Macau has been included in a list of nine cities worldwide in the travel section of British newspaper the Independent. Unfortunately that list details the “world’s least friendly cities.”
Warranting just a single short paragraph in the article, reviewer Georgina Wilson-Powell lambasted Macau’s “never ending stampedes of gamblers who don’t even acknowledge your presence when they trample over you.”
Also making the list of shame was Hanoi, Vietnam, criticized for being home to aggressive locals who “argue about being short-changed” and rip off tourists.
“I found Vietnam a fairly combative experience – the endless barrage of scams meant most interactions with locals were spent arguing about being short-changed, haggling over taxi fares only to have the same fight all over again once at the destination,” described Laura Chubb.
“Did I enjoy my time in Vietnam? Absolutely – but it was sad to have to treat all unsolicited approaches with a level of suspicion,” added Chubb.
Vladikavkaz, Russia was also on the list, whose corrupt police, “hideous humid weather” and “dreadful food” make it the least friendly place for article contributor Jamie Lafferty.
“Vladikavkaz is the most unfriendly place I’ve ever been. If not there, then one of the other cities in southern Russia,” he wrote, adding that he only “ended up there by chance.”
The other cities included in the article were Baku in Azerbaijan, Dallas and Miami in the U.S., Prague in the Czech Republic, Warsaw in Poland, and Reykjavik in Iceland.
Some of the contributing authors did note, however, that their opinions might have been influenced by unusual circumstances and that their judgment was not necessarily reflective of the entire city, region or country.
For example, while labeling Reykjavik “curiously awkward,” Nicola Trup puts forward that East Iceland offers a warmer welcome. Additionally, Simon Calder who detailed his experience in Dallas, regards Texas as generally a “big-hearted state with three warm and welcoming cities: Houston, Austin and San Antonio. But not Dallas.” DB
‘Charm evaporated overnight’
In a recent article published by the Financial Times, David Tang listed the “world’s worst cities” and one of them was Macau. According to Tang, “Macau must win the accolade of a city whose charm evaporated overnight when it was returned to Chinese sovereignty.”
Tang added: “Casinos and shopping arcades now rule the roost and somnambulant punters come and go, some with grim countenances hiding their secret losses, and others smiling as they splash their spoils on ostentatious retail. Outside, the narrow streets are dead, the skyline an undulating mess of soulless silhouettes, and more and more cars jam the roads. Money launderers mingle with fortune hunters. In the shadows of the ubiquitous pawn shops, with their sleepless neon signs, the place filled with an overwhelming sense of depression, despair, despondency and delinquency.”
No Comments