Tourism

Living in the über-touristy part of one of Europe's major tourist destinations the phenomenon of Homo Touristus is often on my mind. In thinknig about this I've come to the conclusion that people are much like plants (though perhaps slightly more mobile). In whichever place we happen to find ourselves, we--over time--start to develop roots. If you are in a place for only a few days or hours, it is difficult if not impossible to develop a deep understanding of, or appreciation for, a place. No time to "root". Over three months it's possible to gain some understanding or appreciation for a place, but it doesn't compare to the deep understanding or appreciation that develop over generations. Being in Europe it's hard not to notice how deep many peoples' roots are, often going back many generations, which is less common in Canada. This isn't an argument against going to new places, rather something to be aware of while doing so.

While travelling to distant places I think what sets the obnoxious tourist apart from the sensitive guest is the extent to which a person is able and willing to leave their own culture behind. The obnoxious tourist expects to speak their own language, eat their own traditional food, and generally have everything look, taste, and function as it would at home. The sensitive guest is committed to listening and learning, and--unless the locals are interested in an exchange--is prepared to leave their own culture behind.

Personally, I have become increasingly uncomfortable travelling to places where I don't speak (and am not actively learning) the local language; I find that requiring people to speak my language in their homeland falls more under the category of obnoxious than sensitive. The idea that we can use someone else's turf for our lazy relaxation seems arrogant, and I feel that if I'm not ready to invest my energy in listening intently and learning eagerly than I should consider staying at home. In Vienna I've observed many tourists are only here for a short time to see the attractions, relax, and move on. It's no wonder than that most Viennese avoid the downtown pedestrian zone where these tourists flock.

I think there's a wide spectrum between the deeply rooted local and the lazy tourist, but in Vienna I'm certainly on the tourist side, though hopefully not at the extreme.