Tourism is one of the fundamental pillars of the economies of many countries around the world. Packing your bags and exploring new places feeds the soul and the spirit, makes us aware of other cultures and customs and helps us to adopt other points of view. It is impossible, under any circumstances, not to affirm that travelling is one of the most enriching activities!
Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has deeply affected the tourism industry. Many have stopped travelling and even the most active travellers preferred national destinations. After three years of the pandemic, tourism and travel are slowly coming back. This is a boom for a large number of entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, for the economies of the countries and, of course, for those anxious travellers who were eager to catch a plane to continue exploring the world.
THE NEW TOURISTS
Tourists and tourism have evolved and adapted to the “new normal”. Twenty years ago, travelling meant carrying large suitcases, paying for an expensive flight, staying in an all-expenses-paid hotel and visiting the tourist areas of the destination, but that is no longer trendy. The new tourists are travelling with just the bare essentials, eager to soak up the culture of other places, eat local dishes in the most hidden restaurants, wander the less crowded backstreets and interact with the locals. For example, as a 22-year-old Spanish student, without much of a budget, but with a great desire to travel, this summer I (Marta) travelled around Greece and Italy. I couldn’t afford a 4-star hotel, nor was it what I wanted. I flew with Ryanair, the cheapest airline I know, carrying only a backpack full of clothes and necessities, and stayed in hostels, which allowed me to meet many people from other countries and cultures (my favourite part of travelling). I ate off the menu in the typical restaurants (with a meal at less than 15 euros) and, without a map, I walked the streets of the cities until I got lost, which led me to discover wonderful places. And after a chat with the rest of the team at TIL, it seems we all enjoy “living like a local”.
LANGUAGES AND TRANSLATION WHEN TRAVELLING
Of course, having knowledge of languages helps a lot. Luckily, English is a globally spoken language and you can travel almost anywhere in the world speaking it. Whether it’s ordering in restaurants, asking people for directions or checking in at a hotel or hostel, it helps you to get by.
And… this is where tourism translation comes in. If you have travelled to or live in a tourist area, you will have noticed that there are signs indicating where to go to places of interest. Often these are in both the local language and in English. On the other hand, if you sit down to eat in restaurants frequented by tourists (on the beachfront, in the most famous squares…) you will have found that the restaurants’ menus are often translated into English. In addition, brochures, audio guides, maps… are always in several languages.
But tourism translation can not only be noticeable in the travel destination, it can also be used in promotional offers, marketing campaigns, websites, catalogues, blogs, press releases… It is essential to promote destinations and attract the tourists. We recommend to translate this material in time and have some basic instructions in the major languages.
Some tourists prefer not to see things translated into English and use the holiday as a language full immersion. Some of them, if they sit in a restaurant and see that the menu is translated, will look for another, more authentic restaurant, the typical restaurant frequented by locals, the one that is not made for tourists.
SOME USEFUL TIPS
When we go on a trip, we hope that everything goes according to plan and that we don’t have any disappointments. Here are some tips, feel free to share yours in the comments:
1. Before travelling, find out about your destination: on many occasions, we get carried away by how beautiful or famous a place is, but we don’t look at whether it is expensive, dangerous, the political situation in which it finds itself… Before buying plane tickets, find out more.
2. Buy your plane tickets in advance: the closer you get to the date of your trip, the more expensive the tickets will be. Many airlines have promotions or offers at the end of the month, or on weekends. Set your travel dates and start looking!
Secret megatip: if you are going to book both flights and accommodation online, we recommend that you do so with an incognito window. Many websites store the information from your searches and increase the price of the places you’ve been looking for.
3. Book from a trusted site: we don’t want you to arrive and find you’ve been ripped off, have no place to sleep and they’ve taken your money. To make sure that both the flights and the stay are reliable, book from a travel agency or from trusted websites such as booking.com.
4. Look at reviews of the place you are staying: the photos may look very nice, but sometimes they are far from the reality. Check reviews from other customers to make sure you are making the right choice. A good place to do this is the TripAdvisor website.
5. Don’t eat in touristy places: Restaurants that are located in touristy places are usually more expensive (much more expensive), as they are made for tourists. Try to detour to the side streets and find a good place at a much better price (check reviews and the price of the restaurant before you sit down).
TOURISM IN THE UK
Until before the pandemic, the favourite destination for European tourists was Spain. Who doesn’t like to drink a glass of sangria, on the beach, in the sun? However, after the pandemic and because of the restrictions still in place in Spain and non-existent in the UK, the UK has become the favourite destination for European travellers. Although Brexit and the pandemic had had a negative impact on British tourism, the absence of restrictions and therefore no need to spend money on Covid-19 tests or holiday days on quarantine has meant that the UK has seen a growing demand for tourism.
Haven’t you visited the UK yet? We look forward to seeing you here!