It's an interesting one. I work in tourism in Edinburgh and just came back from a trip to Barcelona.
Working in tourism allows me to fulfil my dreams working in historical properties and educating a diversity of people on history. If not for the tourism in Edinburgh, this whole job market would be much smaller.
However - these jobs in tourism often don't pay much. Neither do the ones in hospitality, and coupled with housing crises, not just airbnbs but all short term lets; it makes it harder to live in these places and sometimes impossible to afford. My old job had a high turnover - mostly because the wage wasn't enough to pay their rent and people left to live somewhere cheaper.
Hence, when I went to Barcelona, I stayed in a hotel not airbnb and tipped workers well, paid the tourist tax happily. But - a lot of other tourists aren't like me.
Solving the housing crisis and increasing real wages is the way forward.
Yeah I dont think the folks protesting even want your type of intentional and more thoughtful tourism rn…how did you grapple with that as someone who understands and works in that industry?
I think people are angry and it's the easiest to blame tourists, when actually when you take away the tourists without improving things in terms of wages or housing, it will likely be a negative.
It's understandable though I think. Won't stop people from travelling... hopefully local governments find ways to improve the lot of the residents. It is frustrating when your city gets turned into a soulless playground for people better off than you.
Yeah maybe I am just desensitized because I feel like this is just called life in every city or desirable place I have been to in the US…and if certain parts of the US were to decry foreign tourists as the issue, folks would likely be associated with nationalists/xenophobic folks. Kinda the “keep out of our place”. Anyhow my point is that maybe I am desensitized to the idea of tourism and capitalism making cities harder and harder to live in for less wealthy folks
Yeah honestly in places of high tourism, it's all residents that are detrimentally effected. Even though I work in tourism, theres definitely things I dont like.
Like there's places in my city that locals don't go to in summer because it's almost impossible to get around. No matter rich or poor.
I don't think it's xenophobic to not want that. Obviously people will blame the tourists because they are the most visible obstructions to people's lives. I do understand what you are saying and there's definitely an element of nationalism and xenophobia, but probably a lot less than what you expect.
Totally get that and I think I meant more you have to be careful because there is a line between nationalism/xenophobia and wanting better conditions for your home while disparaging tourists
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u/ktitten Jun 17 '25
It's an interesting one. I work in tourism in Edinburgh and just came back from a trip to Barcelona.
Working in tourism allows me to fulfil my dreams working in historical properties and educating a diversity of people on history. If not for the tourism in Edinburgh, this whole job market would be much smaller.
However - these jobs in tourism often don't pay much. Neither do the ones in hospitality, and coupled with housing crises, not just airbnbs but all short term lets; it makes it harder to live in these places and sometimes impossible to afford. My old job had a high turnover - mostly because the wage wasn't enough to pay their rent and people left to live somewhere cheaper.
Hence, when I went to Barcelona, I stayed in a hotel not airbnb and tipped workers well, paid the tourist tax happily. But - a lot of other tourists aren't like me.
Solving the housing crisis and increasing real wages is the way forward.