Overcrowded destinations

[balzaccom]

The local paper in Calistoga published an article I wrote about overtourism and its impacts. It's a long read, but that's because it's complex topic.

Their website doesn't have the story up yet, so here's a link to my version:

Over-tourism Issues face Napa

It has been a strange year for tourism around the world. From Juneau to Venice, Barcelona to Bhutan, local inhabitants have taken to the streets to express their concern about the impacts of tourism on their local community. And while Napa has yet to see a protest, there are plenty of grumblings...

www.paulwagnerwine.com

 

[OldBill]

A well-written, insightful article. I know Jackson, WY has been facing the issue for decades. Ranchers that grew up there are appalled at what Jackson has become. That's what some call "progress".

Supply and demand market forces usually work more efficiently than government regulations. I'm giving Jackson less money than I did 20 years ago because I can't afford to stay there for a single night, even before a flight. Not that they miss my pittance...too many wealthier visitors. There are also needs for important guardrails like national park and wilderness boundaries to preserve what we can. As you state, it's complex and no easy solution.

 

[napatony13]

Excellent article, it really covers all the complexities that being a tourist-centric community faces, both the good and the bad.

 

[Bob]

Excellent article, it really covers all the complexities that being a tourist-centric community faces, both the good and the bad.

Anymore ........... mostly bad

 

[Kmatjhwy]

Yes some places in the local communities like Jackson or in the front country where everyone vacations at can be sooooo overcrowded, but there are places in the deep wilderness where one can go and retreat to with being all by themselves for days and days at a time. This difference is seen between two places. One is Jenny Lake area in Grand Teton NP which any given day in the summer is just swarmed with people. But nearby is the deep wilderness of the Absarokas and the Gros Ventres where in many places one can camp and wander by their lonesome for days and weeks at a time.

So for us it is really just a choice where to spend our time. Being in some overcrowded spot in the front country somewhere or back in some deep wild place enjoying life and everything by our lonesome. For as many tourists who visit like Grand Teton and Yellowstone NPs, there are places actually right off the road in both parks, that one could walk a couple of hundred yards with being by their complete lonesome.

 

[zionsky]

I fear Zion will soon implement a park-wide reservation system. The only thing that has stopped it from happening in the past was local legislators concerned with negative economic impacts to the area but many of them are no longer in office. It's a tough balancing act for sure.

 

[regehr]

it's too bad what's happened to Zion, we used to enjoy going there in the off season!
as far as I know I'll never visit the main canyon again, although of course there's plenty of goodies on the east side, the Kolob side, and elsewhere...

whenever we drive through Jackson we remark that it was probably a really nice town in the 70s.

 

[zionsky]

I think I've been in the main canyon once in the last 5-6 years and that was only because it was snowing . My only concern about a park wide reservation system would be how it impacted my ability to go into the backcountry, which is where I spend all of my time now.

 

[Bob]

I dont go into many National Parks anymore. We go into thr main areas in Yellowstone mostly in the off seasons, since I live next door...... During peak season Yellowstone definitely needs permitted times.