We are destroying civilization one image at a time. Don’t take me. It took UNESCO—the United Nations agency in charge of protecting the world’s heritage—to call three hot shots on the devastating rise of “selfie tourism.”
Selfie tourism is a trend where tourists visit iconic landmarks not to immerse themselves in the local history or culture, but to take photos for social media. It’s less about personal experience and more about editing a photo for Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. And while the usual vacation photography—where family and friends stood in front of the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum to reminisce—was annoying enough but understandable, this new trend is entirely focused on “visiting places primarily to take and share their photos, often with iconic images. background landmarks,” according to UNESCO. It is a disease.
The influence of Instagram
Social media has largely called for this change. UNESCO warns that selfie tourism is having negative effects on many of the world’s most famous places. “The impact of selfie tourism varies depending on where you go,” said a UNESCO spokesperson A mirror. “In many cases, it has led to overcrowding in certain areas, putting pressure on local infrastructure, and contributing to a poor visitor experience.”
This has led to some of the most unknown places in the world becoming hot spots. Once hidden gems, these places are now full of tourists who want to recreate the viral moment. Hallstatt, Austria – the town that is believed to have inspired Disney’s It is frozen-more than a million tourists descend each year to take selfies in the mountain’s picturesque scenery.
The influx has been so great that the city has recently put up a fence to prevent people from congregating at the famous statue site. The city’s distraught mayor, Alexander Scheutz, told Austrian media that “the city’s residents just want to be left alone,” a sentiment echoed by residents of many other cities, such as Barcelona, which have become hotbeds of tourism. find a picture of the Sagrada Familia. The global anger many locals have about the crush of visitors social media has brought to their homes is growing.
Real results
The culture of selfies is not only a nuisance for local people, but also poses a serious threat to cultural heritage and public safety. In Venice, a gondola overturned when tourists from China refused to stop taking pictures, ignoring warnings from the gondolier. And that’s in Venice, a famous city already besieged by overtourism. Despite anti-crowd measures—such as banning large cruise ships and limiting daily visitors—the city continues to swell under the weight of tourists. Local officials have had to deal with disrespectful behavior from visitors who see the city as a backdrop for their photos. UNESCO has repeatedly pointed out that when tourists “try hard to find the right gun,” it often results in dangerous activities such as trespassing, vandalism, or dangerous pranks that end in accidents.
Even in rural areas, selfie tourism causes a lot of damage. In Abruzzo, Italy, the truffle hunting experience has been disrupted by tourists who are more interested in photographing their finds than engaging in the hunt itself. As a result, local tour operators like Experience BellaVita have had to adjust by providing participants with tools to immerse themselves in the experience rather than their phones. “The idea,” says Marino Cardelli, owner of Experience BellaVita, “is to get people off their phones to have a more rewarding travel experience that goes beyond just taking selfies.”
It is not the only attempt to stop this offensive attack. Cities and destinations around the world are struggling with fines and taxes. Portofino, Italy, has introduced a $300 fine for visitors who stay too long in popular selfie spots. The idea is to prevent “unreasonable chaos,” as Mayor Matteo Viacava describes it The Timessince “dangerous conditions” are caused by traffic congestion.
Some cities use subtle strategies to lure tourists away from overcrowded landmarks. In Amsterdam, officials have worked to move a popular red-light district to the outskirts of the city, hoping to disperse crowds. In Florence, efforts are underway to direct tourists to lesser-known areas, which relieves pressure on the main tourist areas. New Zealand has launched a campaign encouraging travelers to remove “newness” from their trips, rather than the same tired images in front of popular tourist spots, according to the BBC.
But, since many of these areas have an economy dependent on tourism, all these anti-tourism sentiments and restrictive measures can backfire. Protecting cultural heritage and local life while still allowing visitors to fuel the economic engine is a difficult feat to balance. A UNESCO spokesperson told A mirror that “turning selfie tourism into a sustainable practice requires a change in both mindset and behavior.”
The agency believes that promoters have an important role to play in shaping responsible tourism practices, but is this really the case? Perhaps the key here is good old-fashioned sense, self-control, good manners, and respect for people and places. Or, in the words of Fran Lebowitz, the great raconteur and one of the greatest curmudgeons who ever lived: just “ACT LIKE A CITY!”
