with respect earns you respect. Learn a few phrases of the local language — it’s a gesture, but gestures do matter. A little bit of understanding goes a long way.

Slow tourism is about spending more time in a destination, engaging in the local culture and getting to know local people. Instead of a city-only break, try to spend time in the surrounding countryside, too. For example, if you visit Jingdezhen, you can visit the city’s traditional craftspeople, and then spend a couple of nights in the region.

Paris and Rome will always be on tourists’ bucket lists, but part of the joy of travel is researching lesser-known destinations. Robert Frost said: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Richard Hammond, the founder of Green Traveller, says: “When I went to New Zealand, instead of hiking the 10 Great Walks, I researched 10 alternative walks. There was almost no one on them and the scenery was still pretty amazing.”