Aussies are travelling at every opportunity, making up for lost time during the pandemic. That means our tacky fridge magnet/ugly keyring consumption is also on the rise… But why do we love this kind of tourist tat? According to a new book by Lucy Lethbridge, it’s something people have done since the ancient Greeks. Meanwhile, a report by travel company Club Med has picked out the favourite buys from each country. Some are obvious, like maple syrup from Canada – but others less so, like an umbrella from the UK. Ahem, that’s not a souvenir – it’s a necessity… Whatever we choose, Lethbridge says the objects reveal how we see people from other cultures – and that we want others to consider us well-travelled. And apparently, the tackier, the better… So now you know why you’re inexplicably drawn to that hideous bottle opener – and why you can’t part with it. You’re welcome…