Tourism

[November]

What do you look for as a tourist when planning your route? Local attractions? Best eats? Nature or History? What is "your" kind of holiday? What do you enjoy seeing or doing as a tourist in another country? Do you base plans on ratings on tripadvisor or facebook? What level of service, excitement or relaxation do you want in a holiday? To be treated like a king, or a local? I am always interested in talking to travellers as I dont travel out of my own country.

 

[Bite-me]

When I travel, including only a cross province/state lines, I plan on frequenting locally owned restaurants and street vendors, no chain restaurants or malls for me. The local business market is what affords a location its culture and pride. I quit drinking coffee recently but I would only visit local cafes as well, the specificity, uniqueness and independence of a place dies with corporatization. Long streches of middle america are barren landscapes of chain hotels, gas stations and fast food partially because of it, or so I've read. It gets more political, it makes places unwalkable cause the corporate interests decides where roads are built and separates people from each other, what use to be called "tight knit communities" dulls the consciousness of local civic participation, the most important sort of participation, when there is no longer a community or culture.

There are more effective ways to try new things. While it’s true that learning and broadening your experience is important, doing that one time is quite different from consistently integrating something new into your life. It’s low risk to try something for a week. Which will make more impact on your life: going to Africa for a week and seeing wildlife and living in the jungle, or retooling your weekly schedule so that you take a walk through your local forest preserve once a week? If you hope that travel will change how you see the world, what will make more impact, doing something one time or doing it one time, seven days in a row.

Sightseeing at tourist destinations does not make you more worldly or cosmopolitan on its own, a person can do something they have never done before, get in touch with nature or interact with people they've never interacted with before, without a plane ticket.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I try to not look like a tourist. Anything else is gravy.

 

[sosa lola]

Local attractions and history are what I'm looking for when I travel. I also like buying authentic clothes and stuff that show the culture of the place I'm visiting.

 

[November]

Sightseeing at tourist destinations does not make you more worldly or cosmopolitan on its own, a person can do something they have never done before, get in touch with nature or interact with people they've never interacted with before, without a plane ticket.

I think I must be losing my ability to communicate clearly. I work with non verbal people so maybe that's why.

I started this thread as I live in a tiny town which is diminishing very fast. It is a BEAUTIFUL place. Perfect for RV's, or as a lunch stop on the way to the lakes, ocean, mountains or wineries. It is the most perfect place to get a good and true experience of local aussie culture. Today I sat inside of a 123 year old pub, some passers by came in and the pub could not afford to turn on its kitchen because business is so slow in the region. Tourists do not come here because we are off the usual beaten track, and locals and passers by are so few that its not enough to support business. Most of the towns businesses are for sale. This hurts the locals and forces the elderly retired farmers to travel over 200km for basics (which are priced higher than city prices). I am working on my own project and am looking for international feedback, because travellers have far more money to keep this little world going than the general population.

I have been reviewing local eateries and bushwalks this afternoon and I wanted to see what appeals on an international level. While the area is not at all "high class" dining or city standards - it IS worth seeing, the atmosphere and spaces of nature here is like nowhere on earth. You will see some of the most bizarre and amazing creatures. It is not promoted because the Aussies who come from the cities expect 24/7 service centres, wifi and low prices, so leave poor reviews after visiting places that have a charm they do not grasp. The locals are suspicious of new people in town because there are so few people in town, if they don't know someone, it's noted, but if your are identified as a Tourist - you will be treated like a royalty. The sunsets are phenomenal and the air is so clear. Does this sort of place appeal to anyone internationally? Or is this sort of tiny town doomed to die and yet another historic traditional area lost to 24/7 rush of technological life in the race for possessions over experiences?

 

[Bite-me]

Hearing you describe it sounds idealistic to me, it is a shame potential visitors are wanting prestige and familiar touristy trappings, I think a good PR project idea would be a high quality, high tech, (landscape drones) wordless promotional video with everything you described, sunsets included.

 

[November]

Ah ok, way over budget and tech abilities to appeal to the masses. But the masses is not what I am after. Send 8 people a day though this town during winter and it will keep afloat. A busload once a week for lunch is ideal for the pub (the food is fantastic). Does anyone plan road trips by reading google/trip advisor reviews or is it all about you tube now? Does anyone actually like being in place that is shut on sundays? I love that bit. I know international tourists do RV holidays through here because I've spoken to them. Most cannot believe how big this state is, and how far between service stops. We are barely on maps for the google users to know of us.

Drones have been done for the coast -

which is obviously a better place to plan a proper holiday, but we are a nice town to pass through on the way for a break or overnight with an RV (perfect for grey nomads really, if we had more work for them!). We definitely do NOT want young drinkers, movers and shakers or teenagers through who expect 24/7 phone coverage and all mod cons to visit here, because they simply wont enjoy it and would probably trash it, just like they trash the coast. We have quokkas but not the selfie type.

Its perfect for the conservation crowd as there are areas of untouched bush and many flowers and birds (and bugs) that do not exist elsewhere. New species are still to be found. We are in the centre of a wide scale network of extinction protection areas. Again these groups tend to prefer the coast where the trees are bigger, they can go gluten free with vegan chips, 4 star forest accommodation and children tied to them with cloth. Gluten is in the air here haha. It is too risky for anyone to put real money into tourist accommodation or development, and we are simply too small to sustain modern ideals. But I've read the urban planning report and their direction is tourism and farming. I often wonder if there is any appeal here or if I get carried away with natures beauty and the space of the place.

Land is SO cheap to buy, but no work. These towns dot the wheatbelt area, and they are all dying very quickly as Chinese big business has brought the farming land and order in contract workers instead of employing local families. Some of these settlements contain the first buildings built on the land during settlement/invasion. The history of aussie culture was made in these places. There are areas of cultural importance but the race hate has destroyed what they were. When the population booms, I expect these areas to pick up again (and I will move off the grid lol) IF there is work here for them.

There is a much larger town over 60 kms up the road with an aboriginal community (they get arrested if they step foot in this town) - I guess there aren't a whole lot of people with spare money who want to learn about stargazing, bush tucker or camping, but I see such potential for the right roadtripping niche! Some towns in the east have saved themselves with gimmicks like giant cows and prawns. All we have is a tiny shearing sculpture haha. It's a place of relaxation, good vibrations and meditation if staying for more than 2 hours in the actual town. Maybe someone just has to link the local attractions together so driving tourists or busses can follow a route - perhaps that is an outdated idea.

DO reviews make a difference in your road tripping choices? Or is hashtagging, youtube and iphone pictures the only way to go now? Most of the bush was destroyed in fire recently and its not ready to shine yet, but the spring after next, it will be a spectacular sight. Its pretty awesome to drive through the farmland before harvest, huge fields of yellow, green and purple, pink lakes, blue skies and a mountain range that pops up out of no where. Right now we have baby lambs and emus dotting the green. They are SO cute. The cool winter air is unbelievable and the sky all sorts of colours with cloud cover. This place is brilliant Photos do not do it justice and maybe its just an appealing home instead of tourist spot. Some days I look for low key imaginative discussion, and that is usually when I am lectured 🙄 I personally cannot travel because of blood clots, so I do find my fun at home and in the community. Thanks Spanky and sosa lola for your input 😀 I'll go to bed now, dream of big ideas, and forget them by morning. Oh Sunday! I love your peace 😀

 

[brinkster130]

When I travel I like to live like a local as much as possible. I want to eat where the locals eat for the most part, as well as visit any highly rated restaurants or distinguished chefs. Activities are usually prioritized by museums, nature, famous attractions, then just walking through City to get to know it better.

I don't really like "relaxing" vacations. I much prefer busy vacations where I'm on the go doing and seeing as much as possible. Tropical destinations are beautiful, but I don't want to spend more than 1-2 says hanging at a beach....give me museums, monuments, historical buildings, or night markets. I also don't want to be treated as a king or queen on vacation. If I want to be pampered I can do that here at home, no need to waste vacation time on that for me.

TripAdvisor is used by everyone globally, so it's a fairly reliable place to start looking at reviews when planning. I'll also look at the Michelin Guide for restaurants.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

There is a much larger town over 60 kms up the road with an aboriginal community (they get arrested if they step foot in this town) - I guess there aren't a whole lot of people with spare money who want to learn about stargazing, bush tucker or camping, but I see such potential for the right roadtripping niche!

And here is where we part company. Why should I support the economy of a town that refuses to accept the aboriginal community that was there before the Europeans?

 

[TamsinValencia]

I'm more spontaneous tbh ill look up the place to get the vibe but I'll check out what's there when I'm there. 🙂

 

[November]

And here is where we part company. Why should I support the economy of a town that refuses to accept the aboriginal community that was there before the Europeans?

I might send you a PM if you are truly interested as to why its like this. My saturday night imagination thought if we celebrated aboriginal history and skills, the rich white original farming families may see their worth instead of calling the cops as soon as aboriginal person wanders into town looking for food and work. Restrictive Basics cards (controlled welfare) were rolled out while the cities and media are all about rainbows, I rekon this country missed a few steps in the equality of humans... I should stop trying to find ideas to change the world for those less fortunate and put the effort back into the garden again. I was just so tired from digging last night and wondered how the urban planners see this as a tourist spot.

We do have a museum, some brilliant art and nature but its only open by appointment as its all too quiet. The tourists may be scared off by being treated like royalty on one hand, and criminals on the other if they are unknown to the area. I have since found a drive tour map of the area open for a few weeks in spring. Sigh high.

Thanks @brinkster130 thats a brilliant answer.

 

[thrasherpix]

Generally speaking, I'm more interested in the history and nature, though I'm not inclined to visit tourist attractions (and for the most part, one doesn't have to travel elsewhere to learn history). A lot of it depends where I go.

Picking up souvenirs and taking pix isn't an interest of mine. I might, but it will be for some other reason that "just because." (And if I did buy a souvenir, it's unlikely to be one marketed at tourists as I'd be inclined to think it's....well, to put it bluntly, not genuine and only intended for gullible tourists.)

 

[Bite-me]

I might send you a PM if you are truly interested as to why its like this. My saturday night imagination thought if we celebrated aboriginal history and skills, the rich white original farming families may see their worth instead of calling the cops as soon as aboriginal person wanders into town looking for food and work. Restrictive Basics cards (controlled welfare) were rolled out while the cities and media are all about rainbows, I rekon this country missed a few steps in the equality of humans... I should stop trying to find ideas to change the world for those less fortunate and put the effort back into the garden again. I was just so tired from digging last night and wondered how the urban planners see this as a tourist spot.

We do have a museum, some brilliant art and nature but its only open by appointment as its all too quiet. The tourists may be scared off by being treated like royalty on one hand, and criminals on the other if they are unknown to the area. I have since found a drive tour map of the area open for a few weeks in spring. Sigh high.

Thanks @brinkster130 thats a brilliant answer.

We celebrate First Nations of Canada, not that we necessarily think of ourselves as one people or that racism and effects of very recent history and the margalization of native communities does not continue but as for national identity, Canada is pretty strong about acknowledging our native heritage, which would make complete sense for America, intergrating Native pride into the international image of America, which is not done like it is here.

 

[MarieVampSlayer]

What do you look for as a tourist when planning your route? Local attractions? Best eats? Nature or History? What is "your" kind of holiday? What do you enjoy seeing or doing as a tourist in another country? Do you base plans on ratings on tripadvisor or facebook? What level of service, excitement or relaxation do you want in a holiday? To be treated like a king, or a local? I am always interested in talking to travellers as I dont travel out of my own country.

I would say a balance in everything. I prefer to do the more intense activities at the beginning of my trip (Museums, sigh seeing, local attractions) and then transition into more leisure like nature or beaches to make sure I am relaxed as well as amazed. I need my comfort so I don't do camping but I don't need a fancy hotel just somewhere comfortable were I can have a shower. I love food so for that I always try as local as possible because tourist place are always too expensive and no very good. I do research activities beforehand but I don't reserve tours and usually have a guide that I consult in the morning and choose what I want to do depending on my mood. Overall I try to have as much new experience as I can but I am not intrepid enough to be a backpacking kinda person. I do travel a lot and completely love it!

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

What do you look for as a tourist when planning your route? Local attractions? Best eats? Nature or History? What is "your" kind of holiday? What do you enjoy seeing or doing as a tourist in another country? Do you base plans on ratings on tripadvisor or facebook? What level of service, excitement or relaxation do you want in a holiday? To be treated like a king, or a local? I am always interested in talking to travellers as I dont travel out of my own country.

When I travel, I like to check out maybe one tourist attraction but mostly I'm interested in getting to know the locals and their favorite hangouts.