A warm Picton greeting to tourists visiting our beautiful historic area. We enjoy a symbiotic relationship with you. Your compliments regarding our friendliness, charming surround, sandbanks, wineries, etc. are most welcome as well as your support of our hospitality industry. In turn, Picton residents do their best to provide you with a pleasant holiday. We look as forward to your visits as you do to holidaying here. The good in people is always recognized and appreciated. Thank you for your kindness toward us and we are most happy to reciprocate.
On the other hand, there are some tourists who are not welcome. I know that most Pictonians would not visit another town or city and throw garbage on the streets, rudely berate the locals for lacking the sophistication that larger cities are accustomed to, or generally demonstrate a lack of good manners. Also Pictonians do not appreciate defecation on our lawns, porches, sidewalks, beaches or jumping into swimming pools just because they are there.
Our service stations, grocery stores, restaurants and local shops employ pleasant people who do their best to serve residents and tourists alike. They do not appreciate being belittled or in some cases yelled at because they do not meet your expectations of a personal servant who will humbly acquiesce to outrageous demands. Also when you walk down our sidewalks, it is a common courtesy to NOT WALK three abreast and make the locals press themselves against store fronts or step on the street to let you pass.
Fortunately such bad behaviour is still less than the good but its marching its way upward. Some of you have apparently expressed that you do not feel welcome here. Would you welcome us if we behaved in such a way in your town or city? You are welcome in Picton but only if you pay us the respect that we deserve. Watch the good tourists and take note how they behave. Then reflect upon how well that they are treated in return. Simple suggestion to the wise.
Janet Bingham
Picton
