In recent years, increasing number of visitors are interested in taking their photographs at tourist spots rather than glancing at their beauty. While some view this trend as modern and positive, I contend that it is a reflection of a deeper transformation in how contemporary society interacts with heritage sites.
One compelling argument in favour of visitors interested in taking pictures of historic sights is the increased influence of social media over people’s lives. With the increased social media influence, people tend to share details about their travels and adventures with friends and followers, thereby gaining popularity and celebrity status. Hence, these visitors often travel to popular destinations, capture moments and share them with their subscribers regularly on popular platforms like YouTube and Instagram. This, in turn, helps them earn significant revenue and recognition from various corners of the world.
On the other hand, With increased focus on capturing the moments and sharing, people are losing knowledge and historical significance of iconic locations. Each of the prominent locations has greater architectural grandeur that is only appreciated by people once they look at the intricate details and understand their significance. For example, many people visit Tajmal and take photos and videos but very few are aware that each of its minars are equidistant from the centre. Hence, visitors should spend more time appreciating the significance of historic locations than spending more time capturing individual images.
In conclusion, although the images and videos of people at historic locations help them gain significant revenue and popularity, people should understand the significance of popular places and history more and pass it on to future generations.