One weekend I went with my colleagues to visit the luxury hotels on the east coast. They were havens for obese, sun burned, loud mouthed, mainly American, holiday makers who were seeking value for money.
Most of the hotels were surrounded by high walls and fences which ensured the separation of the humble stalls of the local tourist industry entrepreneurs.
Many highly talented artists and craftspeople made a living selling souvenir toot to fat folk who enthusiastically bargain down the prices.
Much the same might be said of the North East Open Studios (NEOS) project in Scotland except that the creative types tend to hide away in rural places with low visitor footfall. What price art? Particularly when you try to make a living from it!
Call me a mean spirited scrooge but I have no time for toot and souvenirs. I have lived and worked in many cultures for several years at a time and many lessons have been learned. Chief amongst these are (a) that there are no easy answers or ready made solutions, and (b) that the inner journey is of infinitely more value than any number of outer ones.
Be still and know that there is a future in existential tourism?
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