Stag parties visiting the Baltics have been getting a bad press recently, so it was interesting to read a recent article in the Times which suggested that…well…it isn’t all that bad really. The writer dived headfirst into the stag experience with beer, dubious food and ‘medieval lesbian strippers’ (weren’t they minor characters in the Canterbury Tales?) He also visits Hollywood nightclub, which is particularly renowned for its male-tourist-baiting Ladies’ Night on Wednesdays.
The final judgment on all this debauchery? The writer, Tom Chesshyre, argues that the stag parties seemed to be sticking to places which were catering for them rather than causing trouble:
Sure, it does mean that there is a street or two in Tallinn that has been rather taken over by the Brits. But there are plenty of parts of London that have been overrun by tourists – that’s just the way things go these days. Tourism is a big money earner.
So, what do readers of Baltic Visitor think? Is it OK to get up to no good abroad as long as it is in a controlled environment? Is the inconvenience experienced by locals balanced by the associated financial rewards? Does it matter that foreign tourists are getting a bad reputation with (some) locals? It’s a subject about which I am currently undecided, but which is going to arise increasingly often in the Baltics, and I would be very interested to hear any opinions.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Pēteris Cedriņš // Jul 2, 2007 at 10:03 am
Many if not most Latvians I know now avoid the Old Town in Rīga entirely during the summer season. I’d say that’s more than an inconvenience, as the soul of the city was there in a very real way until recently. I don’t live in the capital and don’t go there very often, but I’ve witnessed some rather vile scenes on my visits.
It brings in money, yes — but I’d love to see a study of just where that money goes (e.g., into demimonde and a gray economy, towards drugs and prostitution, etc.).
Like you, I’m undecided on the subject. I’d add that the stag scene also drives the civilized types of tourists many here would prefer to see away — fortunately, though, the less cultured don’t seem to venture out of the Old Town much.
2 Relatos // Jul 14, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I like your blog, but I think that this subject is the most interesting of your last posts. Bye, Lucy Relatos.
3 John // Jul 17, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Lucy - Thanks for reading. I’m glad you enjoyed this post. What kind of topics would you most like to see covered on Baltic Visitor?
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