By Butch Freedman
I used to love summer time, the long sunny days wearing nothing but a tee shirt and shorts, grilling hamburgers, playing in the surf. Now, I have to admit, I sort of dread the summer months and look forward (desperately) to the fall and winter. “Why is that?” you might ask — especially if you don’t live in a small coastal town. Yes, it’s the tourists. They descend upon us, like swarms of yellow-jackets at a picnic. I’ve heard tourists referred to as an invasive species. Others call them “tourons”— a combination of tourist and moron. Okay, a bit harsh — and even unfair. People love the Oregon Coast, and just because we live here full-time doesn’t mean we get to deny others, who aren’t as lucky, the right to enjoy this beautiful chunk of the universe. The great majority of us began this journey as tourists ourselves. But there is a distinction to be made here. Namely, the good visitor versus the bad one. And these categories do not apply only to the Oregon Coast. There’s a whole world of tourism that grows increasingly problematic.
The Good Tourist:
Respects the place they are visiting and tries to follow community norms. They are not loud, don’t leave trash behind, obey local traffic laws (man, do we have speeders around here), and keep their pets under control. (Never met a dog I didn’t like, their owners, a different story.)
The Bad Tourist:
Acts like they own the place they are visiting and are entitled to do anything they wish, including playing loud music, setting off illegal fireworks, parking in resident’s driveways, leaving their trash and dog poop wherever it lands, trampling on the wildlife (anybody wanna take a starfish home as a souvenir?), letting their kids play in the ocean unattended, and generally disturbing the peace and serenity of the local community.
The rise of tourism and its discontents is, of course, hardly limited to our little town, or the Coast in general. Despite the on-going economic concerns many are experiencing, the tourism market continues to expand. Many people do have considerable discretionary income, and enjoy spending it on travel to interesting, even exotic destinations. Nothing basically wrong with that. The problem is in the numbers. With increasing global populations and the relative ease of travel, certain countries and communities become overwhelmed. And though, some benefit from the waves of new tourists, and whole economies can become dependent on them, a lot of the little people, get washed away in the process. Locals can find themselves quickly priced out of their own homes. Real estate prices soar, as do all other costs of living. Try to buy a house these days here on the Oregon Coast; better come with a fat wallet. The same holds true in Hawaii or California, or anywhere there is a pleasing climate and water nearby. But the people who live and work in these places often now can barely afford to survive there any longer. And are forced to make a living by serving these new entitled visitors. Mexico City and Venice, Italy recently had major protests against the hordes of American (and other) tourists. The crowds there have become unbearable, forcing long-time residents to flee.
But to return to my little piece of paradise, and my admittedly somewhat selfish view of the summer’s approaching swarm, I’ll say this: If you come here, and I know you will, be conscious that this is our home. We live here all year round, and we are understandably protective of it. We moved here for the peace and quiet and the natural wonders of the surf and surroundings. If you can respect that, then you are welcome to come visit. If you don’t get it, how about you go instead to the Jersey Shore. They’ve got some nice beaches there too.
