Today we visited the iconic Cliffs of Moher, and they did not disappoint. We also got to visit the town of Galway, where we had lunch and walked around the shops. As I have talked about in previous posts, I saw even more today how huge the tourism culture is and how it impacts Irish people’s lives. I think that when you live in a place with such a booming tourism industry, there is no reason to not capitalize off of it and be able to really show people what your country has to offer. I feel as though tourists, especially American ones, often feel judged and like outsiders in places where there are clearly many attractions solely there for tourists, however I have not felt judged or excluded from local culture since I have been here.
Irish people have nothing to hide when it comes to showing off their country. When you ask a local where their favorite pub or restaurant is, while you may expect them to steer you towards the “touristy” attractions, they truly care about your opinions of the country and will direct you to places that they enjoy spending time. I have felt nothing but welcome in this country, and I think that is part of the appeal of their tourism industry. I have not felt judged or like an outsider even when doing some of the things, such as the bus tour, that I would would have thought were corny. The people who live in this country have a passion and a desire to show tourists everything about Ireland, and that has been clear since the moment we arrived.
I think that a perfect example of this was the Cliffs of Moher. While there were great souvenir and gift shops, I did not feel pressured to buy anything or do anything more than just enjoy the beautiful nature. When your country has amazing sights such as the cliffs or sheep farms, I would think that there would be hesitation when it came to sharing these one of a kind experiences, with people wanting to keep their country to themselves. This sounds very pessimistic of me, but I think of it like having a secret spot that only I know about. I wouldn’t want others coming to my secret spot and experiencing something that was once all mine. Since I have been here I have understood the other point of view. Irish people are so proud of the country they are from, and they have a passionate willingness to share it with anyone who is willing to learn.
On the business side, my mind is obviously thinking of how smart it is that Irish people are capitalizing off of their tourism industry. Tourism in places with gorgeous sights such as the Cliffs of Moher will continue booming as long as the sights are there. The Cliffs are a part of nature, and it is impossible for them to be recreated anywhere else in the world, which naturally forces (for lack of a better word) people to come to Ireland to experience them. In turn, souvenir shops, other attractions, and sightseeing tours are able to capitalize off of their location alone.
This post is getting a little long, but I also wanted to highlight how tourism impacts the country as a whole. Obviously tourism helps the Irish economy and stimulates growth of the country so that natives and immigrants can live more prosperous lives within the country, however I think that many people may not be so happy with rowdy groups of tourists poking around the place they grew up. While some people are passionate about sharing their secret spots with the world, others may not be, and that is the harsh reality of living in a society so intertwined with tourism.
While this blog so far has felt like a sales pitch for Ireland, to sum it up I would highlight the kindness and welcomeness I have received from everyone here so far. I would highlight Ireland’s natural beauty and its ability throughout history to fight to survive until it ultimately could thrive. I would highlight the vast history and how present it is in the lives of every Irish person, and last but not least I would highlight how awesome it is to be able to hold a baby lamb (still not over that)!
Today was a tourism-filled day and I loved every minute of it. Back to the business world to tour Microsoft in the morning and I can’t wait. Until then, goodbye friends!