The Rest Is History 223. Sun, Sea, and Sex
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Aug 22, 2022 Dive into the fascinating world of modern holidays and their evolution since the First World War. Discover how sunshine destinations like Benidorm emerged alongside cultural shifts in leisure. The bikini revolution and its societal impact are explored, alongside the comedic chaos of 1970s holiday mishaps in pop culture. From the rise of package tours to the changing dynamics of travel with the internet, this lively conversation uncovers how tourism has become a mirror of social class and personal experience.
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Tourism During WWI
- In 1914, Thomas Cook evacuated 6,000 stranded tourists from Europe but continued tours to the Côte d'Azur.
- A.E. Housman visited the Riviera in 1915, appreciating its lack of usual crowds.
Post-War Tourism Trends
- Post-World War I tourism mirrored the post-Napoleonic trend, with people visiting battlefields.
- This "ghoulish" tourism involved observing exhumations, differing from modern battlefield visits.
Rise of Travel Clubs
- The 1920s saw high-minded travel clubs like the Polytechnic Touring Association organize group outings.
- These involved activities like folk singing and discussing Virginia Woolf novels, appealing to a specific niche.
