Techno tourism

How Berlin's techno scene copes with tourism 

https://cadenceculture.co/2019/05/05/how-berlins-techno-scene-copes-with-tourism/

The increase in tourism in Berlin's techno nightlife as accelerated over the past decade. The rapid pace of tourist entry into micro-cultures, such as the techno scene has had a massive impact on the community and its unwritten rules. What once was a safe space, is now exposed and shared with the whole world. 

Researcher and professor, Luis-Manuel Garcia highlights the importance of the difference between the two types of tourists visiting; the first group consisting of 'techno tourists', frequently called 'easyjetters', who travel to Berlin purely for the techno scene. According to Garcia, 'this group like to distance themselves from the mass tourist identity and seek out authentic cultural experiences, engaging with micro-cultural scenes'. The second group, however, comprises of the 'non scene tourists' who visit these clubs but have no affiliation with their culture. 

The change in the nightlife dynamic 

One of the most visible impacts of tourism is the dynamic of Berlin's nightlife; Saturday is now commonly known to be the night for the tourists. This is the case so much so that even the techno tourists have stopped going out on a Saturday in order to gage an authentic experience. People who are actively part of the techno scene whether from Berlin or not, have started only going on the Sunday to feel a better belonging to the community. 

The main issue with this is that now techno tourists have learnt to go to the clubs on Sundays, many locals are becoming irritated as they go to these places to immerse themselves in a space with like minded people. 

Objects of curiosity

There is becoming more and more of a clash between the locals of Berlin and tourists; one is a person who feels the freedom the express themselves and the other stands in shock and has perhaps never been to a place like Berlin's techno scene. Many women come to the clubs in Berlin to avoid the harassment by men by wearing whatever they want; the techno scene in Berlin is somewhere where any clothing is welcomed and not 'slut shamed'. This becomes an issue when people visit these clubs and react negatively to people wearing whatever they want, thus damaging the sense of freedom in these spaces. 

The people of Berlin within the techno nightlife have subsequently become objects of curiosity, mainly due to the endless stories of people immersing themselves. According to an events organiser in Berlin, 'There are many drunken tourists clubs and crowds have to deal with', they 'behave in ways that aren't appropriate, who judge others for the way the dress or dance'. Often tourists coming to these clubs are criticised for not seeing the cultural value and meaning it has to people, with many tourists taking photos of people when it isn't allowed. 

The danger of mass entry tourists into micro-cultures is that it can override traditions, customs, values and unwritten rules that govern the nightlife in these spaces. This is a problem as these clubs are safe spaces for various groups and minorities. Matthias, a music researcher and professor who has been an active part of Berlin's nightlife for years has expressed his frustration with tourism; 'many of these tourists visit clubs and have the feeling that they can do anything because Berlin is seen as a place where one can do anything', adding how sometimes this comes with a disrespect for the culture in these spaces due to a lack of realisation of the importance to the people inside it. 

Positives of tourism 

Not all tourists are a threat to these micro-cultures, but instead can strengthen the community inside the scene. Even though some tourists are shocked at what they experience, they are also opened up to a new world; they can learn something and this can have a positive effect. According to Garcia, it requires patience from members of the subculture to accept and take new members in.

Economically, the popularity of tourism for Berlin's nightlife has brought cultural capital to the city as well as a whole new market; prices to get into Berlin's clubs has risen, with more than 1.4bn euros estimated to have been spent by approximately 3 million club tourists in 2018. 

From a tourist perspective, Lutz Leichsenring mentions that tourists need to be more informed and have knowledge about what clubs fit to them and what the scene comprises of. But tourism is virtually impossibly to regulate, the only possible improvement is down to the decisions made by Berlin's bouncers, checking if tourists are visiting for the right reasons. 

DJ Zak Khutorestsky on techno tourists

https://www.dw.com/en/techno-in-berlin-after-the-hype-the-downfall/a-49426496

 Zak Khutorestky, better known as DVS1 is an American techno DJ with Russian roots who frequently plays at Berghain. DVS1 sees the Berlin techno community now struggling for survival as a result of increasing tourism. 

The DJ's concerns also have other origins, such as that the techno scene is falling victim to global hype, or that big property investors are driving clubs out of their longstanding locations due to gentrification. 

Of the estimated 100 clubs in Berlin, four folded last year (2018), and another nine are considered to be endangered. The main issues boils down to how politicians can do very little to fight off the investors. The commercial constraints for the clubs and DJ's in Berlin goes against the freedom and the illegal foundations that their club culture is built on. Berghain in particular, is one of the only clubs left that is proactively trying to protect the scene. This role is mainly down to the strict bouncers of Berghain, who often don't let tourists in or certain kinds of people that threaten the techno scene. But Berghain is in a league of its own; the main question is how can the other clubs sustain their character and stay economically afloat in the changing environment of Berlin.