Oh hell yes. But also…
Years ago, I was a couple hours off the beaten tourist track in Thailand. I noted an older (adult children, retired parents) English family staying nearby, and the father was working politely with the kitchen staff to get food like eggs on toast instead of Thai fare. I shrugged him off as one of the tourists you’ve described above. But I was puzzled about why they were here and not a more tourist-oriented part of Thailand, e.g. Phuket.
Later, I got talking to him, and he told about how his daughter and her new husband were doing volunteer work as teachers in rural Thailand. He was so proud of her he’d decided to come visit to show his support. He’d only been out of England once in his life before this trip, and it was by ferry. This trip was his first flight. He was way outside his comfort zone. I felt suitably ashamed for writing him off so quickly in my imagination.
Amidst all this discussion about awful tourists (they’re real, and there are too many), I like to remember this guy too. Keeps me sane.
