Touts are a common problem in tourist areas. As paid operatives, they work hard to convince tourists to seek services from certain businesses. Typically, a straightforward "no" will suffice, but in some cases touts can be concentrated in such large numbers (such as near parks or tourist city centers) or so persistent that they become a genuine obstacle to tourist activities.
Understand
[edit]Touts often have one face for tourists and run separate errands entirely for where they're working, such as free food and drinks, and don't pay attention to customers once they've taken the bait. Don't expect their friendliness to last beyond the transaction.
Avoiding touts
[edit]Depending on their level of desperation, touts may focus only on large groups. This is especially true if they are recruiting customers for restaurants, and if you travel separately or on your own, they might not bother you.
While touts most often target pedestrians, touting strategies affect vehicle traffic as well. One tout and borderline scam to avoid is providing parking near (but not in!) parks or stadiums at a higher price than official parking. Signs often imply that parking is official but aren't outright illegal. Know exactly where you're going, such as by checking the location on Street View before visiting, to know where to park in advance.
What not to do
[edit]See also
[edit]- Common scams — touts aren't necessarily scammers, but their promoted products often aren't as good as advertised, or negative aspects are concealed from tourists
- Bargaining may go much better if the vendor does not have to pay a tout's commission