But why? Tourist sights are tourist sites for a reason. The Tower of London is swarming with tourist, but its still genuinely fascinating. If only for Henry VIII's armoured codpiece.
I think there is more than a reason. Some are legitimately full of history or interest, like the Tower of London. Some might only appeal to a niche group of people whether you're a local or just visiting (As a fan of the Blues Brothers, I had to stop by the honorable Richard J. Daley Plaza in Chicago just to see where they got that Picasso). Some just have good marketing that the locals are in a better position to see through.
I disagree in general. I mean some are, but when I travel and am coming back via Heathrow, I quite often sit myself near a group of first-time visitors on the Tube, just because its interesting to evesdrop on their impressions. Typical American family looking through the window at the surburban streets: "Look at those houses, they are so small". Seeing through other people's eyes can be fascinating.
Not in my experience. We get people from all over the world travelling to National Parks, and whether they are hardcore outdoors-folk exploring the back country, or a bus full of older Japanese camera-wielding tourists, they are almost universally friendly, interested in the area, and have stories to tell of their own lives and homes.
