Even as we welcome tourists each summer to our tiny community, we also quietly lament their presence. With their arrival comes a change in our island dynamics, as the number of people in town, on the road, and in line for the ferry balloons.

However, we live – by choice – in a county that is a tourist destination. We take pride in our islands’ beauty and enticing activities, and we must share it with the mainland for four months out of the year.

So let’s treat our visitors with warmth. There is the money side of it: our merchants, restaurant owners, farmers, artists, the ferry system – all of us – need their support to survive. But there is also a very human aspect. Everyone is a visitor somewhere, and it’s not a mark of shame. We should remember our own travel experiences. We’ve all been the bewildered tourist standing on a street corner. Or taken too long to order at a walk-up window. Most visitors never intend to annoy the locals. Not knowing exactly how things are done is a hallmark of being new to a town.

As a traveler, how has it felt when you were helped with directions or greeted with extra kindness by a barista or waitress? Were you more likely to make a repeat visit to a town populated with aloof and impatient residents – or welcoming people? It’s an easy answer.

But being friendly doesn’t mean turning a blind eye. If you see someone who flouting our island rules, politely explain the way we do things around here. That’s part of the deal: if you come to our island, you must respect our way of life. And “leaving no footprints behind” is required.

So let’s open our arms wide to the tourists this season. They’ve chosen to spend their cherished time in our communities, and through our island hospitality, let’s make sure they leave with a smile on their faces and a desire to come back soon.