Byron Bay effect: Crescent Head, Agnes Waters, Eden fight over tourism as influencers visit beaches

Frustrated locals have accused ‘hidden gem’ influencers and Instagram-focused boutiques of stripping their small towns of color and culture.

Sleepy communities from Eden on the south coast of New South Wales to 1700 in Queensland have seen an influx of tourists from the city in search of the ‘next Byron Bay’, prompting a massive backlash.

Residents of Australia’s scenic spots say their colorful urban centers have been replaced by beige businesses that attract aesthetically-minded visitors.

The small Queensland seaside town of Agnes Water used to be a quiet getaway, but now it’s teeming with visitors, while the locals struggle to maintain their hippie-inspired origins.

One resident told Daily Mail Australia about the moment he first noticed the town suffering from its own popularity.

“Agnes used to be a quiet little town that you would retreat to if you wanted to go surfing or spend a day at the beach,” she said.

“But then this little 10 minute hike up the bush blew up on Instagram, everyone wanted a photo on these little stools that sit on top of the old creek bed.

“Every weekend, the small car park along the promenade is packed with tourists trying to take a photo. There were times when the walk felt more like a queue for an Instagram photo.

Hundreds more who live in the area agree, blaming the council for failing to build the proper infrastructure to deal with the sudden wave of visitors.

“I’m someone who was born and raised in Agnes and I’ve been here on and off for 25 years,” said one resident.

‘I have no problem with growing a city, but it has to be done correctly.

“I remember growing up being told my kids would have to go to school in Rosedale or Miriam Vale like I did, and look at Agnes now!”

Another said: “I don’t care that they’re growing and embracing new things after all these years, but they’re going the wrong way and building the wrong things first.”

Eden is another small town that has seen a massive tourism boom since it went viral on Instagram.

The city’s colorful cliffs and sea baths have risen to fame with influencers, as many flock to the spot to snap the perfect photo.

But locals have already begun to notice that their town is disrespected by visitors and several residents write about tourists littering and shouting on the main street.

Other residents said the influx of tourists is welcome business, as long as the city can build infrastructure to keep up.

“You cannot stop development completely, but much can be done to ensure that the city develops and progresses in a way that preserves the beauty and uniqueness of not only the paradise that it is, but also the lifestyle it offers” , wrote a local online. .

“It would be sad to see Eden cloned in another resort town, but it would also be nice to grab some of your bucks as they pass by,” said another.

In Crescent Head, a small surf town on the north coast of New South Wales, residents are furious over plans for a hotel they believe will turn their piece of paradise into a tourist trap.

Locals said they have already noticed that their town receives more tourists each summer with trendy hotels and boutiques popping up to cater to visitors.

But the turning point for many is a newly renovated hotel set to open later this year.

The vintage surf-inspired accommodation called Sea Sea will be run by famed designer and hotelier George Gorrow, who started the Ksubi brand, and his wife, German model Cisco Tschurtschenthaler.

The couple have spent the last decade living in Bali and running the successful The Slow hotel.

‘I love surfing. So is my wife, and Crescent Head is one of the most iconic surf breaks on the North Shore, so we’re trying to keep up with that,” Gorrow said. abc.

‘Crescent Head still feels like that place you visited as a child, it still feels so pure.’

About a quarter of Crescent Head’s 2,200 residents are part of a group that oversees development progress in the area.

And Gorrow’s plan, along with other Instagram-worthy ’boutique’ hotels that have popped up in recent years, has come under heavy criticism from members of the group.

‘Crescent Head will be the next Byron Bay or Noosa. These communities are dealing with an increase in the popularity of “van living.” Byron is a mess, too many people plus tourism and development beyond the capacity of the land and lifestyle to cope with,” one person wrote.

“The reason I and many others love the Crescent Head for what it is is because it’s not high-end. If people want dazzling luxury, go to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay or the Gold Coast, which may have gone bankrupt,” said another.

A third wrote: “Calling it a sleepy town and making out, we should be happy these people come and ‘shake’. How many tickets do these people have? Keep your thoughts and comments on the town and leave our ‘sleeping town’ to those! who love him just the way he is!’

However, his town is just one of many that have fallen victim to the ‘Byron Bay effect’, which sees small seaside towns lose their charm in favor of what is fashionable, with an angry Crescent Head local pointing out that the process begins with thoughtless tourism.

“There is a big difference between the vacationers who come every year, who make friends with the locals and who treat the town with love and respect, and the tourists who are selfish, demanding and take the soul out of the town,” they said.