When many of us return from a holiday, we often find our suitcase – which previously zipped shut smoothly – requires a little more effort to close.
Buying souvenirs abroad is an essential vacation activity for plenty of Brits, and goods such as fridge magnets, clothes, hats, keyrings and other paraphernalia can take up a fair amount of space in one’s luggage.
But one souvenir won’t take up any space at all: the travel tattoo.
For years, ‘tattourism’, the notion of getting a tattoo to mark a destination, holiday or experience, has been on the rise.
What began as a simple way of commemorating a certain vacation has become a veritable industry.
Indeed, in New York one hotel even has its own in-hotel tattoo parlour, Unscripted Ink.
Whether it’s map outlines, local flowers, sayings in foreign languages or simple designs with hidden meanings, the choices for a travel tattoo are limitless.
So, why are so many tourists keen to memorialise their travels in ink?
More people are seeking tattoos as a reminder of a holiday or travel experience
Liv Novotny, owner of Unscripted Ink, told Travel + Leisure: ‘It’s such a personal way to commemorate their time.’
Some argue getting a permanent marker of an important trip can be a special reminder of the time.
Others believe it retains a connection one might have to a destination they’ve visited.
A lasting sense of connection is, of course, a key motivator – and feels more permanent and stronger than something like a snow globe.
Or, in some cases, it’s just a piece of art – a popular reason for getting any tattoo in the first place.
Travellers on social media have shared many a tale of their travel tattoo.
Pinterest user Travel Life shared a clip of all the tiny tattoos they got during various travels, from an evil eye in Brazil to a random stick and poke in Costa Rica.
Similarly, digital artist and illustrator Drew Graves shares footage of his various tattoos and designs on Instagram, including inspiration for travel tattoos – such as a globe, tiny plane, writing or landscape design.
Flower designs reminiscent of a certain place – such as an English rose – are popular
Tattoo artist Fabiano Nogarolli explains the motivation behind one such tattoo design on a client: ‘He didn’t want just a tattoo. He wanted a journey on his skin.
‘After our consultation, I ditched the typical travel tattoo idea, no airplanes, no cliché compass. Instead, I designed a full custom piece that tells his story.
‘A traveller walking into the unknown, guided by a rose compass.
‘In front of him? His own travel photos, strung across the path, with maps behind each one, marking the places he’s been.
‘This is what happens when tattoo design goes beyond ink… and becomes a story etched in skin.’
