44 Times Tourists Stepped Over All Boundaries Of Human Decency (New Pics)

Bored Panda reached out to Keith O’Hara from The Irish Road Trip for his advice on the mindset that tourists ought to have when traveling abroad, and he shed some light on the topic.

"Curiosity, common sense, and respect should be the foundation of every mindset for those visiting a new place, but those aren’t just for traveling, they’re for life in general," the travel writer told us via email.

"Whether you’re abroad or at home, it’s about being aware of how your actions affect others and the place you’re in. You also always need to adhere to local law—for example, if you're told to steer clear of wildlife, make sure to give them a very wide berth!" he said.

“Respecting the places you visit, and the people who call them home, should be the bare minimum for any traveler,” O’Hara from The Irish Road Trip told Bored Panda.

“Sadly, not everyone shows that respect. That’s why clear expectations and a bit of guidance can go a long way.”

He added, “It’s not just locals who should call out disrespectful behavior. Tourists, guides, businesses, we all have a responsibility to set the right tone and protect the places we visit.”

"Whether it’s a simple reminder, leading by example, or having the confidence to (politely) call out bad behavior, small actions make a difference," he urged everyone to play their part.

"Most people don’t want to be ‘that tourist’—they just need a nudge to realize when they’re crossing the line."

Tourism is a huge industry on a truly massive scale. It’s incredibly profitable, too. According to Statista, the contribution of travel and tourism to the global GDP amounted to a jaw-dropping $9.9 trillion in 2023.

It’s estimated that this number should have reached around $11.1 trillion in 2024. This figure is predicted to rise further to $16 trillion in a decade, by the year 2034.

The United States, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan are the leading travel markets based on the total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP.

In 2023, France was the top destination globally for tourists. The country had the highest number of international tourist arrivals on planet Earth, with 100 million visitors.

Statista states that in 2024, the number of international tourist arrivals worldwide stood at 1.4 billion.

Europe is the most attractive global region for international tourists, with around 750 million visitors that year, nearly half of which (300 million) visited the Southern and Mediterranean regions.

Bad, thoughtless, offensive, and dangerous tourist behavior seems to be on the rise globally.

"There are many factors that could influence this [kind of] behavior. There could be individual factors, there could be contextual factors [and] there could be group factors, if the person is traveling with a group. So, I think that the first question that we need to ask ourselves is, okay, is this person someone that would do this type of behavior when he or she is at home?" licensed clinical psychotherapist and traveler Javier Labourt told the BBC.

He adds that some individuals may simply not be ready for the different emotional positions required for connecting to new destinations and cultures.

According to Dr. Alana Dillette, Assistant Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University, in some cases, tourists may be unaware of social norms and what is (un)acceptable in different destinations.

"I think a lot of it is lack of knowledge and understanding of your impacts on the place that you're visiting. I think so many people travel and they're thinking about how it's going to be an experience for them, but they don't think about how their [actions are] impacting the place that they're in, because they just don't have the knowledge," she shared with the BBC.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kirst Sedgman, from the University of Bristol, told the BBC that some bad tourist behavior comes down to so-called ‘main character energy.’

Some people become rude and demanding when traveling abroad because they assume that other people, from the locals to the service professionals, are there to serve them.

"It's not just that people are getting more badly behaved. It's that often when they're called out on those bad behaviors… it's much more likely now that people will [get angry]. That sense of 'don't tell me what to do' it's really strong."

There are a few potential ways to curb awful, damaging traveler behavior. For example, some governments are embracing harsher laws, introducing larger fines, and creating official guidelines for what kind of behavior is acceptable or not. That being said, this entire problem is a two-way street.

On the other side of the coin, problematic tourists have to realize that they are the issue, and they need to change their antisocial behavior. There needs to be a shift in their mindset where they recognize that traveling is a privilege, where they are essentially guests in someone else’s home.

Naturally, this requires a bit of humility, introspection, and self-awareness, all of which can be emotionally uncomfortable. But there’s no room for personal growth without them.

Which of the photos that we’ve featured here shocked you the most? What is the very worst, most disrespectful, downright entitled, and rudest tourist behavior that you’ve ever witnessed with your own eyes, dear Pandas? Have you ever called any travelers out for their antisocial behavior? What do you personally think could be done to make travelers more respectful?

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Grab a snack or a drink and feel free to share your take in the comments, at the very bottom of this post.