Many years ago, I traveled to Jamaica and enjoyed a wonderful, amazing experience with friends.
It hit me in an extremely sensorial way and the only material memory I brought home was a scented candle. Every time I smelled the candle, I traveled to Jamaica.
Each destination has its own sounds, smells, taste, temperature and landscape.
Tourism capitalizes on images, taste, recently aromas, but never sounds. It is striking to me think on all of our senses without sound. NYC for example has its very defined sounds, so does London and every destination I visited.
Recently, I read an article on T+L about how lawmakers in France passed a regulation to protect the "sensory heritage" of the French countryside, including its sounds and smells. Most, the protection was needed from “urban weekend transplants” complaining on rural noises.
I agree with the French authorities protecting their sounds. Bien Sur!!!
Mon Dieu! How can anybody disrupt the natural sounds of the country? Really?
It made me think about visitors’ behaviors to destinations.
I consider visitors must enter destinations as they walk into a temple. Respect as the most fundamental way to enter the place.
No matter if you are for a day for a week or actually you own a property. How you dare to change the essence of a destination? What makes you think your individual need is more important than the surroundings?
The behavior can be extended to examples not sound related.
I remember growing up in Barcelona how tourists would walk into a church or restaurant half naked. I found disrespectful and intrusive in a strange manner. Simply ignorant.
Do we think is ok to walk into any spiritual space naked? Or restaurant? What are the regulations?
Barcelona is a city always ranked as one of the most tolerant cities in the world.
Hence, tolerance does not equate to disregard. Especially when you are visiting. Would you walk naked or dismissing your host traditions and space? I don’t think so.
When we talk about destinations? What is the line between law, regulations and tolerance?
Think about it.
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