UK locals tell tourists to 'f-off' as beautiful destinations become swamped (original) (raw)

Residents in Scotland are angry with tourists fleeing to scenic spots to just snap some pictures and some residents have even put up signs saying 'Tourists F-off'

Signs have been put up in scenic Scottish spots saying 'Tourists F-off'

Scots are becoming angered with tourists 'jostling' for photos in some of the country's most scenic destinations.

Residents in Scotland are becoming sick of the rising number of tourists fleeing to the country's hotspot to take pictures. Some residents have even put up signs saying 'Tourists F-off'. Destinations including the quiet town of Lochcarron, in the Highlands, and the Glenfinnan viaduct — famously known for its use in the Harry Potter films —have seen a rise in flocks of tourists.

"People stop to take photos then they’re on to the next place so quickly. There are spots on the route that go big on social media, and then they become overrun," local Robin Pettigrew told i. Since 2022, the Glenfinnan viaduct has seen a 46 per cent rise in visitors, according to the National Trust.

Do you live in Scotland and notice your area becoming overcrowded by tourists? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Many locals across Scotland believe the popularity of the North Coast 500 is to blame for increasing numbers of tourists (

Image:

UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Many locals across Scotland believe the popularity of the North Coast 500 – a 500-mile road trip around the north of the country – is to blame. The Highlands resident, one of the organisers of the 'NC500: The Dirty Truth' group on Facebook said there are signs that frustration is growing: “I’ve already seen posters in people’s windows that say, ‘Tourists F-off’. I’ve seen stickers on road signs saying, ‘NC500, no thanks’.

Tourists visiting are also putting pressure on the local community and its facilities. "Tourism brings benefits in terms of people coming to the area, spending money and drinking in pubs and buying crafts, but there is a knock on challenge to that. There is a lack of facilities, such as toilets, for the people coming on the NC500," said Steve Chishom, who competed for the Alba Party in the constituency containing Ullapool in the recent General Election.

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"And there is not a large per head spend for tourists coming into the area on the road. They buy their groceries at a Lidl or Tesco and cook for themselves. There is more heavy traffic on the road, more potholes, and some poor etiquette on behalf of some tourists."

Experts are now urging VisitScotland and other tourism bodies to move toward promoting less well-known sites. They also think tourists could be encouraged to visit outside of summer.

A VisitScotland spokesperson said work was under way to deliver a more “sustainable visitor economy” that benefits multiple destinations. “For several years now, our strategy has been on growing the value of tourism rather than volume of our visitors.

“We believe visitor want to ‘do the right thing’ and with the right information and investment in visitor facilities, we can achieve a more balanced form of tourism," reports the i.