DUBROVNIK: THE GAME OF THRONES EFFECT
PICTURE PERFECT
Dubrovnik, Croatia
© Johannes Vande Voorde
Promotional photos of tourist destinations can be a bit misleading.
They are taken at a time when the location is virtually deserted (when the average tourist is still in bed).
Vehicles and road signs are photoshopped out.
The region's tourism department provided a captivating text about the wonders of the area.
You may be thinking: that's where I want to go!
But do you? Really?
We show you the reality behind the idyllic photo. Most of the pictures were taken during the high season.
You decide for yourself. Choose another holiday destination? Or go in the low season?
THE REAL DEAL
Dubrovnik is a beautiful city and is rightly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But a visit is like a day at Disneyland, with queues, tourist restaurants and crowds. The Pile entrance gate in Dubrovnik even has traffic dividers in summer.
Guess what you hear people shouting on the stairs all day. Indeed, "Shame! Shame! Shame!". Anyone who has seen Game of Thrones knows why.
We see it happening everywhere in tourist cities: too many tourists, too many souvenir stores, high prices and locals fleeing during the high season. Every beautiful place becomes a tourist trap and takes on the allure of an amusement park. Including boat tours, horse carriages, stores and burgers and way too many people taking way too many selfies.
We don’t pretend to know a solution, we only identify the problem. After all: aren’t we part of the problem if we keep traveling?
