Overtourism has become a significant issue in various parts of the world, causing numerous problems for local residents and the environment.

The influx of tourists to popular destinations such as Venice, Italy, has led to a decline in the quality of life for locals, with the number of daily tourists exceeding the local population of 50,000.

This has resulted in overcrowding, higher prices, and a homogenization of shops, making it difficult for locals to afford basic necessities.

The environmental impact of overtourism is also a concern, with the World Travel and Tourism Council launching research on the climate footprint of the global travel and tourism industry.

The research covers 185 countries and will be updated annually to monitor the sector's impact on pollutants, energy sources, and water use.

In addition to environmental concerns, overtourism has also led to social issues, such as the displacement of local tenants to make way for holiday rentals.

The economic impact of overtourism is also significant, with multinational companies investing heavily in hotels and holiday cottages, leading to higher prices and a loss of local character.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "overtourism" was chosen as the word of the year in 2018, highlighting the growing concern about the negative effects of tourism.

The Sedona International Film Festival has also addressed the issue of overtourism through a documentary series, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts.

Overall, the causes and consequences of overtourism are complex and far-reaching, requiring a comprehensive approach to mitigate its social, environmental, and economic impacts.

Overtourism has become a significant issue in various parts of the world, causing numerous problems for local residents and the environment.

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Sedona Film Festival presents ‘Crowded Out’

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring over-tourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts. (Image provided by SIFF)

Originally Published: September 14, 2022 8:43 p.m.

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the third film in its four-week Sustainable Tourism Film Series. “Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will show on Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre at 4 p.m. The event will also include a selection of “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” short films along with a panel discussion.

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring overtourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts.

Overtourism occurs when there are too many visitors to a particular destination. When rent prices push out local tenants to make way for holiday rentals, when narrow roads become jammed with tourist vehicles, when tourists cannot view landmarks because of the crowds – these are all signs of overtourism.

And it is the backlash from local residents that has made overtourism news. Cities such as Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik, and places once thought of as remote such as Iceland and Skye have suffered firsthand, and the protests by local residents have spread.

There has been decades of virtually uncontrolled growth, and it has crossed a threshold: in many destinations, tourism now demonstrably creates more problems than benefits.

This special event will also include a selection of short films from “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” This series includes short-form documentary films, featuring insightful stories from the global travel and tourism sector showing how they are driving sustainable travel and protecting these precious destinations.

Following the screenings, there will be a panel discussion with representatives the City of Sedona, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Keep Sedona Beautiful and the tourism and hospitality industry here.

“Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.

The final film in the Sustainable Tourism Series is:

Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. “Vendemmia”

The influx of tourists to popular destinations such as Venice, Italy, has led to a decline in the quality of life for locals, with the number of daily tourists exceeding the local population of 50,000.

Title:

Content: Point of view
Lin Chi-yin
Lin Chi-yin: "Traveling Everywhere" and "Over-Travel"
Earlier, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Hsia Baolong, advocated the concept of “travel everywhere ” to fully explore Hong Kong ’ s tourism resources.
To speed up the implementation of the concept, the authorities are planning to set up a "special class" to bring together people inside and outside the Government for in-depth discussions.
In recent days, officials and legislators have expressed their views on the development of "red tourism", exploring new spots in the community, beautifying the streets, and presenting some scenes in the movies.
Simply put, it may be the story behind the attraction, or the accumulated word of mouth on social media, and every tree and grass anywhere can become a tourist attraction.
Of course, the author hopes that the "class" can launch various new ideas; and since the task of the class is to implement the concept of "travel everywhere", then how to implement the concept is the best for Hong Kong, the industry, the community and the public, the class can not ignore.
The University of Hong Kong campus has been forced by tourists, and the school has implemented reservation measures this month.
HKU itself has a complete management structure, and the university can still implement crowd control according to the situation. However, if some scenic spots that go deep into the community or even close to residential buildings are really "red hot", it may not be easy to implement crowd control.
“Everywhere travel ” is a concept, the key to implementation lies in the ability of the authorities to foresee problems. If you rely only on“ see and see ”, it is very likely that good things will turn into bad things.
“Aggressive ” Travel
In 2018, the word “overtourism ” was chosen as the Oxford English Dictionary ’ s word of the year, referring to the negative effects of overloading the area, declining quality of life and environmental damage caused by the influx of tourists to tourist attractions.
For example, Venice, Italy, which has long been affected by “overtourism ”, is not a“ once in a lifetime ” – the local population is only 50,000, and the number of daily tourists has exceeded the local population; during peak season, the number of daily visitors has even doubled.
I have friends who visited the place more than a decade ago, and they all agreed to say that people are crowded and will not go again.
In addition to Venice, some European cities or small islands with a tourism-led economy (such as the Canarias in Spain) also face the problem of job opportunities, high prices, and a homogenization of shops. Multinational companies invest heavily in hotels and holiday cottages, which also lead to higher rents, which locals can ’ t afford.
Even if tourism brings a lot of jobs to the region, it does not mean that the average person can earn a living wage.
People in these places understand the importance of tourism to the local economy, but they do not want the tourism industry to be unlimited, resulting in the resources of the whole place are only for the service of tourists.
"Tourism Hazards" and How to Deal with them
In Japanese society after the epidemic, a similar term, "tourism nuisance", has also appeared to describe problems such as traffic, noise, nuisance, and garbage pollution caused by too many tourists.
This phenomenon, in addition to the popularity of exchange rates, affordable air tickets, and people's desire to travel after the epidemic, social media will also have the effect of focusing on specific hot spots.
In the era of image-led, everyone can follow the picture, some places that were not originally planned as tourist attractions have begun to face sudden overcrowding.
Hong Kong people who love to visit Japan will not be unfamiliar with two “attractions ”: the Daokou near Enojima Electric Railway ’ s Kamakura University Station, and a Lawson convenience store in Kawaguchi-cho.
The former is the "holy place" of the popular manga "When Men are in the bottle". In recent years, the crossing has been congested with traffic due to frequent visits by tourists to "punch", local people can not get on the electric train, and some tourists are dangerous for taking good photos. Lawson is also a "punch" attraction, and the picture is a convenience store with a beautiful view of Mount Fuji. of tourists are constantly crossing the road and parking without permission, causing local residents to feel troubled.
Too many tourists can also lead to a decline in the quality of service, even in Japan, which values the spirit of “work people ”.
When I visited Japan last year, I saw some shops find ways to deal with “tourism hazards ” on their own, such as not allowing diners to take photos in the store, so that after the photos are uploaded to social media, it will cause more people to come and see them; limiting the number of diners to the number of people that the staff can serve, even if the seats are not full.
However, some tourists always find it difficult to understand the intentions behind these arrangements, and I have heard some tourists complain: "Obviously there is still a place, why not let us sit?"
When these conflicts can no longer be handled by businesses and residents themselves, how to strike a balance between “tourism ” and“ public nuisance ” will gradually become a policy issue.
The most extreme way to deal with it is to “eliminate ” popular attractions – coincidentally, the authorities of Kawaguchiko recently erected a 20-meter-long and 2.5-meter-high“ black curtain ” in front of Lawson to drive away tourists who came to take photos.
The reason why the authorities have to take extreme measures is that management alone can not prevent tourists from rushing out of the road, which is actually to "play the spot".
In addition, there are more and more tourist cities and hotspots charging tourists "admission fees" or "admission fees", but this method can not play a large role.
In Venice, for example, the city has been charging a 5 euro entry fee (about HK $42) to “overnight ” travelers since last month.
However, these fees simply cannot curb the huge demand for tourists, and the revenue is mainly used as a financial source to cope with "excessive travel", which can only cure the symptoms, not the root cause.
The Real Meaning of “Travel Everywhere ”
At this point, some people may point out that the above problems will only become problems if we succeed in attracting tourists to Hong Kong; what we have to focus on is how to get more people to come to Hong Kong.
However, how much tourism can bring to a city depends on the management and policies of the city, not on the remedial measures that can be taken.
Although the share of tourism industry in Hong Kong's economy is far less than that of the "tourist city" mentioned above, Hong Kong can't wait to see that other places are looking for countermeasures for the "tourism nuisance", and even start to turn to attack, redefine the tourism industry from the planning level and actively promote tourist education.
In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for example, the government announced last month that it would ban new hotels and limit the number of cruise ships to return the city to a livable and tourism-friendly city. In Kamakura, Japan, people are no longer concentrated at certain points by decentralizing transportation (such as the launch of electric tricycle rental business) and proactively promoting multiple circumnavigation routes (such as the travel routes at 13 locations of Kamakura Shogunate).
The main disadvantage of post-event remediation is that the difficulty and cost of solving the problem are greatly increased, which will also affect the experience of tourists. More than 10 years ago, the North District of Hong Kong also experienced a pharmacy every few steps, and the situation of residents in the North District driving out water consignors on their own, which hurt the feelings of the people of the two places.
In particular, there are many policy issues that can be foreseen in advance, and we do not have to go through them personally before we know what the problem is (for example, the legal problems faced by cleaners under the garbage levy will not be known until the moment of trial).
Since there is a great deal of experience and policy measures in various places to refer to, the “Special Class ” must also strike a balance between tourism and city operations when formulating tourist routes and supporting packages, otherwise the attraction will only lead to losses. After the city of Kamakura solved the problem of overcrowding of tourists, the tourism industry representative of Kanagawa Prefecture (that is, the seat of Kamakura City) pointed out:“ Attraction is not tourism. ” The amount of time it takes to win is certainly not appropriate.
“Travel Everywhere ” is not just about adding tourist attractions, but promoting quality tourism in a more nuanced and proactive way to avoid problems.
The author is a public policy consultant.
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This has resulted in overcrowding, higher prices, and a homogenization of shops, making it difficult for locals to afford basic necessities.

The environmental impact of overtourism is also a concern, with the World Travel and Tourism Council launching research on the climate footprint of the global travel and tourism industry.

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Content: Featured ArticlesInternational
World Travel and Tourism Summit reveals global climate footprint data for travel and tourism
Regions _ Followers
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched environmental and social research on the climate footprint of the global travel and tourism industry.
This came during the 22nd World Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council, organized by the World Travel and Tourism Council in cooperation with the Global Center for Tourism Sustainability in the capital Riyadh.
Environmental and social research covers 185 countries on all continents, the first of its kind at the international level, and will be updated annually with the latest figures, including measures that monitor the sector ’ s impact on a range of indicators, including pollutants, energy sources and water use, as well as social data, age data and gender wages in jobs related to the travel and tourism sector. Accuracy.
Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), announced in her opening speech the results of Environmental and Social Research (ESR).
One of the largest research projects, the World Travel and Tourism Council will be able to provide accurate reports and track the impact of various industry activities on the environment.
She explained that the tourism and travel sector is making great strides in decarbonization, stressing a focus in increasing the production of sustainable aviation fuel supported by government incentives, and also to greater use of renewable energy in national public electricity grids so as to promote the use of sustainable energy in hotel rooms.
The sector ’ s 8.1% share of the carbon footprint can be impacted by becoming more efficient and decoupling growth from the amount of energy consumed starting today, she said, noting that every decision and every step towards change will lead to a better and brighter future for all.
For his part, His Excellency the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ahmed Al-Khatib, expressed his pleasure for the participation of the World Travel and Tourism Council in this important research that will follow the impact of future activities, stressing that the Kingdom recognizes that travelers and investors want policies that promote sustainability in the sector and that the Kingdom has embarked on a phase to make it a leader in the field of sustainable tourism.
“Within the framework of the Saudi Green Initiative, we launched more than 60 initiatives last year to achieve this goal, the first batch of initiatives was investments in the green economy worth more than $186 billion, ” he said.
Previous estimates have indicated that the global travel and tourism sector is responsible for up to 11% of all global emissions, however, leading research by the World Travel and Tourism Council shows that the sector ’ s total greenhouse gas emissions reached only 8.1% in 2019 globally. Thermal.
These emissions have continued to decline continuously since 2010, as a result of technological developments, as well as the introduction of a number of energy efficiency measures to activities within the sector. Between 2010 and 2019, the GDP of the tourism and travel sector grew at a rate of 4.3% annually, while its environmental impact increased by only 2.4%.
The World Travel and Tourism Council will continue to release new data on the sector ’ s performance in these indicators over the course of 2023.
Governments around the world will have a tool to guide their decision-making and more accurately accelerate the process of environmental change.
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The research covers 185 countries and will be updated annually to monitor the sector's impact on pollutants, energy sources, and water use.

In addition to environmental concerns, overtourism has also led to social issues, such as the displacement of local tenants to make way for holiday rentals.

The economic impact of overtourism is also significant, with multinational companies investing heavily in hotels and holiday cottages, leading to higher prices and a loss of local character.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "overtourism" was chosen as the word of the year in 2018, highlighting the growing concern about the negative effects of tourism.

The Sedona International Film Festival has also addressed the issue of overtourism through a documentary series, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts.

Overall, the causes and consequences of overtourism are complex and far-reaching, requiring a comprehensive approach to mitigate its social, environmental, and economic impacts.


The phenomenon of overtourism has become a significant concern in various parts of the world, affecting not only the environment but also the social and economic fabric of local communities.

Overtourism occurs when the number of tourists exceeds the capacity of a destination, leading to a decline in the quality of life for local residents and causing environmental damage.

This phenomenon has been observed in popular tourist destinations such as Bangkok in Thailand, Paris in France, and New York in the United States, as well as in some Greek and Spanish cities.

The influx of tourists has led to overcrowding, making it difficult for locals to access basic services and amenities, and has also driven up the cost of living, making it expensive for local residents to afford basic necessities like food and housing.

In addition, the proliferation of holiday rentals has pushed out local tenants, and narrow roads have become jammed with tourist vehicles, making it difficult for locals to navigate their own neighborhoods.

The environmental impacts of overtourism are also significant, with the increased demand for resources and services leading to pollution, waste management issues, and degradation of natural habitats.

For example, in Venice, Italy, the number of daily tourists has exceeded the local population, with over 50,000 locals being outnumbered by tourists during peak season.

This has led to a decline in the quality of life for locals, with many residents feeling that their city is being overwhelmed by tourists and that their way of life is being disrupted.

In fact, the word "overtourism" was chosen as the Oxford English Dictionary's word of the year in 2018, highlighting the growing concern about the negative impacts of tourism on local communities and the environment.

The economic impacts of overtourism are also complex, with the influx of tourists bringing in revenue but also driving up prices and making it difficult for locals to afford basic necessities.

In some cases, multinational companies have invested heavily in hotels and holiday cottages, leading to a homogenization of shops and a loss of local character.

To address the issue of overtourism, some destinations have resorted to imposing tourism taxes on foreign visitors, raising hotel prices, and restricting the work of hotel house rental applications.

Others have implemented measures to manage tourism sustainably, such as distributing tourism pressure in a way that preserves the quality of life of local residents and respects local culture.

For example, the Sedona International Film Festival has presented a series of films and panel discussions on sustainable tourism, highlighting the need for responsible and eco-friendly practices in the tourism industry.

The film "Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism" explores the impacts of overtourism on local communities and the environment, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts.

Overall, the causes and consequences of overtourism are complex and multifaceted, requiring a nuanced and sustainable approach to tourism management that prioritizes the needs of local communities and the environment.

By understanding the social, environmental, and economic impacts of overtourism, we can work towards developing strategies that promote responsible and sustainable tourism practices, preserving the integrity of local communities and the environment for future generations.

The phenomenon of overtourism has become a significant concern in various parts of the world, affecting not only the environment but also the social and economic fabric of local communities.

Title:

Content: Global News
The world today - spraying with water guns..
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
You are now following the news of spraying with water guns.
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
From the World News section and now we leave you with the full details
SAHAD MOHAMMED - Abu Dhabi on Friday 19 July 2024 04: 25 PM - Spain's tourism unrest has reached its peak in the past few days, with some locals in Barcelona spraying tourists with water guns and canned drinks, asking them to go back to where they came from.
Angry residents, numbering about 3,000, blocked the entrances to hotels and cafes in the Barceloneta neighborhood in a symbolic attempt to express their indignation at the excessive tourist overcrowding in their city.
This is not the first time tourism has been highlighted as a problem in Spain, where the country, which attracted 85 million visitors in 2023, has seen a series of protests against excessive tourism in the country, especially in the city of Barcelona with a population of 1.6 million, which received more than 7.8 million visitors in 2023, leaving many locals unable to afford to live there due to high rental prices.
Fear of Protests in Europe
Spain ’ s overcrowding problem, and the decision to confront it by locals, has highlighted the potential for anti-tourist protests to spread to the rest of Europe ’ s heavily tourist-ridden cities, as UNESCO ’ s Sustainable Tourism Project chief Peter Debrin warned.
The protests will certainly spread if European officials fail to address the negative impact of mass tourism on the lives of the local population, DeBrin says, noting that the situation in Spain has become very volatile, as the coming of civil society and its attempt to bring about change is critical, after all elected officials must respond to what the residents of their cities want.
He cited the 2021 ban on large cruise ships in Venice, Italy, which was passed after protests by residents, as cruise ships no longer pass through the Grand Canal, but are now docked away from Venice, helping to preserve the city ’ s structural and environmental integrity.
But despite the decision to ban large cruise ships in Venice, passengers continue to flock to its narrow lanes in the thousands, with Venice expected to attract about 540,000 cruise passengers this year, an increase of 9 percent compared to 2023, according to the North Adriatic Ports Authority.
In a bid to reduce crowds, Venice has imposed a 5 euro ($5.45) tourist tax on peak days this year, a measure that has so far failed to rein in tourist numbers, Euronews reported.
Quality rather than quantity tourism
Like Venice, Barcelona residents have long struggled with the global popularity of their city: every year, fewer locals say tourism benefits the city, while more people feel it is harmful, according to a survey conducted by the Barcelona City Council in 2023.
UNESCO ’ s Sustainable Tourism Project Chief Officer Peter Debrin believes that Barcelona, which handles too many travelers, could join cities and countries that rely on a “quality over quantity ” tourism strategy – prioritizing high-spending travelers, rather than budget ones – a strategy that gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, when safety and employment concerns pushed destinations around the world to take in fewer affordable travelers. Instead of a lot of budget travelers.
Debrin said Barcelona ’ s reliance on a “quality rather than quantity ” tourism strategy helps correct another problem plaguing the city: tourists who behave badly, noting that for Barcelona residents, it ’ s not just about visitor numbers, but also how people behave, with Spaniards complaining for years about tourists drinking too much, throwing garbage and cigarettes on the streets.
Debrin called on tourists to be more aware in their travel decisions, suggesting focusing on beautiful cities with fascinating tourist and cultural attractions, which are in need of more tourists.
Civil Society Demands
Civil society groups are calling on Barcelona officials to implement a number of policies aimed at “declining tourism growth, ” such as increased tourism taxes, restrictions on cruise ships, and restrictions on short-term rental housing, just like the steps being explored in Amsterdam to crack down on buses, boutiques, new hotels and short-term rentals. In 2023, it asks some visitors, especially young British tourists, to“ stay away ” if they are travelling to the city for drugs or partying.
The most popular Spanish cities with tourists
The General Coordinator of the Association of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Mediterranean States (ASCAME) Anwar Zebawi, said in an interview to the site "Economy dot Gulf", that some tourist destinations in Spain already suffer from the problem of overcrowding, and these destinations are Barcelona, Malaga, Madrid and Valencia, as these four cities attract tourists more than their capacity, and the problem is that the largest number of these tourists, come in specific months of the year. Sixty percent of all tourists who visit Barcelona each year do so during the months between July and September, creating severe congestion, while the other 40 percent is spread over the rest of the year.
Amplify for protests
Zibawi stressed that what everyone should realize, is that there is a kind of amplification of the recent protests in Barcelona,   the city has not witnessed "major" demonstrations against tourists, as the problem of the local population is never with tourists, and the people who have been sprayed with water, very few and may not exceed the fingers of one hand, pointing out that what happened was directed against those who rent houses as hotel houses. Real estate, largely, deprived the local population, especially young people, of the possibility of obtaining apartments at an appropriate rental price.
Causes of tourist overcrowding in Barcelona
Zibawi explains that one of the reasons that contribute to excessive tourist congestion in Barcelona,   is to allow tourists to stay in tourist houses and chaos in this area, the city contains about 10 thousand houses that have a license to do these works, while there are about 30 thousand hotels operating without a license and in a way contrary to the law, the offer of houses for rent at competitive prices, in addition to cheap flights available in Europe make the cost of travel to Barcelona tourist destinations. This has exacerbated the phenomenon of excessive tourism.
European cities where protests could spread
According to Zibawi, the European cities that can witness objections from the local population because of their suffering from excessive tourism, are Rome, Venice, some Italian islands, Crete in Greece, and some other Greek islands, while Amsterdam in the Netherlands, suffer from the problem of excessive tourism only, in some weeks of the year, especially at the end of the year. year.
Paris found a solution.
Zibawi pointed out that Paris had a major problem with the subject of overcrowding of tourists, and therefore prevented the work of hotel houses and raised the prices of hotels, where she saw that these steps contribute to making the cost of travel high, which prevents the tourist who does not have enough money to come, and this limits the phenomenon of overcrowding, pointing out that if the principle of quality tourism instead of quantity in Barcelona, this may solve the problem of overcrowding and contribute to the distribution of tourists in other areas. Spain.
Solutions that can be resorted to
For his part, Amer Daboussi, executive partner of Eagle Travel Travel, said in an interview with Eqtisad.al-Khaleej that cities suffering from tourist congestion can face this phenomenon by adopting a policy of "quality rather than quantity", where this policy focuses on imposing high standards of hospitality to attract rich or well-resourced tourists, and get rid of the large numbers of tourists from the middle category. h its reception, which reduces the negative effects on the local community.
Dabbousi believes that cities can also resort to the solutions of imposing tourism taxes on foreign visitors, raising hotel prices, restricting the work of hotel house rental applications by imposing financial fees on these apartments and using the revenues collected to improve infrastructure in tourist areas, in addition to the need for affected countries to market new tourist destinations within them, which contributes to attracting visitors to areas outside the main tourist centers.
Excessive damage from tourism
Cities facing the challenges of overcrowding, such as Bangkok in Thailand, Paris in France and New York in the United States, as well as some Greek and Spanish cities, must take measures to manage tourism sustainably and distribute tourism pressure in a way that preserves the quality of life of local residents and respects local culture. Eat and drink, making life more expensive for local residents.
We hope that we have succeeded in conveying the full details of the spraying with water guns..
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
In God ’ s care and protection.
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You may also read.

Overtourism occurs when the number of tourists exceeds the capacity of a destination, leading to a decline in the quality of life for local residents and causing environmental damage.

Title:

Content: Point of view
Lin Chi-yin
Lin Chi-yin: "Traveling Everywhere" and "Over-Travel"
Earlier, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Hsia Baolong, advocated the concept of “travel everywhere ” to fully explore Hong Kong ’ s tourism resources.
To speed up the implementation of the concept, the authorities are planning to set up a "special class" to bring together people inside and outside the Government for in-depth discussions.
In recent days, officials and legislators have expressed their views on the development of "red tourism", exploring new spots in the community, beautifying the streets, and presenting some scenes in the movies.
Simply put, it may be the story behind the attraction, or the accumulated word of mouth on social media, and every tree and grass anywhere can become a tourist attraction.
Of course, the author hopes that the "class" can launch various new ideas; and since the task of the class is to implement the concept of "travel everywhere", then how to implement the concept is the best for Hong Kong, the industry, the community and the public, the class can not ignore.
The University of Hong Kong campus has been forced by tourists, and the school has implemented reservation measures this month.
HKU itself has a complete management structure, and the university can still implement crowd control according to the situation. However, if some scenic spots that go deep into the community or even close to residential buildings are really "red hot", it may not be easy to implement crowd control.
“Everywhere travel ” is a concept, the key to implementation lies in the ability of the authorities to foresee problems. If you rely only on“ see and see ”, it is very likely that good things will turn into bad things.
“Aggressive ” Travel
In 2018, the word “overtourism ” was chosen as the Oxford English Dictionary ’ s word of the year, referring to the negative effects of overloading the area, declining quality of life and environmental damage caused by the influx of tourists to tourist attractions.
For example, Venice, Italy, which has long been affected by “overtourism ”, is not a“ once in a lifetime ” – the local population is only 50,000, and the number of daily tourists has exceeded the local population; during peak season, the number of daily visitors has even doubled.
I have friends who visited the place more than a decade ago, and they all agreed to say that people are crowded and will not go again.
In addition to Venice, some European cities or small islands with a tourism-led economy (such as the Canarias in Spain) also face the problem of job opportunities, high prices, and a homogenization of shops. Multinational companies invest heavily in hotels and holiday cottages, which also lead to higher rents, which locals can ’ t afford.
Even if tourism brings a lot of jobs to the region, it does not mean that the average person can earn a living wage.
People in these places understand the importance of tourism to the local economy, but they do not want the tourism industry to be unlimited, resulting in the resources of the whole place are only for the service of tourists.
"Tourism Hazards" and How to Deal with them
In Japanese society after the epidemic, a similar term, "tourism nuisance", has also appeared to describe problems such as traffic, noise, nuisance, and garbage pollution caused by too many tourists.
This phenomenon, in addition to the popularity of exchange rates, affordable air tickets, and people's desire to travel after the epidemic, social media will also have the effect of focusing on specific hot spots.
In the era of image-led, everyone can follow the picture, some places that were not originally planned as tourist attractions have begun to face sudden overcrowding.
Hong Kong people who love to visit Japan will not be unfamiliar with two “attractions ”: the Daokou near Enojima Electric Railway ’ s Kamakura University Station, and a Lawson convenience store in Kawaguchi-cho.
The former is the "holy place" of the popular manga "When Men are in the bottle". In recent years, the crossing has been congested with traffic due to frequent visits by tourists to "punch", local people can not get on the electric train, and some tourists are dangerous for taking good photos. Lawson is also a "punch" attraction, and the picture is a convenience store with a beautiful view of Mount Fuji. of tourists are constantly crossing the road and parking without permission, causing local residents to feel troubled.
Too many tourists can also lead to a decline in the quality of service, even in Japan, which values the spirit of “work people ”.
When I visited Japan last year, I saw some shops find ways to deal with “tourism hazards ” on their own, such as not allowing diners to take photos in the store, so that after the photos are uploaded to social media, it will cause more people to come and see them; limiting the number of diners to the number of people that the staff can serve, even if the seats are not full.
However, some tourists always find it difficult to understand the intentions behind these arrangements, and I have heard some tourists complain: "Obviously there is still a place, why not let us sit?"
When these conflicts can no longer be handled by businesses and residents themselves, how to strike a balance between “tourism ” and“ public nuisance ” will gradually become a policy issue.
The most extreme way to deal with it is to “eliminate ” popular attractions – coincidentally, the authorities of Kawaguchiko recently erected a 20-meter-long and 2.5-meter-high“ black curtain ” in front of Lawson to drive away tourists who came to take photos.
The reason why the authorities have to take extreme measures is that management alone can not prevent tourists from rushing out of the road, which is actually to "play the spot".
In addition, there are more and more tourist cities and hotspots charging tourists "admission fees" or "admission fees", but this method can not play a large role.
In Venice, for example, the city has been charging a 5 euro entry fee (about HK $42) to “overnight ” travelers since last month.
However, these fees simply cannot curb the huge demand for tourists, and the revenue is mainly used as a financial source to cope with "excessive travel", which can only cure the symptoms, not the root cause.
The Real Meaning of “Travel Everywhere ”
At this point, some people may point out that the above problems will only become problems if we succeed in attracting tourists to Hong Kong; what we have to focus on is how to get more people to come to Hong Kong.
However, how much tourism can bring to a city depends on the management and policies of the city, not on the remedial measures that can be taken.
Although the share of tourism industry in Hong Kong's economy is far less than that of the "tourist city" mentioned above, Hong Kong can't wait to see that other places are looking for countermeasures for the "tourism nuisance", and even start to turn to attack, redefine the tourism industry from the planning level and actively promote tourist education.
In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for example, the government announced last month that it would ban new hotels and limit the number of cruise ships to return the city to a livable and tourism-friendly city. In Kamakura, Japan, people are no longer concentrated at certain points by decentralizing transportation (such as the launch of electric tricycle rental business) and proactively promoting multiple circumnavigation routes (such as the travel routes at 13 locations of Kamakura Shogunate).
The main disadvantage of post-event remediation is that the difficulty and cost of solving the problem are greatly increased, which will also affect the experience of tourists. More than 10 years ago, the North District of Hong Kong also experienced a pharmacy every few steps, and the situation of residents in the North District driving out water consignors on their own, which hurt the feelings of the people of the two places.
In particular, there are many policy issues that can be foreseen in advance, and we do not have to go through them personally before we know what the problem is (for example, the legal problems faced by cleaners under the garbage levy will not be known until the moment of trial).
Since there is a great deal of experience and policy measures in various places to refer to, the “Special Class ” must also strike a balance between tourism and city operations when formulating tourist routes and supporting packages, otherwise the attraction will only lead to losses. After the city of Kamakura solved the problem of overcrowding of tourists, the tourism industry representative of Kanagawa Prefecture (that is, the seat of Kamakura City) pointed out:“ Attraction is not tourism. ” The amount of time it takes to win is certainly not appropriate.
“Travel Everywhere ” is not just about adding tourist attractions, but promoting quality tourism in a more nuanced and proactive way to avoid problems.
The author is a public policy consultant.
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This phenomenon has been observed in popular tourist destinations such as Bangkok in Thailand, Paris in France, and New York in the United States, as well as in some Greek and Spanish cities.

The influx of tourists has led to overcrowding, making it difficult for locals to access basic services and amenities, and has also driven up the cost of living, making it expensive for local residents to afford basic necessities like food and housing.

In addition, the proliferation of holiday rentals has pushed out local tenants, and narrow roads have become jammed with tourist vehicles, making it difficult for locals to navigate their own neighborhoods.

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Content:
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Sedona Film Festival presents ‘Crowded Out’

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring over-tourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts. (Image provided by SIFF)

Originally Published: September 14, 2022 8:43 p.m.

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the third film in its four-week Sustainable Tourism Film Series. “Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will show on Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre at 4 p.m. The event will also include a selection of “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” short films along with a panel discussion.

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring overtourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts.

Overtourism occurs when there are too many visitors to a particular destination. When rent prices push out local tenants to make way for holiday rentals, when narrow roads become jammed with tourist vehicles, when tourists cannot view landmarks because of the crowds – these are all signs of overtourism.

And it is the backlash from local residents that has made overtourism news. Cities such as Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik, and places once thought of as remote such as Iceland and Skye have suffered firsthand, and the protests by local residents have spread.

There has been decades of virtually uncontrolled growth, and it has crossed a threshold: in many destinations, tourism now demonstrably creates more problems than benefits.

This special event will also include a selection of short films from “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” This series includes short-form documentary films, featuring insightful stories from the global travel and tourism sector showing how they are driving sustainable travel and protecting these precious destinations.

Following the screenings, there will be a panel discussion with representatives the City of Sedona, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Keep Sedona Beautiful and the tourism and hospitality industry here.

“Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.

The final film in the Sustainable Tourism Series is:

Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. “Vendemmia”

The environmental impacts of overtourism are also significant, with the increased demand for resources and services leading to pollution, waste management issues, and degradation of natural habitats.

For example, in Venice, Italy, the number of daily tourists has exceeded the local population, with over 50,000 locals being outnumbered by tourists during peak season.

This has led to a decline in the quality of life for locals, with many residents feeling that their city is being overwhelmed by tourists and that their way of life is being disrupted.

In fact, the word "overtourism" was chosen as the Oxford English Dictionary's word of the year in 2018, highlighting the growing concern about the negative impacts of tourism on local communities and the environment.

The economic impacts of overtourism are also complex, with the influx of tourists bringing in revenue but also driving up prices and making it difficult for locals to afford basic necessities.

In some cases, multinational companies have invested heavily in hotels and holiday cottages, leading to a homogenization of shops and a loss of local character.

To address the issue of overtourism, some destinations have resorted to imposing tourism taxes on foreign visitors, raising hotel prices, and restricting the work of hotel house rental applications.

Others have implemented measures to manage tourism sustainably, such as distributing tourism pressure in a way that preserves the quality of life of local residents and respects local culture.

For example, the Sedona International Film Festival has presented a series of films and panel discussions on sustainable tourism, highlighting the need for responsible and eco-friendly practices in the tourism industry.

The film "Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism" explores the impacts of overtourism on local communities and the environment, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts.

Overall, the causes and consequences of overtourism are complex and multifaceted, requiring a nuanced and sustainable approach to tourism management that prioritizes the needs of local communities and the environment.

By understanding the social, environmental, and economic impacts of overtourism, we can work towards developing strategies that promote responsible and sustainable tourism practices, preserving the integrity of local communities and the environment for future generations.


The Russian government is taking steps to prevent borrowings in the state language, with the State Duma adopting a bill in the first reading to clarify the procedure for using foreign words at the state level.

This bill proposes to oblige officials to observe the norms of the Russian literary language, comparing them and permissible foreign words with reference books to be developed by the government.

The Federation Council has also approved a law implying the inadmissibility of the use of foreign words at the state level, with exceptions for words that have no analogues in the Russian language.

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law on mandatory observance of the norms of the modern Russian language when using it as a state language, with a special government commission compiling specific rules.

The head of the State Duma Committee on Culture is preparing a bill to combat anglicisms, with a focus on tightening the norm against anglicisms on signs of outdoor advertising.

Experts have expressed concerns that the law may lead to excesses in the struggle for the purity of the Russian language.

In other countries, such as Uganda, there are concerns about the dangers of borrowing from external sources, with experts advising the government to ensure that loan agreements are properly appraised.

Overall, it appears that some governments are taking steps to regulate borrowings, especially from English, in order to protect their state languages.

The Russian government is taking steps to prevent borrowings in the state language, with the State Duma adopting a bill in the first reading to clarify the procedure for using foreign words at the state level.

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Content: Communists are asking for clarity
The Deputy of the Moscow City Duma proposes to simplify the language of laws
The Deputy of the Moscow city Duma Elena Yanchuk (CPRF) this week will submit a bill, which proposes to simplify the language of the capital ’ s regulations.
Modern laws, in her opinion, are overloaded with complex turnovers, highly specialized terms and bureaucratic jargon.
This does not allow people whose lives are regulated by these norms to fully understand them and influence the change in their content, Ms. Yanchuk believes.
United Russia says that developments in this direction are already underway, in particular, in the field of replacing foreign analogues of Russian words.
The bill proposes to supplement Article 11 of the law “On legal acts of the city of Moscow ” with a norm on the simplification of their language: the presentation should be“ simple and understandable ”, which means that when writing they should avoid “clerisms, professional jargons, borrowed words and complex syntactic constructions ”.
In the explanatory note, Elena Yanchuk refers to the scientific monograph of 2018 of the Research Institute of Problems of the State Language of St. Petersburg University, which notes that the language of legislative acts is understood by “no more than five percent of the country ’ s residents ”.
According to the MP, the complexity of the presentation of laws “leads to misunderstanding between the government and society ”, and the correction of the situation will contribute to the“ development of civil society ” and “the implementation of fundamental constitutional principles. ”
In particular, Ms. Yanchuk notes that according to the law on legal acts, residents of the capital “are subjects of lawmaking ”, but it is“ difficult without a deep understanding ” of the laws, which makes it necessary to state them “in a simple and understandable language. ”
The Communist also recalls the experience of other countries: in particular, New Zealand, which adopted a similar law last fall, and the United States, which enshrined similar rules in 2010.
To prove the necessity of changing the language of laws, Elena Yanchuk researched several regulations of Moscow with the help of linguists.
They pointed to the accumulation of involved turnover and the frequent use of highly specialized and foreign language terms (for example, “sequestration of expenses ” and“ listing of securities ”).
Ms. Yanchuk emphasizes that her initiative does not imply the introduction of any restrictions for ordinary people and concerns only the unjustified use of foreign words.
“The bill does not set the task of inventing or selecting Russian synonyms for all words borrowed from other languages, of which there are many in our language, ” the explanatory note says.
It should be noted that on December 13, the State Duma adopted in the first reading a bill clarifying the procedure for the use of foreign words at the state level.
The document proposes to oblige officials to observe the “norms of the Russian literary language ”, comparing them and permissible foreign words with reference books to be developed by the government.
Proposals to cleanse the language of laws from unnecessary clerisms are periodically expressed, since this is dictated by the need for an unambiguous understanding of the meaning of the document, the head of the Moscow City Duma Commission on Legislation Alexander Semennikov (United Russia) told Kommersant.
There are developments in this direction, the deputy noted, citing the above-mentioned law “On the state language ” as an example.
“In addition, there is judicial and law enforcement practice of interpretation of terms and verbal blocks, — said Mr. Semennikov. — It is clear that in one day it is impossible to change, because there is a huge array of already adopted laws, set out in a certain style and lexical uniformity.
Simultaneously go from the language, conditionally, "War and Peace" to the syllable of the fairy tale about Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka is unreal. "
However, the bill has not yet been submitted to the city Duma, and to look at what is written and how it is written, “it will be interesting, ” the deputy added.
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This bill proposes to oblige officials to observe the norms of the Russian literary language, comparing them and permissible foreign words with reference books to be developed by the government.

The Federation Council has also approved a law implying the inadmissibility of the use of foreign words at the state level, with exceptions for words that have no analogues in the Russian language.

Title:

Content: 22 February 2023, 17: 37
The Federation Council approved the law on the prohibition of the use of foreign words at the state level
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The Federation Council approved a law implying the inadmissibility of the use of foreign words at the state level.
The exception will be those words that have no analogues in the Russian language and which at the same time are contained in normative dictionaries.
“When using the Russian language as the state language of the Russian Federation, the use of words and expressions that do not meet the standards of the modern Russian literary language (including obscene language) is not allowed, ” the law states.
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The norms are understood as language tools and rules for their use, reflected in normative dictionaries and reference books.
The government on the basis of proposals of the Commission will approve the list of regulatory dictionaries and requirements for them.
It is also understood that they will reflect a list of foreign words, which are acceptable due to the lack of analogues.
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The composition and procedure of the government commission will also be approved by the Cabinet.
According to the law, the state language of the Russian Federation must be used in official relations and official correspondence of all organizations, both with Russians and with foreign citizens.
In addition, the addresses of senders and recipients of telegrams, parcels, postal orders within Russia, information for consumers of goods and services, and so on should be drawn up in the state language.
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President Vladimir Putin has signed a law on mandatory observance of the norms of the modern Russian language when using it as a state language, with a special government commission compiling specific rules.

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Content: In Russia, they are determined to protect the language from excessive saturation with borrowings
The Russian language is one of the most popular in Eurasia, and attempts to abolish our culture have failed.
© Video: TRK "Zvezda" © Photo: TRK "Zvezda"
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Store, Department, Home and other foreign words in the names of shops, cafes and restaurants in Krasnodar soon will not be.
The Cuban capital decided to abandon all foreign names.
The Cuban authorities obliged entrepreneurs to translate business into Russian.
“A sign in a foreign language or using transliteration or a sign in Russian has a big difference.
In part of the fact that 100% of our population can read, understand the sign in Russian.
And many, by ignorance and age, do not even understand what is written on these signs, ” said the chief architect of Krasnodar Artem Salamatin.
So far, the business has been given time until September 1.
But many entrepreneurs are ready to change now.
“Everything will be in Russian.
We will translate the site into Russian.
We'll change everything.
With pleasure, ” entrepreneur Hovhannes Hovhannisyan shared.
Words borrowed from foreign languages became an integral part of Russian many centuries ago.
Massive in our speech, they appeared in different iconic historical periods.
For example, the Mongol invasion.
And after the Patriotic War of 1812 - there were a lot of gallicisms, that is, French words.
Now in conversations predominate borrowing from English.
“We began to use foreign words very actively in areas where such activity had not been observed before.
First of all, it is the public sphere.
Social sphere.
Where actually came a lot of foreign words ”, – said the Chairman of the Association of teachers of literature and Russian language Lyudmila Dudova.
Russia is now determined to protect the language from excessive saturation with borrowings.
President Vladimir Putin recently signed a law “on mandatory observance of the norms of the modern Russian language when using it as a state language. ”
What specific rules are we talking about?
It's not clear yet.
They are compiled by a special government commission.
“The normative dictionary of the Russian language will be a single consistent comprehensive publication, which will be formed on the basis of dictionaries of the Russian language.
Interpretive, spelling, ” explained Deputy Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Tatiana Vasilyeva.
Thus, foreign words should disappear as much as possible from all official documents.
In addition, officials should not use anglicisms and other borrowings during public speeches and generally avoid them in their speech.
“There are so many wonderful and beautiful words in the Russian language.
But why then instead of the word mentor we say coach.
Well, it doesn't sound.
It seems to me that we need to get rid of such words that are imposed, ” said Lyudmila Skakovskaya, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture.
This law, according to officials, should protect the Russian language from attacks from abroad, where they have long been trying to abolish all Russian.
But now these sentiments have intensified even more.
The Kiev regime has long declared war on our culture and heritage.
Throughout the country, the monument to Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin is being demolished, because it is he who is considered the creator of the modern literary Russian language.
And it was the language issue that became one of the main reasons for the bloody confrontation in the East of Ukraine in 2014.
Residents of Donbass then did not agree with the nationalists, they did not refuse the Russian language.
“They use the term underdogs.
All these years, when the Maidan happened, they etched Russian in the Donbass, for them it is a symbol of communication.
The Russian world is hysterical.
What connects the Russian world?
The Russian language, ” said political scientist Yuri Svetov.
The fact that our language and culture need protection is also said by the leaders of other neighboring states.
During the autumn meeting of the heads of the CIS countries in Astana, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on his colleagues to create an organization for the protection of the Russian language.
“Our idea is to create an international organization in the image and likeness of the UN.
Using the positive experience of Francophonie.
The headquarters of which is located in Paris, ” said President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Rossotrudnichestvo recently conducted its own study abroad, which showed that openly Russophobic sentiments are present only among politicians.
But ordinary people continue to willingly learn our language and culture.
According to the United Nations, Russian is spoken by 258 million people worldwide.
It is one of the most popular in Eurasia, and attempts to abolish our culture have failed.
Abroad, Dostoevsky, Pushkin and other Russian classics are also read.
Expert opinion and analytics
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The head of the State Duma Committee on Culture is preparing a bill to combat anglicisms, with a focus on tightening the norm against anglicisms on signs of outdoor advertising.

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Content: The State Duma has developed a bill to combat anglicisms - RIA Novosti, 26.04.2022
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In the state Duma has developed a bill to combat anglicisms
Head of the State Duma Committee on Culture Yampolskaya is preparing a bill to combat anglicisms
© RIA Novosti / Maxim Blinov / Go to photobankSigns of tour operators "Intourist" and Thomas Cook
Signs of tour operators "Intourist" and Thomas Cook.
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MOSCOW, April 26 – RIA Novosti.
The head of the Duma Committee on culture Elena Yampolskaya (“United Russia ”) said that is preparing a project to toughen the fight against borrowing from other languages on the signs of outdoor advertising.
“The draft law is now ready.
And we'll start talking to our colleagues, we'll start talking.
We need to tighten the norm against anglicisms...
We will introduce in the near future, first to the discussion of the faction and the party, and then all interested departments.
This is to the issue of creating a nationally oriented environment, "Yampolskaya said at a press conference.
Matvienko urged to protect the Russian language from external borrowings
She also gave data on the number of signs in foreign languages in Russian cities.
“We just walked through the central streets and counted the number of signs (in foreign languages).
This is not a purely Moscow disease, I see in other cities.
The statistics are as follows: there are more Latin signs on the central streets by 30-50% than signs in Russian, "Yampolskaya said.
According to her, with a change in this situation, it is necessary to start the creation of a "nationally oriented environment".
“And (when you walk around the city) you already begin to not understand what country we live in.
What is the state language here?
And if in the case of trademarks it is at least somehow possible to explain, then if Russian words with incomprehensible provincial ponts are written in Latin, then this (is) a bad taste fashion.
In fact, the creation I would have started with (creating the environment), ” she added.
VTsIOM found out how Russians relate to borrowings in the Russian language
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Experts have expressed concerns that the law may lead to excesses in the struggle for the purity of the Russian language.

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Content: The ban on foreign borrowings in the Russian language - what should be feared - RIA Novosti Crimea, 16.02.2023
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Radio "Sputnik in Crimea"
The ban on foreign borrowings in the Russian language – what should be feared
Philologists: in the fight against foreign borrowings in the language, it is important to prevent excesses
© Fotolia / daria rizaDictionary of the Russian language.
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SIMFEROPOL, Feb 16 – RIA Novosti Crimea, Alexey Goncharov.
The main risk of the law adopted by the State Duma on the restriction of the use of foreign words is the excesses that can be allowed in the struggle for the purity of the Russian language.
This opinion was expressed by the interviewed website RIA Novosti Crimea and radio "Sputnik in Crimea" experts.
Chancellery is no less an enemy
On Thursday, the State Duma in the second and third reading adopted amendments to the federal law "On the state language of the Russian Federation".
The law, in particular, prohibits the use of foreign words at the state level, with the exception of those that do not have common Russian-language analogues.
Deputies also approved a list of areas where Russian is mandatory for use.
These include information for consumers of goods, works and services, as well as the education sector, state and municipal information systems.
Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor of the Institute of Philology of the Crimean Federal University.
Vernadsky Vladimir Orekhov believes this law is correct and necessary, since the Russian language needs protection.
However, the main problem is how this document will work in practice.
"Indeed, there can be excesses, and on the part of officials, who in many cases are themselves a source of stupid borrowing.
It is this category that often distorts the Russian language with stationery and borrowings, inventing some new formulas.
To make a beautiful project or report, you need to call the old with new words, preferably foreign, and, passing the old for new, somehow raise your prestige.
And then it already diverges, ” the expert explained in comments to RIA Novosti Crimea.
Orekhov also does not believe that young people are the main source of borrowing in the language.
According to him, youth slang is changing so quickly that such loanwords rarely take root for a long time.
At the same time, what is recorded in official documents, already, as they say in a well-known saying, "you can not cut down with an axe."
Down with the Chancellery: Officials Were Requested to Speak Human > >
“Most of the borrowings that this law is designed to save us from are in official documents of different levels.
This also applies to the capital institutions, but to a greater extent provincial.
This is a kind of fashion – to show your knowledge using incomprehensible foreign words.
How to deal with it, I have no recipe.
On the other hand, this law in itself can change this fashion in the administrative environment.
In this case, he by the very fact of his existence will correct the situation, ” the philologist suggested.
Russia will support the creation of an organization to promote the Russian language – Putin
According to Orekhov, the mechanisms that will be able to effectively implement the norms of this law should be developed through a wide public discussion, with the involvement of school teachers, university teachers, cultural figures and all those who are involved in the development of the Russian language.
Define clear criteria
Director of the Crimean Republican Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education, Doctor of Philology, Professor Alexander Rudyakov is also sure that the law adopted by the State Duma and the protection of the Russian language in general is a good thing.
But the question arises: where is the criterion that distinguishes foreign words from non-foreign ones.
After all, in our language there are many Russian words that are originally borrowed from other languages.
"My wife is a German, we often argue with her.
She believes that the word "barrier" is a German word.
And I, a simple Russian, I am convinced that this is a Russian word.
Therefore, it is important that there are clear criteria for all this.
That's what we're talking about.
The law is excellent, but it is important how it will be applied and what criteria will be there, ” the expert said on the radio “Sputnik in Crimea ”.
Another important fact to pay special attention to is professional universal terminology, said Rudyakov.
“In many branches of knowledge, say, in the banking sector, there are words that are, in principle, international.
It is probably not very smart to isolate yourself from the terminology that is inherent in this area.
Another thing is not to drag it into our public vocabulary.
This is also very important to understand and comply with, ” explained the philologist.
"Adapt and switch to Russian": how the schools of Kherson region work > >
At the same time, the professor agreed that today in a number of areas, including administrative and media, there is an excessive use of foreign words, which can be easily and simply replaced by Russian-language analogues.
"When you hear 'communicate', 'collaboration' - the hand reaches for the gun.
Somewhere I read the information that a "Children's Collaboration House" was built in Vladivostok.
That's what's scary, you know.
These are obvious excesses, ” said the doctor of science.
Rudyakov, who is also a member of the Council on the Russian language under the President of Russia, assured that he will raise questions regarding the new law at the next meeting of the organization on March 2.
Read also on RIA Novosti Crimea:
Quoting the classics: how and why great writers quarreled
Than English-language words interfere in advertising – the opinion of senators from the Crimea
Russia will support the creation of an organization to promote the Russian language – Putin
Leave the “barn ” and“ dog ” alone: a linguist about the law on the protection of language
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In other countries, such as Uganda, there are concerns about the dangers of borrowing from external sources, with experts advising the government to ensure that loan agreements are properly appraised.

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Content: Nigeria risks losing assets to China over $3.48bn loan, experts warn FG

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Economic and financial experts have warned the Federal Government that Nigeria risks losing key national assets to China in the event that it defaults in paying back loans obtained from China which is currently put at $3.48bn.

They spoke against the backdrop of the possible takeover of Uganda’s only international airport and other key assets over the East African country’s inability to repay a $207m loan obtained on November 17, 2015 from the Export-Import Bank of China.

The loan has a maturity period of 20 years including a seven-year grace period. According to the deal signed with the Chinese lenders, Uganda will have to surrender its only international airport.

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority said some provisions of the financing agreement with China exposed the Entebbe International Airport and other Ugandan assets which might be taken over by Chinese lenders upon arbitration in Beijing.

China has reportedly rejected recent pleas by Uganda to renegotiate the toxic clauses of the 2015 loan.

This came as Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, in August 2020 hinted about the possibility of Nigeria forfeiting its assets to China in the event of loan default.

Amaechi reportedly said Nigeria had waived immunity on a loan, which means China could take the country to arbitration in the event of a default.

The minister, however, added that there would be no need for China to claim any infrastructure once Nigeria repaid its loans to the Asian country.

 “We must learn to pay our debts and we are paying, and once you are paying, nobody will come and take any of your assets,” Amaechi said.

However, financial analysts hinted about the possibility of Nigeria forfeiting key national assets to China if the country defaulted on its $3.48bn loans.

They also advised the Federal Government to properly review the loan agreements with China to save the country from facing a situation similar to that of Uganda.

The Chief Executive Officer of SD&D Capital Management, Idakolo Gbolade, said Nigeria might forfeit certain assets in the event of a loan default.

Asked if Nigeria faced any risks on its China loans, Gbolade said, “Yes, it is very possible. If you remember about a year ago, there was serious concern in the National Assembly on the loans given by the Chinese Exim Bank to us, and I am sure the loan clause also includes forfeiture of national assets.”

The expert, however, expressed confidence that Nigeria was capable of paying back its debt.

An economist and professor of Economics and Public Policy at the University of Uyo, Akpan Ekpo, said the development in Uganda was worrisome and exemplified some of the dangers of borrowing from external sources.

He, therefore, advised the government to ensure that loan agreements with China were properly appraised.

Ekpo said, “It is an issue of concern; that is why in any loan agreement with China, we have to read in between the lines. We have to make sure we really understand their agreements.

“We should make sure that Nigerians are involved in the loan negotiation process. Experts should be carried along so that they can properly understand both the agreement in English and in Chinese.

“If the loans have clauses that may cost us our assets or even our sovereignty – as the debate was earlier in the year – that would be disastrous.

“So they should take experts with them when they go to negotiate the loans they collect from China, not just people from foreign affairs.”

A professor of Economics at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Sheriffdeen Tella, equally expressed a similar view, stressing that all loan agreements between Nigeria and external sources should be properly studied by experts.

He said, “It could happen to any African country because they are all thinking of borrowing. But I think that since people have kept the conversation alive now, the government will be very careful with loans collected from China.

“There is, however, the need for an assessment of government external debt from different sources now. We have to start looking at it and there is a need to study the documents that contain the agreements of some of these loans to prevent a similar occurrence.

“We need to start asking ‘what are the contents or the conditions of the loans?’ There is also a need for the government to create a means for offsetting such debts.”

The Managing Director of Cowry Asset Management Limited, Johnson Chukwu, said the country should not have a problem paying back the loan if the economy thrived sufficiently.

He said, “An interest of 2.5 per cent is not high. The key challenge is that did we invest the money in productive assets, and are we getting the value for the money? Was the project cost-optimal?

“It is important to note that investment in infrastructure should lead to an expansion in the country’s ability to generate revenue. If the economy thrives, paying back the loan should not be a problem.

“However, if certain reasonable conditions are not met, it may have a catalytic effect on the economy with the country finding it difficult to pay back the loan.”

Although the Federal Government has been mostly secretive about the terms of the agreement of its China loans, the Debt Management Office has made some statements on them in recent times.

In a statement in June, 2020, the DMO said, “The total borrowings from China of $3.121bn as at March 31, 2020, are concessional loans with interest rates of 2.5 per cent per annum, tenor of 20 years and grace period (moratorium) of seven years.”

According to the DMO, the terms are compliant with the provisions of Section 41 (1a) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

In addition, the low interest rate reduces the interest cost to government while the long tenor enables the repayment of the principal sum of the loans over many years.

Eleven projects, ranging from water supply, power generation, railways, airport terminals, communication to agricultural processing are funded by the loans acquired.

The Director-General, DMO, Patience Oniha, had in February said, “So far, let’s be very clear that there has not been any default, whether of local or international debt.”

The earliest of the funding agreements between Nigeria and China was signed in 2010 with an interest rate of 2.5 per cent yearly, a repayment period of about 20 years and a grace period of seven years.

If Nigeria is unable to pay its first debt by 2038, the country may have to lease out any of the Chinese-funded projects in Nigeria to China.

The first loan project was for the Nigerian national public security communication system project with $399.50m agreed on December 20, 2010 and disbursed.

The second loan was for the Nigerian railway modernisation project (Wu- Kaduna section) with $500m agreed on December 20, 2010 and disbursed.

While the third loan was for the Abuja light rail project with $500m agreed on November 7, 2012 and disbursed, the fourth loan was targeted at Nigerian ICT infrastructure backbone project with $100m agreed on January 5, 2013 and disbursed.

The fifth loan was meant for the Nigerian four airport terminals’ expansion project (Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt) with $500m agreed on July 10, 2013 but $455.28m was disbursed, which is 91.06 per cent of the agreed amount.

The sixth loan was for the Nigerian Zungeru hydroelectric power project with $984.32m agreed on September 28, 2013 but only $518.24m was disbursed, which is 52.65 per cent of the agreed amount.

The seventh loan was for the Nigerian 40 parboiled rice processing plants project (Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), with $325.67m agreed on April 26, 2016, but nothing was disbursed.

The eighth loan was for the Nigerian railway modernisation project (Lagos – Ibadan section), with $1.27bn agreed on August 18, 2017 but only $759.84m was disbursed, which is 17.50 per cent of the agreed amount.

The ninth loan was targeted at the rehabilitation and upgrading of Abuja-Keffi-Markurdi road project with $460.82m agreed on August 18, 2017 but only $80.64m was disbursed, which is 59.96 per cent of the amount agreed.

The 10th loan was meant for the Nigeria supply of rolling stocks and depot equipment for the Abuja light rail project with $157m agreed on May 29, 2018, but nothing was disbursed.

Lastly, the 11th loan was for the Nigeria greater Abuja water supply project with $381.09m agreed on May 29, 2018, but nothing was disbursed.

In terms of repayments, Nigeria paid $102.68m to China in the first six month of 2021, while it still owes about $3.48bn

Nigeria also paid a total of $102.68m to the Exim Bank of China in the first half of this year.

Nigeria paid an interest fee of $42.54m, which is 73.76 per cent of the principal fee of $57.67m as debt service to the Exim Bank of China in the first three months of 2021

Alongside commitment charges of $1.98m, Nigeria paid a total of $102.20m.

In the second quarter of 2021, Nigeria paid an interest fee of $306,050, without paying the principal fee, as debt service to the Exim Bank of China in the second three months of 2021

Alongside commitment charges of $170,680, Nigeria paid a total of $476,730 in Q2 2021.

The PUNCH had reported that Nigeria spent $591.11m in five years on servicing the debts owed to the Exim Bank of China.

Nevertheless, Nigeria still owes China $3.48bn as of the end of June 2021.

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Overall, it appears that some governments are taking steps to regulate borrowings, especially from English, in order to protect their state languages.

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Content: Democracy Dies in Darkness
Monkey Cage
Analysis

Will Russia really care if U.S. actions make it default on its debt?

The U.S. Treasury’s recent actions will force Russia to choose between using its scarce dollars for debt repayment or facing a sovereign default.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury tightened the financial pressure on Vladimir Putin by prohibiting U.S. financial institutions from facilitating dollar-denominated debt payments to investors. Simply put, it made it much harder for Russia to pay its bondholders, raising the risk that Russia will default on its sovereign debt. Usually, governments that default on their debts face serious consequences. However, it is possible that Russia may be less worried about this action than other governments would be. Here’s what you need to know.

Russia might still be able to pay its debts — but it would be very hard

Russia, like other countries, borrows money by selling bonds. The bondholders provide it with money now in exchange for the promise to pay it back at a set date, paying interest along the way. The new U.S. government action doesn’t make it absolutely impossible for Russia to pay back its bondholders, but it makes it much harder. The idea is to force Russia to choose between using its scarce dollars for debt repayment (rather than other purposes), or facing the consequences of a sovereign default.

The U.S. decision means that if Russia wants to pay its bondholders, it will have to use dollars that are held outside U.S. institutions. Even that may be hard. Foreign banks may worry about the risk of U.S. financial sanctions and decide that the legal and reputational risks of helping Russia are too high for them to want any involvement.

Condemning Putin will make it harder to end the conflict with Russia

Governments can pay big costs for defaulting on their debts

Why should Russia care about avoiding default? Like most other governments, it borrows money to finance expenditures and smooth spending across economic booms and busts. While governments can borrow from commercial banks, from other governments (including China) or from multilateral financial institutions (like the World Bank), many governments borrow by issuing sovereign bonds. When, as was true for the last decade, there is a lot of money sloshing around in global capital markets looking for returns, bond-based borrowing becomes even more widespread.

Some investors prefer that governments borrow in a foreign currency — especially the dollar — to reduce their own risk. Lending in dollars means that investors don’t have to worry that their assets’ value will fluctuate along with the value of the borrower’s currency. Equally, this means that the borrowing government needs to generate foreign exchange to repay its debts. While foreign-denominated bond borrowing has become less common in recent years, it nonetheless offers some benefits to governments, like lower interest rates or longer bond terms.

Bondholders want to get their money back. Since there is no international bankruptcy court, investors seek additional reassurances against default. This means that a government’s reputation for paying back money is an important asset. Governments with a good reputation can borrow more easily and cheaply. That helps explain why governments often try to avoid default — they want to be able to borrow easily in the future. They also may not want to displease politically powerful banks and businesses within their own country who will suffer too from a default, since investors will be less willing to lend to them, driving up the cost of credit throughout the economy and imposing harm on debtors and borrowers.

Check out all TMC's analysis of the Russia-Ukraine conflict at our new topic guide: Russia and its neighbors

Russia may be less likely to worry about this than other countries

However, Vladimir Putin is less likely to worry about this than the U.S. government might think. Defaulting on debt might be politically damaging, but losing a war would be politically catastrophic, endangering the survival of Putin’s regime. It would be unsurprising if Putin uses his scarce dollars to prosecute the war rather than to pay off bondholders. Furthermore, the key Russian banks and businesses that might protest are state-owned or owned by Putin’s close allies, meaning they are less likely to complain. A debt default would hurt Russian households and small businesses, but they don’t have much opportunity to make their voice heard.

Furthermore, Russia is probably less worried about its future ability to borrow than other countries might be. Countries that have high debt burdens need to think about refinancing their debt, which motivates some (but not all) governments to prioritize debt repayment.

But Russia’s debt burden is low. It was estimated at less than 20 percent of its GDP before the invasion. This very modest level of debt reveals that Russia’s government relies more heavily on other sources of finance — especially its oil revenue — to keep itself going. Global oil prices have gone up — in part thanks to the war — providing Putin’s government with a different source of revenue. This is likely to grow even though some traders are refusing to buy Russian oil, unless European countries introduce sanctions. More generally, Russia currently exports more than it imports, meaning that foreigners are paying Russia more than Russia is paying them. This leaves Russia with sufficient funds — even without the bond market.

Finally, Russia doesn’t face the risk of default on all of its debts. Interest and principal bond payments on two bond series were due on April 4; Russia has 30 days to make these payments before officially being in default. These bonds require repayment in dollars. But some of Russia’s other government bonds contain a contract provision allowing Russia to repay in “alternative currencies,” including (in some cases) rubles. These somewhat unusual provisions mean that the worry of default may be even less meaningful to Russia’s government.

This is not to say that additional financial sanctions, including further U.S. restrictions against Russian banks announced this week, will not further pressure Putin. But the bond market route is probably not an effective lever.

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Layna Mosley is professor of politics and international affairs in the School of Public and International Affairs and the department of politics at Princeton University. Follow her on Twitter.