What is Travel Bug or Wanderlust? Wanderlust or Travel Bug has become one of the most popular words on blogging platforms and social media like Facebook and Instagram! Just run an online search and you’ll know! Is this wanderlust fueled by social media because we are increasingly exposed to the pictures and posts of travelers?
Over-Tourism and Wanderlust
Is Travel Bug a form of escapism? Many people have quit their jobs to travel and blog. Is it because we are all tired of things around us and we are looking for some change? Many people say they want to travel because they want to experience the world.
We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, and other souls. Anais Nin
Overtourism-The Causes
Is Wanderlust fuelling over-tourism?
There are a couple of reasons why there is a rise in tourism leading to pollution, traffic jams, and a backlash from the local residents. One of the recent examples is Venice and Prague. The local residents are unhappy with the rise in rents because the residences are being offered to the tourists at a good profit, this is unaffordable for the locals. In many cities in Europe, locals are unable to find affordable houses for rent because of the same reasons. There are many reasons for Overtourism. One of the reasons is that there has been a general rise in travel. Another reason cited by some travel experts is the rise in social media use. Instagram pictures and stories are fuelling travel. The younger generation doesn’t want to hoard money and prefers to spend on experiences. Travel is one of the most popular experiences accessible to all.
The following are the reasons for over-tourism:
- The greater awareness and information about tourist places among people
- The flaunting of travel on social media via photos and videos
- The rise in disposable incomes
- Increase in promotion of travel destinations by tourism boards
- “Now or Never” mindset which believes in instant gratification
- A large number of travel options in terms of travel companies and modes of transport
- A variety of options to book travel online at the click of a button
- Pent-up demand due to pandemic years
Over-Tourism Solutions
A lot of people advocate traveling in the off-season as an Overtourism solution. In my opinion, this can be one solution but we need to look away from the popular tourist destinations. Traveling in your own city can also mitigate some of the Overtourism issues.
Sometimes we want to travel but commitments and responsibilities tie us down. So what do we do? For a change, try to become a traveler in your own city or places nearby! It’s called backyard traveling. You’ll be amazed to discover the places that you never knew existed even though you have been passing through the street, every day! In spite of living in Jaipur for years, I never ventured inside the iconic Hawa Mahal, till recently! I revisited popular tourist places in Jaipur like Amer Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Gaitore, and Jaipur City Palace.
There are many offbeat places to explore like Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh, Patrika Gate, and even local markets in Jaipur.
Just change your perspective. Become a tourist. That’s what I do too sometimes, by donning a look of a tourist and exploring my city. It’s fun when the street vendors approach me to sell a Rajasthani puppet or ethnic printed shirts, thinking I’m a tourist.
I have chronicled one of such incidents in this post – Dholak Seller in Sirehdyodi Bazar Jaipur
If you don’t have tourist or historic places in your city, there’s something else you can try. Hit the street and interact with people like street vendors like flower sellers or less privileged people. You’ll gain insights into the lives of people and life, in general. There’s so much life around us that has escaped our attention. We are so engrossed in the routines that we miss most of the things around us.
When we travel our mindset is different, we are free from the daily grind and therefore, we notice so many new things. This makes travel interesting. Try to explore things around you, and get ready to be surprised without leaving your city! Become a backyard traveler! I’m sure exploring your own city or surroundings, will enrich your life. What do you think?
Overtourism EXAMPLES?
Overtourism has been plaguing many cities across the world with a sudden increase in population due to the massive influx of tourists. It causes problems & inconveniences for the residents and the authorities. Traffic jams and long lines are common outside popular tourist places. For example, in the city of Venice, Italy the local residents are around 55,000 but on peak days the tourist arrival is two to three times this number. In Jaipur, the effects of over-tourism are evident when the number of visitors to Amer Fort reaches more than 15,000. Places like Johari Bazaar become chaotic with traffic jams.
Overtourism Destinations
Some of the popular tourist destinations which suffer from over-tourism are Venice, Amsterdam, Bruges, Rome, Barcelona, and Paris in Europe. In India, Shimla, Nainital, Dharamshala, and Mussorie suffer from Overtourism.
We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
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There is a lot to observe in our own city arv…you are so right!
It is strange that we never visit our backyard, always thinking we can do it any time! I have lived in Delhi for 30 years but never could explore all its nooks and crannies where as travelled to almost all places of interest in India 🙂 Also clicking pics in our own city seemed to childish but now I miss them.
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How true!! Humans thoughts are usually “relative”…relative to the context and circumstances. I’m sure you must be missing Delhi, now. Isn’t it surprising that people travel all the way from another corner of the world to see your city and you are clueless as to what it is all about?
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Glad you wrote on this perspective. I’ve always thoughts about the same…there are many things we forget to check locally but are willing to spend a lot to see the same elsewhere!
Just go out and explore the surroundings first. Happy backyard traveling ☺️
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I guess we always take things which are easily available for granted! While the lure of distant places cannot be replaced, local exploration is convenient! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂
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You said it. Welcome!
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☺
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I definitely agree with what you wrote there, Arv. We don’t have to go abroad to have sensation of feeling of wanderlust. It could be anywhere, even at our own backyard. I didn’t travel far away much in the last two years due to some personal stuffs that I must do here and there. But as living in Istanbul, i convince myself there must be something I can find interesting in every corner of the city. It doesn’t have to be far. Travelling gave me more insights and perspective in seeing the world. As two weeks ago, as you saw my post about Balat, i travel to this area which is only 15 minutes away by bus from my home. With my different look, many locals thought that I am a tourist and some vendors approached me to come to their coffee house. I stopped at one of them, and ended a deep conversation with the owner, an old man that has Albanian roots for Albanian borek (a kind of pastry communly found in Balkan). If I don’t walk out my door, i was surely not getting this kind of experience..
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You camouflaged as a tourist and got rewarded? That’s great Nurul. There is no doubt that travelling opens up your mind and is quite enriching. But local exploration too can be a good option especially for those who are tied down with things and can’t travel for time being. Local exploration cannot be an alternative to travelling to far away land and experiencing different cultures. I always enjoy your posts and travels because you have something nice in terms of perspectives and experiences to offer. 🙂
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Wonderful perspective. Its so essential for us to know our own city well and explore our own backyard to understand travel in a different light 🙂 And you are a great e.g. of this. Being a local expert of a region.
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Thank you Divsi! Local exploration cannot be an alternative to outstation travelling but it’s important to understand your own city. When people from the world over are interested in experiencing your home town, there must be something unique about it?
Thanks for being so kind with the words 🙂 I feel I realised quite late…only after travelling around various cities. There’s still a lot to see and discover. 🙂
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I have wondered too why I find travel so appealing.Besides being a welcome escape from everyday routine there is the added attraction of the unexpected whenever you travel- new places,new people,new lessons on life and the constant reminder that this world is a beautiful place too live.My kind of travel is backyard travelling in a sense, since I have been outside my state only rarely. But there is so much to see that I feel overwhelmed.
So glad you discussed this.
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well said. I guess we enjoy the change and diversity that travels brings. I’m happy to know that you enjoy backyard exploration. Keep discovering and sharing with us all. 🙂
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Nice pics well captured 😃😃
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Thank you Snigdha 😊
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I liked that phrase – backyard traveling. You are right about the fact that travel and wanderlust looks like a fad on social media. Hard to say how much is real and how much is fueled by pressure.
Great post and commendable thought!
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Well said! Only time will tell…
While I understand people love travelling and exploring new things but the whole idea of marketing with these words….is this new form of narcissism? Or is it that such people are attention seekers?
Just wondering what would have happened if there was social media when famous travelers like Fa-Hien/ Faxian, Marco Polo undertook journeys across countries? 🙂
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Rightly said, Arvind. I was born and brought up in Udaipur, but still I feel that there is lot of the city yet to be seen. Similarly, I am in Delhi for last 27 years and have yet not seen many places, worth it.
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It’s an irony we all live with. Looking at the trend I come across many friends and family who feel that exploring India so down market so they only travel abroad for holidays. Frankly I have seen extremely beautiful places that can give run to the more popular places abroad. But then who am I to advise on their choices? Today we are greatly influenced by the media, movies and social media. I guess we never explore our own city because we look at it differently. Thanks for the insight.
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I travel for the same reason I write, Arv; because I have to. I just have to visit these places – it’s something in me that I can’t suppress for too long.
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Go with the flow Mick. That is what you are…..
I know many people who can’t stay at one place for long! That’s their inner self. So suit yourself. ☺
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I’m happy staying in one place for a fair while – I like to explore and get to know it properly.
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That’s slow travel. In current age, it’s not what everyone does
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Ah, it’s what I do, Arv. I’m not going to change now.
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You don’t have to Mick. That’s how things have been for ages until air travel became cheap and the ubiquitous social media. People now want to just tick off places and announce their “conquests” on social media.
Real travel is what travelers did before even train were invented – slow travel, absorb the local culture before moving on!
These days we just get far too many me too stuff because no one wants to scratch the surface!
I admire slow travelers because that’s the real stuff and not what we get to see these days! Sorry, I guess my last comment didn’t clear out what I meant. apologies! 🙂
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You’re quite right, Arv. I fully intend to come and be slow in Jaipur again before too long!
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That’ll be great, Mick! Lots of thing for you to uncover here. 🙂
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In a world that seeks excitement and adventure in foreign exotic places comes your refreshing message with the focus on our own city or environment. I live in a very small community and there is so much to discover: the people, their stories, and of course nature in all its beauty. Thank you, Arv! You expressed my sentiments very well.
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I guess we all take things around us for granted. I’m sure that there’s lot to discover around your home town. I have seen couple of pictures which you had posted, and I must say Fauquier is incredibly beautiful …blessed with natural beauty.
I’m happy to know that our thoughts are alike here. Thanks for sharing it here. Have a great weekend 🙂
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Thank you, Arv! Fauquier is indeed a beautiful place, although somewhat remote from the urban centres and medical facilities. I am so happy having made your acquaintance, my friend. It seems we are sharing a lot of traditional values.
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So am I. ☺
I will choose such scenic place to live if such opportunity presents, ever. It’s a trade off with some facilities and ease that urban areas offer but then we all have to make some choices.
I feel we should pick what is good in terms of values. ☺
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Greta advice, one that people like me can really benefit from. Youve rightly pointed out how people have become more interested in travelling because of the recent interest in it supplemented by pictures of great places. But travelling should essentially be about learning something new and experiencing things, not just for the heck of it. Once again, great post and good pointers 😊
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Thanks Pradita. You said is so well….doing things with a reason and not just following a trend!
I suppose we all have our own reasons, which is fine. What’s worrisome is that people want glamorize. They post their pictures with some crappy stories to create hype. They just need attention. Even “solo female traveler” has caught on like anything. Highly sought after handles on Instagram usually have some elements of these words – wanderer…himalayan..mountain. It seems so over sold! Have you come across any?
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Plenty! And I usually steer clear of such people. Just coz you have a camera (be it a DSLR or your phone) and you’ve been to someplace, doesn mean you’re a traveller. Travelling can be to a mall too. But I hate particularly those people who say I’ve been to so and so place and give the same description of the place that one can find even in travel books. Then what have you,as a traveller, contributed to the knowledge of the reader? Zilch! The true purpose of travelling is never to report what has already been discovered. It’s to find the undiscovered, which could be anything, but the obvious. You’re doing pretty neat job at digging out places that people don’t go to usually in Jaipur… Keep at it. That what makes this blog unique 😀👏
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you’re bang on! Unless someone provides some authentic information or point of view, it’s no more interesting because google is always at rescue. You are right, there are so many “travelers” who are doing what every tourist does. There’s difference in being a traveler and tourist. But sadly not everyone understands that.
Thanks for following and reading my blog. Appreciate it, truly Pradita 🙂
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You’re most welcome 😊
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☺
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Interesting questions you asked in the beginning. And it’s so true, that sometimes are own backyard remains unexplored. Best to discover new things about your own city or country than travel to foreign locales (although I admit it does have it’s own share of fun). Nothing better than becoming a tourist in your own city. 🙂
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I don’t think one should compare home town with a foreign land. That will be unfair and out of place. The excitement of a new place….well, that’s something else.
Exploring one’s city is an option we all have when we can’t travel. Also, this provides an opportunity to understand our city, a little better! Don’t you agree?
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I love your perspective on exploring ones own city. It’s true; there are many places unexplored by locals that tourists come to see.
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Exactly. Why do we have apathy towards the city we live in? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this ☺
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Reblogged this on One Side Taxi Service – India and commented:
Explore Jaipur!
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When we run from post to post, we often miss a pillar that has been right in front of us.. You’re right. We can discover so many things in our places that are not in distant places we crave to travel.
Backyard travelling sounds quite sexy. Anyway I am backyard traveler not by choice though but forced by financial limitations.
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Sherab, you live in a beautiful place. I would love to read and know more about Bhutan.
Well we all have our own situations. I’m sure things will change for you. There are so many people who want to visit Bhutan. It’ll be lovely to hear from you. I would certainly visit Bhutan, someday. 😊
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Backyard travelling – This is a new term for me. Though earlier I may have found it silly but yes, I have been doing it for some time now, the reason being that I get absolutely bored to go to the same malls and for shopping every weekend, and want to see new places. That’s how I discovered a Chinese temple, a huge pagoda and beautiful museums in Mumbai. Good to know that you rediscovered Hawa Mahal. 🙂
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Somali. Happy to know that you have been “discovering” your city….uncovering layers! I remember reading one of your post, recently where I mentioned that regular travel bloggers never write about such places.
There’s a reason why you hate going to mall ever weekend! That’s because you have a traveler in you…seeking new places!
Keep discovering and writing….will love to hear all these tales! 🙂
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🌝🌝
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You have made some great points here, Arv. I’m certain that many people in my area have no idea of the sites to be seen without going far away. Lincoln has a wealth of historic buildings and other remains, dating back to Roman times. As you rightly say, people want to ‘escape’ to distant places to experience life. That is fine, of course, but we should all learn to really look at what our own areas have, too. You summed it up well when you said it ‘will enrich your life’. An interesting and thought-provoking read. 🙂
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Well said Millie. Quite valid too. I have been enjoying your posts. You are doing a great job. I’m happy you liked this write up. 😊
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I think, I travel to escape life. 🙂 I’ve never liked being a tourist. Always swapped that with traveller. These days, I do try doubling as a tourist. It’s fun to try something you’re not really into. Try clicking selfies or posing with photo-ops. haha…
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We all have our own reasons for travelling. But yes, escaping is the motivator. The idea of exploring your backyard is simple. It’s an alternative! Never a replacement….
I’m not a tourist either. But sometimes I travel as a tourist cum traveller. Doing bits of both. Traveller when I can else I’m a tourist. It’s fun when you try to pose as a tourist. 😉
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Two buzzwords right there, Arv. They are so popular and so hard to escape when we read about travel. Agree with you a lot of us travel to escape the mundane. I hope a lot of us don’t travel just to ‘run’, but more to experienced and live in the moment – which is a very important lesson travel often teaches us. Over the last year I’ve explored my city and backyard quite a bit – because work has been busy, so this is the best option for now. But I’ve come to realise there is so much to see around Melbourne, from beaches to hills to mountains to bushes… In Melbourne, many hideaway places aren’t that far, so at the end of the day I can still enjoy sleeping in my own bed 🙂
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LOL…for the last line! I’m sure everyone’s got their own reason to travel. you are right…we need to travel for the right reasons. I’m happy to know that you’ve been doing lot of backyard explorations in Melbourne. Looks like there’s so much around there to explore…beaches..hills!!
Mabel, why don’t you write about your finds? It’ll be awesome for others to see things from a resident’s perspective! Also, the insights you can share will be unique. something that a traveler wouldn’t know!
What do you think about this Mabel? 🙂
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Haha, I don’t know. Sometimes I don’t have much to say about my finds because they leave me speechless. You can only feel what you feel when you are there. Maybe at some point, because reliving these moments through memory and photos is always a sweet, sweet feeling 😀
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No worries. Suit yourself Mabel 😊👍
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Outstanding blog
Amazing content
Visit mine
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Thank You 🙂
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