Retaliatory Travel: Unveiling Tourists' Controversial Actions

Exploring the Psychology of Retaliatory Travel and Its Impact on Popular Destinations

As summer unfolds, travelers from around the world embark on journeys that reveal their uncouth behaviors, painting a stark contrast to the beauty of the destinations they visit.

In the past week alone, incidents have made headlines, shedding light on the brash actions of tourists. Two intoxicated Americans were discovered sleeping in a restricted zone near the Eiffel Tower, while just the week prior, a French woman faced consequences for etching initials and heart shapes onto the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Last month, a Canadian teenager replicated such actions at a 1,200-year-old Japanese temple, and a British man, oblivious to the historical significance, carved his and his lover's initials on Rome's Colosseum. A German tourist roamed a Balinese temple in the nude, even resorting to evading accommodation fees.

The BBC reports that this trend is not limited to the summer season and suggests a disconcerting truth: tourists are misbehaving regardless of their destination.

Historical anecdotes illustrate that even explorers like Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortés exhibited this behavior. During the 18th and 19th centuries, British aristocrats touring Europe often displayed disregard and mockery towards locals and their customs, as recounted by Lauren A. Siegel, a lecturer in Tourism and Events at the University of Greenwich. 

Ironically, in the age of social media validation, tourists crave extreme actions to garner likes and reviews. The popular hashtag #PassengerShaming exemplifies this paradox.

David Beerman of the University of Sydney notes that post-pandemic, over 1.5 billion people have traveled internationally. Within this recovering travel landscape, some individuals manifest a retaliatory travel psychology, seeking to experience what they missed during lockdown. Gail Salz, host of the podcast 'How Can I Help?', suggests this phenomenon is driven by a desire for fairness: "People feel, 'I couldn't do things during the pandemic. I need to catch up. Other places are having a big party. I'm going to do what I want.'"

These travelers, etching names into ancient ruins, are seeking a form of immortality, says Beerman. As such stories continue to surface, they force us to reevaluate the standards of travel etiquette. A resident of Hawaii rightfully questions tourists swimming in the sea where their neighbors perished, highlighting the need for respectful travel behavior. Popular destinations are adopting proactive measures; Bali and Iceland implore tourists to respect their cultures and environment, while Palau demands commitment to protecting its ecosystems. 

However, even amidst stricter guidelines, Siegel believes tourists would benefit from understanding the reality behind the 'Instagram vs Reality' trend. In that vein, travelers, influencers, and locals alike can collaborate to preserve and celebrate the world's treasures, ensuring a respectful and authentic exploration of our planet.