So there is a trend in travel blogging and social media where influencers aren’t putting the exact location or sharing any details about where photos are taken in order to preserve the spot from over tourism. I understand that to an extent; Venice is sinking, Machu Picchu and Iceland restricting tourist numbers, and some places like the Galapagos make it extremely difficult to visit because tourists can ruin the ecology of that delicate island.
However, I think so many of those influencers only learned of those locations through platforms like Instagram, so it feels unfair that they would be the gatekeeper to decide they can visit and post photos and make money off of that location, but no one else should be able to.
So many places have seen a dramatic increase in tourism in the last decade or so because of platforms like Instagram. Portugal, for one, and specifically Sintra, a small town just outside of Lisbon, are great examples of that. Tourism, in the volumes it saw in 2019 and will likely see again soon, is fairly new there. And while there are some concerns in ensuring the local culture is preserved, gentrification is prevented and the infrastructure is maintained, tourism can be a powerful economic driver for the local community and can be a very positive thing if managed correctly.
I get so much travel inspiration from Instagram, YouTube, and even TikTok. And while I don’t have any delusions about my follower count, I know that my photos and posts may inspire a trip of your own. Sure, I enjoy my hidden gems, but I promise to always share where I am visiting so you can enjoy these places too. If I ever only list the park or city, feel free to comment and ask where a particular photo was taken and I’ll happily and publicly share.