In the good ol’ days, aspiring travelers were eager to see the world in all its beauty.
They’d save up to buy a ticket to their favorite place in the world, and spend a week or two soaking in all the breathtaking sights and bright colors of their coveted destination.
But these days, a new breed of tourists has hijacked the travel industry, and cities around the world are fighting back with everything from steep entry fees, limited number of visitors per day, and the latest… “NO PHOTOS ALLOWED” policy.
To curb the “Instagram Era” of tourists who are destroying natural wonders and trespassing on private property just to get a photo for social media, destinations have finally put their foot down, but will it work?
The True Motive Of Travelers
Places that wish to enforce travel bans are hoping it will bring out the true heart of a traveler.
Meaning, is a traveler really interested in seeing a site for its beauty? Or are they just interested in a photo to brag to their friends?
And let’s face it — if travelers know they aren’t allowed to take photos at certain places – many will simply not go.
After all, tourists are taking advantage of locals and literally infringing on people’s lives by taking photos of people’s homes to show how “cultured” they are for traveling the world.
And as Proud American Traveler previously reported, folks were so eager to see orange poppies in California, it caused a massive traffic jam – even causing one city worker to be struck by a car by a tourist who blew past the barricade – just to see the bright orange flowers.
It’s wild out there!
Photos Can Ruin Travel
On the other hand, some travelers appreciate the new restrictions on photos.
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to see a historical site or natural wonder, only to be blinded by bright flashes and tourists with selfie sticks trying to snap the perfect picture.
Not to mention the overcrowding and stampede of obnoxious millennials whose main goal is to show their friends how trendy they are to be able to travel the world (often on someone else’s dime).
And according to CNN, in Amsterdam a study revealed museum visitors were unhappy with other people taking photographs while they were trying to view the paintings.
Instead of banning photography altogether, the museum forged a compromise and made certain sections of the museum available for photography, while others were restricted.
Other places actually are taking advantage of travelers’ obsession with documenting everything, and are charging a small (or sometimes large) fee for visitors to snap photos.
For now, it looks like each business will continue to test different methods to see what works best.
Balance Is Key
Will a photo ban actually work?
Maybe.
Sure, it might detract some tourists from entering, but chances are it’s going to be pretty hard to enforce.
All the “no photos allowed” signs won’t stop people who want to take photos anyway (or can’t read the signs) from snapping shots.
It’s just the way it is.
Still, some creative businesses who wish to make their place off the grid are actually designing their interior with dark features and low lighting to make it tough to snap a good photo.
It seems as though the new travel trend could be traveling to places and maintaining an era of mystery – instead of posting shots on social media to show off.
We’re not suggesting photos are bad – they can certainly capture a moment in time and document it forever.
So if you like to take photos – go ahead and keep doing it – just make sure it’s not distracting from your travel experience – or infringing on the rights of others!
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