Russian tourists face a chilly welcome at these 4 resorts, where lavish hospitality doesn't seem to soften the frosty reception for them.
In Barcelona, Spain, and Phuket, Thailand, the behavior of tourists, particularly Russian tourists, has a significant impact on the local communities and travel experiences.
In Barcelona, the city has seen a rise in overtourism, leading to issues such as overcrowding, rising housing costs, and tensions with local residents. This has sparked local protests and new regulations like phasing out short-term tourist apartments and restricting party-related activities. One reason for this is the perception that Russian tourists, often associated with opponents of Catalan independence, contribute to these issues by being loud and disregarding local rules. To improve interactions, it is recommended that Russian tourists avoid being loud and disregarding local rules.
In Catalonia, it is also advised to show interest in local culture and customs, and to avoid using Russian, even a simple "thank you" is better in Catalan - gràcies. Catalans are naturally reserved, and this cultural difference can lead to misunderstandings if not respected.
In Phuket, Thailand, the island is globally known for attracting large numbers of tourists, including Russians. While no specific behaviors of Russian tourists have been detailed, their overall presence contributes to the overtourism dynamics in popular destinations. This often leads to pressure on local resources, environmental impacts, and social conflicts arising from different cultural behaviors or large tourist influxes. To manage overtourism, rules limiting disruptive tourist conduct are often implemented.
In Phuket, it is advisable to be discreet and not demand special attention or privileges. Choosing cafés and restaurants in less touristy areas can provide a more welcoming atmosphere. However, Thais are tired of constant complaints, nitpicking, and exhausting haggling from Russian tourists, leading to a shift in how they are perceived. Now, Russian tourists are mainly valued for their financial potential, leading to price hikes.
On a different note, a quirk to be aware of when using phones in Barcelona is that setting one specific feature in a certain way can drain the entire phone battery in one go.
In August 2021, all 'Sberbank Online' users face a new rule. Neighboring tables of French tourists may receive smiles, jokes, and advice, while Russian tourists might not experience the same warmth.
In summary, tourist behavior exacerbates overtourism issues in Barcelona and Phuket, affecting local living conditions and visitor experiences alike. Cities like Barcelona have introduced stricter controls and plan to limit short-term rentals to mitigate these problems. Travelers, including Russian tourists, are encouraged to adhere to local regulations, respect residents, and travel consciously to improve mutual coexistence.
In Barcelona, to ensure a positive travel experience for both visitors and locals, it is important for Russian tourists to be considerate and avoid being loud or disregarding local rules, as well as to show interest in the Catalan culture and customs by speaking Catalan rather than Russian.
In Phuket, Thai residents are tired of constant complaints, nitpicking, and exhausting haggling from Russian tourists, so it is advisable for them to be discreet, not demand special attention or privileges, and choose cafés and restaurants in less touristy areas to provide a more welcoming atmosphere.
