Turon, Piefke and Gabacho: Some of the Nicknames Given to Annoying Tourists

16:31, April 20, 2023

Ekaterina Bugrova told about the hidden conflict between tourists and locals

In places with an excessive flow of tourists, there is a latent conflict between the locals and the tourists. The expression of this conflict is the formation of pejoratives (words with negative connotations) in connection with tourists. Ekaterina Bugrova, a Senior Lecturer at the UrFU Department of Social and Cultural Service and Tourism, found out how locals call negligent guests who focus only on their needs. In an article published in the Quaestio Rossica journal, she described the phenomenon of tourismophobia and its examples in Europe and Russia. The research was funded by the Russian Science Foundation (Project No. 22-18-00679).

"There are a number of pejorative terms associated with tourists in different languages. For example, Austrians often use the ironic nickname "piefke" to refer to German tourists, which can be translated as 'haughty braggart' or 'silly poser'. "Touron" is a compound of the English words "tourist" and "moron". It is used to refer to an ignorant and irritating tourist. It originally appeared in the slang of park rangers, but now it can refer to any tourist. Parodies of this type of tourist can also be found in pop culture. The term is usually associated with establishments that provide overpriced goods and services to tourists, where travelers cheerfully buy pseudo-authentic souvenirs," says Ekaterina Bugrova.

The word "guiri" is widely used in colloquial Spanish. They are those who come from the north and turn red like shrimps in the sun. They are referred to foreign tourists, especially from the United Kingdom or from the countries of northern Europe. According to the experts, initially this word had a negative connotation, but in recent years it has hardly been considered offensive, maintaining a certain irony with regard to the newcomers. Another pejorative word is "gabacho". It was originally used by the Spanish to describe the French from the northern regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Nowadays, "gabacho" is popular in some Latin American countries as a replacement for the essentially neutral nickname "gringo" (a pejorative "foreigner" in connotation, usually referring to English-speaking Americans).

"Problems related to the growing number of tourists are also typical for Russian cities. Especially for the cities where the redistribution of tourist flows is directed, which unloads popular vacation destinations such as Sochi and other resorts in the Krasnodar Region. Therefore, in medium and small cities of Russia, mass tourists are often referred to the pejorative word "turyo", - adds Ekaterina Bugrova.

The nicknames arise from the fact that local people often perceive mass tourism as an invasion of outsiders. Due to their lack of knowledge, they are unable to appreciate the true significance of an object and consume a cultural output that is in no way authentic, but rather specially constructed to meet the expectations of tourists. The main causes of dissatisfaction of local communities are the excessive number of tourists, their inappropriate behavior, such as disrespect for local culture, unwillingness to speak the global or local language, i.e. their position as "outsiders". In addition, locals are irritated by irrational, highly individualistic behavior, the focus on satisfying personal needs, and the perception of reality, which is built around their own "I", the expert adds. Another reason for the dissatisfaction of the local people is a decline in the quality of life. For example, rising real estate prices in popular tourist cities, environmental pollution.

"As a result, local people are no longer interested in income from tourism. The satisfaction of personal needs comes to the fore. The local community's priority is its own well-being. To solve the problems associated with tourismophobia requires a comprehensive approach, based on active interaction between business, government and local communities. It implies the existence of compromise plans for the development of the territory", - concludes Ekaterina Bugrova.

Reference 

Mass tourism, which has been actively developing since the mid-twentieth century, has reached unimaginable proportions at the beginning of the twenty-first century. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the number of international tourist arrivals exceeded 1 billion in 2012 and continued to grow until the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the World Tourism and Travel Council's (WTTC) Global Summit in April 2022, experts said that by 2023, the global tourism industry will be able to return to pre-pandemic levels.

A prime example of total touristification is Venice. On average, about 13 million tourists visit the historic center of Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, each year (the number rises to 30 million for those who visit the city on a day trip without staying overnight). In 14 years, the number of local residents has fallen from 60,000 to 50,000 people. The reasons for moving are mainly related to the impossibility of living in a permanent tourist environment.

The news article was translated by UrFU International Marketing Office. 
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