THE TOURIST THEORY OR .... WHY THEY ARE HERE

This document, published in the Flying Saucer Review, presents the 'Tourist Theory' as a framework for understanding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). Authors R. DeLillo and R. H. Marx argue against the prevailing 'Mr. Spock' syndrome, which assumes that extraterrestrial intelligences are infinitely wise, super-rational, and emotionless. Instead, they propose that UAP behavior is better understood as that of tourists visiting a nature reserve. The authors contend that UAP exhibit emotional, non-rational, and sometimes playful or destructive behaviors that mirror human traits. They suggest that the seemingly trivial actions of UAP—such as buzzing cars, taking samples, or appearing in remote areas—are consistent with a low-profile, long-term surveillance or tourism mission. The paper draws parallels between human exploration and colonization (e.g., Hawaii, Australia) and the potential motivations of extraterrestrial visitors. They argue that Earth is treated as a nature reserve where 'foreigners' observe and study the inhabitants while attempting to avoid direct, prolonged contact. The document also includes a personal sighting report by Patricia B. Grant, detailing a 1977 encounter in Sussex, England, where a witness observed a silent, black, oval-shaped craft hovering near a disused camp site. The authors conclude that UAP are not super-rational and that their presence on Earth is driven by a myriad of causes, none of which align with the assumption of a singular, advanced, and emotionless purpose.