American Airlines is trying to make it easier to travel with mobility devices.
24.07.2024 - 15:03 / insider.com
A TikToker has racked up nearly a million views in a recent video that explained how Europe is becoming a hotbed for American tourists.
"I've seen a lot of news about how local Europeans are mad that tourists are just ruining their cities," US-based comedian Dan Rosen said in the TikTok video. "You guys just have to accept at this point that you're our Disney World now."
He's referring to the backlash against overtourism that has swept across Europe in recent months. And he's not wrong that some European cities are being treated solely as tourist attractions rather than as people's homes.
Notably, the recent protests in Barcelona saw protesters squirting water guns at tourists sitting outside restaurants and bars in the city while chanting, "Go home!"
Some Barcelona residents have become increasingly frustrated with mass tourism, which they blame for skyrocketing rent prices and the city becoming "unliveable."
Other European cities are facing similar problems.
Tourist hot spots like Venice and Lake Como in Italy and picturesque towns in Switzerland have all considered or trialed tourist fees to curb the number of visitors.
Meanwhile, in other cities, people are being fined for taking selfies in certain areas and prevented from sitting and eating in some public places.
However, the TikToker wasn't particularly sympathetic to the plight of tourist-ridden European cities.
"You had your fun colonizing the world, pillaging and extracting wealth to make your nice little piazzas and palaces," he said.
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"Now you need to accept that you're just museum cities…you're our playground," he added.
Some locals in Venice have echoed a similar sentiment to Rosen, protesting the €5 ($5.40) trial fee for day-trippers earlier this year.
They objected to their hometown being treated solely like a tourist attraction. One opponent to the measure said that Venice was "becoming a museum, a theme park," Reuters reported.
In the video, Rosen also criticized Europe for dining out on its history and cured meats to draw tourists in without producing anything new.
But tourists really can't get enough of what Europe has to offer.
Europe's tourism industry saw a year-on-year increase of 12% in foreign arrivals in the second quarter of 2024, according to a report by the European Travel Commission.
The concerns of frustrated locals may be overweighed by the lucrative nature of the tourism industry. The ETC projects visitors will spend €800.5 billion ($870 billion) in Europe this year, up over 13.7% from last year.
"It's ok you had a good run, time to accept your fate Europe," the TikToker captioned the video.
American Airlines is trying to make it easier to travel with mobility devices.
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Low-cost Icelandic airline Play is helping travelers plan a European shoulder season vacation by offering 25 percent off fall and early winter flights.
Passenger volume at Ontario International Airport (ONT) climbed to a new record in June, topping 652,000 and eclipsing the previous record of 618,000 set just one month before, officials announced.
Solo female travellers are a growing and very attractive market; in fact, 14% of women travel without the company of family, friends or a partner, which translates into habits, needs and expectations, as well as specific tourist services and products. Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company-Almawave Group, analysed the female solo traveller demand worldwide* to identify five key factors that outline the profile of this segment.
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With the Esports World Cup (EWC) in full swing, Riyadh is welcoming gamers and fans from all over the world. While the EWC will certainly be the highlight of your visit, Riyadh offers an abundance of culinary delights that you won’t want to miss. To ensure your visit is unforgettable, we’ve curated a list of the top three must-visit spots closest to the EWC games so you don’t have to go too far to get the best of both worlds as you immerse yourself in an unmatched dining experience. Take a bite of VIA Riyadh’s high-end dining scene
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ivette Cuevas, a café owner living in Costa Rica, and her 16-year-old son, Vincent Alcampo. It has been edited for length and clarity.