July 22, 2018 – How to gently encourage tourists on holiday about the acceptable norms of behaviour?
A new addition to the tourist signs of Croatia, as posted a couple of days ago by Slavorum, and quite a clever one too. It has apparently appeared in several versions in other countries, but what an effective way (one would assume) of encouraging people to think twice before urinating in the street.
The simple sign of three images basically tells the reader that the area has surveillance cameras and any public urinating will be met with not a fine, but a starring performance on YouTube.
It is certainly a very different approach that took place last summer on Hvar, when new mayor Riki Novak introduced hefty fines for indecent behaviour and dress, a story which went around the world and sparked a major debate. Like the urinating signs, the style of the Hvar signs was nothing new, with destinations such as Rome and Venice having similar signs,but for some reason, the Hvar signs attracted global attention. A 700 euro fine for sitting and eating pizza on the main square, for example.
Enforcement is the key of course. I have not been to Hvar Town for a while apart from one brief visit last week, and I have yet to hear of anyone being fine, despite the threats from the signs. And it would appear that the tourists are not too concerned, either – there was at least 3,500 euro of pizza fines being consumed in this picture last week alone.
But the chance of a YouTube feature for some public urinating? It would be interesting to be able to see the results before and after those signs.
