Thank you for a seasoned and sensitive look at these topics. I personally side with the locals in such matters but support those who travel/live with an outgoing interest in and appreciation of the culture of places. In addition to the very real impact of short term rentals, I believe the cruise industry is doing direct harm to places with their huge ships and dumping tens of thousands of outsiders into ports when two or three of them dock. Add to this the issues of things like predatory and shallow Instagram travel, so called travel influencers on social media exploiting places for clicks, Americans who ignore all cultures, and the infamous British drunks on holiday and its a lot for any place to take on. Government officials may support "tourism" at any cost but people pay the price. With a crack down on short term rentals and cruise ships and tourist behavior I hope to see things improve, not just for Spain but for many places. Japan is getting a lot thrown at it too right now in terms of shallow over tourism and bad behavior ignorant of the culture.
Thanks so much for the comment, Shawn. I've heard briefly before about cruise ship issues, and that was a good reminder that it's another thing adding to a problem.
I just spent a few weeks in Segovia, Valladolid, Leon and Oviedo in the north. I have B2 Spanish. Most of northern Spain (sorry to lump Castilla y Leon with Asturias, they are so very different) has seen population declines. Leon, for example, is down from 150k to 120k. I didn't experience any anti-tourism vibes on my trip, and the Spanish are classy as a rule. In Oviedo an orchestra was playing some oldies at the stunning park as the senior citizens got their dancing shoes going. In addition to the empty properties that abound in some cities, there are also entire subdivisions (an evil American import) and tall buildings that were never finished or continue to decay unoccupied from the 2007 boom in construction. I wish I had the money to dust one of those off and offer it for long term rental. Someone with some real money should buy an abandoned hospital and turn it into a care home for older Americans and charge them 4000 euros a month instead of 8000 in the USA. I agree with Nicole that the areas struggling to attract investment and losing population are the places to look as a foreign buyer who doesn't want to price out locals.
I'm looking at starting my Digital Nomad journey in the Costa Brava area of Spain, but have been weary of making the commitment due to this subject. It sounds like if I am going there to share in the life and culture, etc, I'm good. I do need to learn Spanish and Catalan and I am working on that. Thank you for your video. I am subscribed to catch more.
Thanks so much for watching. It's great that you want to learn both languages. I don't know if I've met a single expat who has done that (to my knowledge).
I see one problem with many people who call themselves "Expats". While they have left their home country to move to another one, they do not think of themselves as immigrants. In their home country, they would not like immigrants behaving like those "Expats" do. Understanding this helps to understand why the locals may be upset with "Expat communities"
I always wondered why those town's like Pego (close to the touristique centers) are so little lived in ! You find cheap houses who are livabale and a nice community. 15 to 45 min drive from work. Is it the price ? Is it the attraction of the more modern lifestyle at the coast ? dono
I'm not 100% sure, but I think people visit the places they've heard of and don't often venture out of that. In my mind, mountains would be just as attractive as the beach, but Spain is definitely known for its coastal vacations. Thanks for watching! 🙂
Spain and paying tourist is not what they are protesting - but with climate change and a catastrophe ahead why would anyone venture there? Shortsighted EuroZiOne politics
Thank you for a seasoned and sensitive look at these topics. I personally side with the locals in such matters but support those who travel/live with an outgoing interest in and appreciation of the culture of places. In addition to the very real impact of short term rentals, I believe the cruise industry is doing direct harm to places with their huge ships and dumping tens of thousands of outsiders into ports when two or three of them dock. Add to this the issues of things like predatory and shallow Instagram travel, so called travel influencers on social media exploiting places for clicks, Americans who ignore all cultures, and the infamous British drunks on holiday and its a lot for any place to take on. Government officials may support "tourism" at any cost but people pay the price. With a crack down on short term rentals and cruise ships and tourist behavior I hope to see things improve, not just for Spain but for many places. Japan is getting a lot thrown at it too right now in terms of shallow over tourism and bad behavior ignorant of the culture.
Thanks so much for the comment, Shawn. I've heard briefly before about cruise ship issues, and that was a good reminder that it's another thing adding to a problem.
Fabulously accurate insite into the pros and cons of living and working locally in Spain .Subscribed
Thank you so much for your encouragement and for subscribing!
Awesome videos very helpful and informative i am starting my journey to buy a property in Spain so thanks for your insight Into the life in Spain
Thanks so much for watching and for the encouragement! All the best as you look to find the right place for you! 🙂
I just spent a few weeks in Segovia, Valladolid, Leon and Oviedo in the north. I have B2 Spanish. Most of northern Spain (sorry to lump Castilla y Leon with Asturias, they are so very different) has seen population declines. Leon, for example, is down from 150k to 120k. I didn't experience any anti-tourism vibes on my trip, and the Spanish are classy as a rule. In Oviedo an orchestra was playing some oldies at the stunning park as the senior citizens got their dancing shoes going. In addition to the empty properties that abound in some cities, there are also entire subdivisions (an evil American import) and tall buildings that were never finished or continue to decay unoccupied from the 2007 boom in construction. I wish I had the money to dust one of those off and offer it for long term rental. Someone with some real money should buy an abandoned hospital and turn it into a care home for older Americans and charge them 4000 euros a month instead of 8000 in the USA. I agree with Nicole that the areas struggling to attract investment and losing population are the places to look as a foreign buyer who doesn't want to price out locals.
Thanks so much for the comment! Super insightful. I'd love to see those seniors dancing, too!
I'm looking at starting my Digital Nomad journey in the Costa Brava area of Spain, but have been weary of making the commitment due to this subject. It sounds like if I am going there to share in the life and culture, etc, I'm good. I do need to learn Spanish and Catalan and I am working on that.
Thank you for your video. I am subscribed to catch more.
Thanks so much for watching. It's great that you want to learn both languages. I don't know if I've met a single expat who has done that (to my knowledge).
I see one problem with many people who call themselves "Expats". While they have left their home country to move to another one, they do not think of themselves as immigrants. In their home country, they would not like immigrants behaving like those "Expats" do. Understanding this helps to understand why the locals may be upset with "Expat communities"
Thanks for sharing this Nicole
Thanks for always watching! 🙂
It depends on the person ;)
I always wondered why those town's like Pego (close to the touristique centers) are so little lived in ! You find cheap houses who are livabale and a nice community. 15 to 45 min drive from work. Is it the price ? Is it the attraction of the more modern lifestyle at the coast ? dono
I'm not 100% sure, but I think people visit the places they've heard of and don't often venture out of that. In my mind, mountains would be just as attractive as the beach, but Spain is definitely known for its coastal vacations. Thanks for watching! 🙂
Spain and paying tourist is not what they are protesting - but with climate change and a catastrophe ahead why would anyone venture there? Shortsighted EuroZiOne politics