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No matter where you travel to, the "souvenirs" are all made in China, just different designs.
It is true in either Topeka Kansas or Cairo Egypt. Even within China, "local items" of Shanghai or Xi'an are actually made in the same factories in Guangdong. Tibetans also sell "silver artifacts" which are actually manufactured in Zhejiang in East China.
Last summer I brought home Murano glass made in Italy, a scarf hand painted in Croatia, a painting from Croatia, and cookies/candy from every country we stepped foot in that were made locally. I watched the artists making either the item I purchased or one similar, so I know they were made in the place I bought them. I also brought home local wines and cookies/candies from each area I visited.
You can certainly buy lots of things in Oregon that are made in Oregon. There is even a Made In Oregon store.
In Scotland, I bought locally made wool scarfs, a silk screened tie that I bought at the factory, a stag handled shaving set, a sword, lots of antiques...... Although, I must say, they were all rather expensive.. But they were locally made and no plastic.
In New Mexico, I bought locally made turquoise jewelry, stag handled knives, and sand paintings. Again, it is outrageously more expensive than the ticky tacky tourist junk that is probably made in the Orient somewhere, but quality always costs.
Our souvenirs are artworks from local artists, half of them were personally signed and with a written line in the back "To (us), from (artist)", as per our request. On the walls of our homes are paintings from many of the countries we've visited.
No matter where you travel to, the "souvenirs" are all made in China, just different designs.
It is true in either Topeka Kansas or Cairo Egypt. Even within China, "local items" of Shanghai or Xi'an are actually made in the same factories in Guangdong. Tibetans also sell "silver artifacts" which are actually manufactured in Zhejiang in East China.
A lot depends on where you buy. If you buy from the "tourist traps" everybody buys from, your more likely to get mass produced goods, no matter where you go.
I bought a hand painted souvenir plate as a gift for a family member when I was in Cuenca, Ecuador and it was definitely locally made (meaning it was not made in China!).
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