NYTimes article on the Russian tourist invasion of Turkey

This is article, I have to say, is extremely interesting :

Free and Flush, Russians Eager to Roam Abroad – NYTimes.com

One of the thing it was impossible not to notice on my recent trip to Turkey, particularly near Antalya, where the hotel this article talks about is, was the incredible numbers of Russians and Germans on the south coast (and increasingly, Bulgarians as well).

I was trying to explain to a Russian newly-made friend there about how strange it seemed, since when I was growing up, Russia was an identifiable enemy in the Cold War and trying to illustrate it with a trip to Seattle I had taken where a Russian attack submarine was on display as more of a curiosity and amusement rather than this nuclear weapon of terror during the 80s.

Anyhow, it’s quite fascinating, how the growth of some of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are totally changing the face of tourism and influencing their own home countries. To be honest, other than the carbon footprint (I shudder at), I can’t really view it as anything other than a good thing.

Though, it does also change the destination countries they end up going to I find. The fact that trying to learn to speak Turkish did nothing but seem to amuse Turks while I was in the country (though did get me free into some places just for trying) and the fact that every Turk seemed to be working on learning German or Russian (in fact, in Ka*s German was hear dmuch more than even English).

Definitely interesting, though this Las-Vegas-ification/Disneyfication of countries for the benefits of package tourist guests is always worrying.