Travelers Increasingly Sabotaging Their Own Vacations

Experts say entitlement, risky decisions, and cultural missteps are causing more tourists to ruin their own trips.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 9:03am

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Travel industry experts warn that bad behavior, risky choices, and a lack of cultural awareness are increasingly causing travelers to undermine their own vacations. From ordering unsafe street food to acting entitled and disrespectful, some tourists are becoming their own worst enemies when abroad.

Why it matters

As travel rebounds after the pandemic, there is a growing concern that a shift in traveler behavior - including more risk-taking, entitlement, and disregard for local customs - is leading to more self-inflicted travel disasters. This trend not only ruins individual trips but also damages the reputation of tourists and can strain relationships between visitors and local communities.

The details

Experts cite examples like Western tourists in Malaysia ignoring warnings about drinking tap water and then getting sick from ordering coconut smoothies from street vendors. Other examples include nude tourists at sacred temples in Bali, motorcyclists driving on pedestrian bridges in Florence, and people carving initials into the Colosseum in Rome. Part of the problem is attributed to generational differences, with younger travelers taking more risks, as well as an overall decline in good manners and respect for local cultures.

  • On a recent trip to Malaysia, the author witnessed tourists ignoring warnings about drinking tap water and then getting sick from street food.
  • In the past, the author has seen headlines about nude tourists at sacred temples in Bali, motorcyclists on pedestrian bridges in Florence, and people carving initials into the Colosseum in Rome.

The players

John Gobbels

The chief operating officer of Medjet, a company that provides air medical transport and security response services.

Minkyung Kim

A professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business.

Robyn Sekula

A frequent traveler and consultant from New Albany, Indiana.

Jackie Steele

A hospitality professional who works for Magic Guides, a site dedicated to Disney vacations.

Christopher Elliott

An author, consumer advocate, and journalist who founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems.

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What they’re saying

“There's definitely been a shift.”

— John Gobbels, Chief Operating Officer, Medjet

“People feel like they're paying more but not getting better service in return.”

— Minkyung Kim, Professor of Marketing, Carnegie Mellon University

“If you find yourself getting impatient in a different culture, take a deep breath and remind yourself that travel is a privilege.”

— Robyn Sekula, Frequent Traveler and Consultant

“Travelers often make their own trips worse without realizing it.”

— Jackie Steele, Hospitality Professional, Magic Guides

The takeaway

As travel rebounds, experts warn that a troubling trend of entitled, risky, and culturally insensitive behavior by some tourists is increasingly causing them to sabotage their own vacations. The solution is for travelers to be more realistic, polite, and respectful of local customs when visiting other countries.