Doesnt anybody on this forum give a moments thought to the damage being done to other peoples cultures and ecomomy from rich foreigners moving in to make a quick buck? Or the thousands of acres of countryside swallowed up by concrete to satisfy the market for homes in the sun? Local people priced out of their own area, their children unable to afford homes . Or people arrogantly living for years in countries like Spain, without speaking a word of Spanish, refusing to mix with the local people, insisting on only doing business with other Brits, changing tavernas into British pubs. And every week on television, new unspoit areas of the world, often very poor but rich in culture like Morocco are showcased as the new focus for this form of financial colonisation
I gave it thought. I wouldn't have invested in Morocco if I, as a tourist, had not been well received there. I visited and stayed in non tourist areas for much of my trip and was pleased with how the locals took to me.
The flip side to your comments is that generally this is the route the respective Governments have taken. It will increase the standard of living for locals and there is normally more affordable housing to be found in striking distance of the tourist developments.
A woman I met in Estonia summed it up rather well. (She was working for an agent, so I admit she has a vested interest.) I asked about foreigners coming in and making money, pricing locals out of the market for accomodation. She paused briefly and said she remembers what it was like to go without food, no roof over her head, no money, no means of transport other than her legs. She remembers how tough things were not so long ago and that she wouldn't want Estonia to change back to the way it was.
It is a shame that locals will not gain more from the investment coming in from abroad. It must be p[articularly frustrating for those that can see the opportunities to make money if only they had some capital to invest.
I totally take your point, Soup Dragon. I would be really happy if foreigners coming in helped the local economy and made things better for the indigenous people. Sad thing is that a few, often Brit or other Northern European business people make all the money and very little if any, gets into the local economy.In Spain , once moved in, many of the Brits only deal with other ex pats, it is beginning to cause great resentment among a traditionally proud, generous and hospitable people. Some large swathes of coastal Spain is all foreign owned now. I know someone who has lived their for eleven years and still refuses to speak a word of Spanish as a matter of pride! The destruction of unique and fragile cultures will take longer to assess but it is happening as so many Brits try to turn their ex pat ghettoes into 'Blackpool in the sun'!
It is embarassing that so many of us expect others to speak our language and yet we make so little effort to speak theirs or find out about / respect their culture.
I do wish that more of us were conscientous about how we invest and that more was done for the locals, their communities and their environment. Unfortunately I don't think that will ever be the case. Just the nature of the beast that is capatalism.
I totally agree with soup dragon, about us not speaking other languages. the english i feel are a little idle when it comes to learning things like this, (i am by the way english). have met several people in Spain who even after 20yrs there still moaned about the language, one chap said "they dont speak my language, they dont cook my food, and the garden won't grow, it's also too hot" I wonder why these people went at all. The use of a little spanish helps no end, and the locals will help you get it right, in the end. I met a guy this week who on one particularly hot day went into a bar and said "Soy caliente" thinking he was saying he was hot, he was met with roars of laughter, it was only when a local spaniard advised him he had said he was hot stuff that he understood. He now is well known, has many spanish friends and has a nickname, yep you guessed it, hot stuff. All taken in good fun. We will make similar mistakes, but the important thing is what ever language is that we try to speak it , and try to fit in.
I am also concerned about our effect on the countries we invest in. In Morocco I believe that new build investment will improve the local economy by providing much needed jobs and bringing in foreign tourist money. I speak French so can communicate with a lot of Morrocans who have all been exceptionally friendly and welcoming. I am trying to learn some basic Arabic, but there is only one tape I have found for Morrocan Arabic and it is phrases only. If anyone can advise-I would like to know of others?
I take it you're a girl, because the reason people fell about lauging is, you told them you were Horny. "Soy caliente" means just that. I think what you meant to say was, "soy calor" or I'm hot IE: hot and bothered, NOT horny.
What seems odd to me is that many holiday home buyers seem to want places that are in the 'anonymous international resort' style. Golf courses, swimming-pools, manicured lawns, English-speaking waiters, car-hire desks, gyms etc. etc. This is nothing to do with the local culture, bar a few wall-rugs and carvings. Which I think is a shame. No wonder Arab countries resent Western influence so much, when most development is just another 'Marriott-by-the-sand-dunes'.
