Overtourism is a significant issue affecting various parts of the world, with severe social, environmental, and economic impacts.

The causes and consequences of overtourism are complex and multifaceted, involving factors such as uncontrolled growth, lack of planning, and inadequate management.

In Spain, for example, the country attracted 85 million visitors in 2023, causing overcrowding and affecting locals, particularly in cities like Barcelona, which received 7.8 million visitors in 2023.

The city of Venice has also been severely impacted by overtourism, with 50,000 locals and over 50,000 daily tourists, leading to the implementation of measures such as banning large cruise ships in 2021 and imposing a 5 euro tourist tax to reduce crowds.

Other European cities, including Rome, Amsterdam, and Paris, are also struggling with overtourism, with issues such as rent prices pushing out local tenants, narrow roads becoming jammed with tourist vehicles, and tourists being unable to view landmarks due to crowds.

The social impacts of overtourism are significant, with local residents often struggling to cope with the influx of tourists, leading to protests and calls for increased tourism taxes and restrictions.

In Barcelona, for example, residents are struggling with the global popularity of their city, which is leading to increased costs of living and a decline in the quality of life.

The economic impacts of overtourism are also substantial, with the tourism industry contributing significantly to the local economy, but also leading to issues such as over-reliance on tourism, seasonal fluctuations, and a lack of investment in other industries.

In addition, the tourism industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers, with 1.2 million tourism-related jobs remaining unfilled in the EU, and a decline of 9.3% in the workforce in 2020.

The environmental impacts of overtourism are also severe, with issues such as pollution, waste management, and degradation of natural habitats.

In Venice, for example, the high volume of tourists is leading to environmental damage, including pollution and erosion of the city's historic buildings and canals.

The tourism sector is responsible for 8.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, although emissions have declined since 2010 due to technological developments.

However, the sector's GDP grew 4.3% annually from 2010 to 2019, and the environmental impact increased by only 2.4% from 2010 to 2019.

Sustainable tourism practices are essential to reducing the negative impacts of overtourism, and many destinations are implementing measures to promote sustainable tourism, such as investing in renewable energy, reducing waste, and promoting cultural and natural heritage.

In Ras Al Khaimah, for example, the government has launched a Sustainable Destination Strategy, aiming to reduce tourism's carbon footprint and promote authentic tourism experiences.

The strategy includes measures such as improving citizens' quality of life, enhancing mental health of employees, and achieving carbon reduction targets.

Other destinations, such as Oman, are also prioritizing sustainability, with a focus on preserving heritage and culture, and promoting luxury and sustainable cruises.

In conclusion, overtourism is a complex issue with significant social, environmental, and economic impacts, affecting various parts of the world.

It is essential to implement sustainable tourism practices, invest in renewable energy, reduce waste, and promote cultural and natural heritage to reduce the negative impacts of overtourism.

By prioritizing sustainability, destinations can promote authentic tourism experiences, improve the quality of life for local residents, and reduce the environmental impacts of tourism.

Ultimately, the key to managing overtourism is to adopt a balanced approach, prioritizing the needs of local residents, the environment, and the tourism industry, to create a sustainable and responsible tourism sector.

Overtourism is a significant issue affecting various parts of the world, with severe social, environmental, and economic impacts.

Overtourism is a significant issue affecting various parts of the world, with severe social, environmental, and economic impacts.

Overtourism is a significant issue affecting various parts of the world, with severe social, environmental, and economic impacts.

The causes and consequences of overtourism are complex and multifaceted, involving factors such as uncontrolled growth, lack of planning, and inadequate management.

Title:

Content: Global News
The world today - spraying with water guns..
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
You are now following the news of spraying with water guns.
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
From the World News section and now we leave you with the full details
SAHAD MOHAMMED - Abu Dhabi on Friday 19 July 2024 04: 25 PM - Spain's tourism unrest has reached its peak in the past few days, with some locals in Barcelona spraying tourists with water guns and canned drinks, asking them to go back to where they came from.
Angry residents, numbering about 3,000, blocked the entrances to hotels and cafes in the Barceloneta neighborhood in a symbolic attempt to express their indignation at the excessive tourist overcrowding in their city.
This is not the first time tourism has been highlighted as a problem in Spain, where the country, which attracted 85 million visitors in 2023, has seen a series of protests against excessive tourism in the country, especially in the city of Barcelona with a population of 1.6 million, which received more than 7.8 million visitors in 2023, leaving many locals unable to afford to live there due to high rental prices.
Fear of Protests in Europe
Spain ’ s overcrowding problem, and the decision to confront it by locals, has highlighted the potential for anti-tourist protests to spread to the rest of Europe ’ s heavily tourist-ridden cities, as UNESCO ’ s Sustainable Tourism Project chief Peter Debrin warned.
The protests will certainly spread if European officials fail to address the negative impact of mass tourism on the lives of the local population, DeBrin says, noting that the situation in Spain has become very volatile, as the coming of civil society and its attempt to bring about change is critical, after all elected officials must respond to what the residents of their cities want.
He cited the 2021 ban on large cruise ships in Venice, Italy, which was passed after protests by residents, as cruise ships no longer pass through the Grand Canal, but are now docked away from Venice, helping to preserve the city ’ s structural and environmental integrity.
But despite the decision to ban large cruise ships in Venice, passengers continue to flock to its narrow lanes in the thousands, with Venice expected to attract about 540,000 cruise passengers this year, an increase of 9 percent compared to 2023, according to the North Adriatic Ports Authority.
In a bid to reduce crowds, Venice has imposed a 5 euro ($5.45) tourist tax on peak days this year, a measure that has so far failed to rein in tourist numbers, Euronews reported.
Quality rather than quantity tourism
Like Venice, Barcelona residents have long struggled with the global popularity of their city: every year, fewer locals say tourism benefits the city, while more people feel it is harmful, according to a survey conducted by the Barcelona City Council in 2023.
UNESCO ’ s Sustainable Tourism Project Chief Officer Peter Debrin believes that Barcelona, which handles too many travelers, could join cities and countries that rely on a “quality over quantity ” tourism strategy – prioritizing high-spending travelers, rather than budget ones – a strategy that gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, when safety and employment concerns pushed destinations around the world to take in fewer affordable travelers. Instead of a lot of budget travelers.
Debrin said Barcelona ’ s reliance on a “quality rather than quantity ” tourism strategy helps correct another problem plaguing the city: tourists who behave badly, noting that for Barcelona residents, it ’ s not just about visitor numbers, but also how people behave, with Spaniards complaining for years about tourists drinking too much, throwing garbage and cigarettes on the streets.
Debrin called on tourists to be more aware in their travel decisions, suggesting focusing on beautiful cities with fascinating tourist and cultural attractions, which are in need of more tourists.
Civil Society Demands
Civil society groups are calling on Barcelona officials to implement a number of policies aimed at “declining tourism growth, ” such as increased tourism taxes, restrictions on cruise ships, and restrictions on short-term rental housing, just like the steps being explored in Amsterdam to crack down on buses, boutiques, new hotels and short-term rentals. In 2023, it asks some visitors, especially young British tourists, to“ stay away ” if they are travelling to the city for drugs or partying.
The most popular Spanish cities with tourists
The General Coordinator of the Association of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Mediterranean States (ASCAME) Anwar Zebawi, said in an interview to the site "Economy dot Gulf", that some tourist destinations in Spain already suffer from the problem of overcrowding, and these destinations are Barcelona, Malaga, Madrid and Valencia, as these four cities attract tourists more than their capacity, and the problem is that the largest number of these tourists, come in specific months of the year. Sixty percent of all tourists who visit Barcelona each year do so during the months between July and September, creating severe congestion, while the other 40 percent is spread over the rest of the year.
Amplify for protests
Zibawi stressed that what everyone should realize, is that there is a kind of amplification of the recent protests in Barcelona,   the city has not witnessed "major" demonstrations against tourists, as the problem of the local population is never with tourists, and the people who have been sprayed with water, very few and may not exceed the fingers of one hand, pointing out that what happened was directed against those who rent houses as hotel houses. Real estate, largely, deprived the local population, especially young people, of the possibility of obtaining apartments at an appropriate rental price.
Causes of tourist overcrowding in Barcelona
Zibawi explains that one of the reasons that contribute to excessive tourist congestion in Barcelona,   is to allow tourists to stay in tourist houses and chaos in this area, the city contains about 10 thousand houses that have a license to do these works, while there are about 30 thousand hotels operating without a license and in a way contrary to the law, the offer of houses for rent at competitive prices, in addition to cheap flights available in Europe make the cost of travel to Barcelona tourist destinations. This has exacerbated the phenomenon of excessive tourism.
European cities where protests could spread
According to Zibawi, the European cities that can witness objections from the local population because of their suffering from excessive tourism, are Rome, Venice, some Italian islands, Crete in Greece, and some other Greek islands, while Amsterdam in the Netherlands, suffer from the problem of excessive tourism only, in some weeks of the year, especially at the end of the year. year.
Paris found a solution.
Zibawi pointed out that Paris had a major problem with the subject of overcrowding of tourists, and therefore prevented the work of hotel houses and raised the prices of hotels, where she saw that these steps contribute to making the cost of travel high, which prevents the tourist who does not have enough money to come, and this limits the phenomenon of overcrowding, pointing out that if the principle of quality tourism instead of quantity in Barcelona, this may solve the problem of overcrowding and contribute to the distribution of tourists in other areas. Spain.
Solutions that can be resorted to
For his part, Amer Daboussi, executive partner of Eagle Travel Travel, said in an interview with Eqtisad.al-Khaleej that cities suffering from tourist congestion can face this phenomenon by adopting a policy of "quality rather than quantity", where this policy focuses on imposing high standards of hospitality to attract rich or well-resourced tourists, and get rid of the large numbers of tourists from the middle category. h its reception, which reduces the negative effects on the local community.
Dabbousi believes that cities can also resort to the solutions of imposing tourism taxes on foreign visitors, raising hotel prices, restricting the work of hotel house rental applications by imposing financial fees on these apartments and using the revenues collected to improve infrastructure in tourist areas, in addition to the need for affected countries to market new tourist destinations within them, which contributes to attracting visitors to areas outside the main tourist centers.
Excessive damage from tourism
Cities facing the challenges of overcrowding, such as Bangkok in Thailand, Paris in France and New York in the United States, as well as some Greek and Spanish cities, must take measures to manage tourism sustainably and distribute tourism pressure in a way that preserves the quality of life of local residents and respects local culture. Eat and drink, making life more expensive for local residents.
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Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
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In Spain, for example, the country attracted 85 million visitors in 2023, causing overcrowding and affecting locals, particularly in cities like Barcelona, which received 7.8 million visitors in 2023.

The city of Venice has also been severely impacted by overtourism, with 50,000 locals and over 50,000 daily tourists, leading to the implementation of measures such as banning large cruise ships in 2021 and imposing a 5 euro tourist tax to reduce crowds.

Title:

Content: Point of view
Lin Chi-yin
Lin Chi-yin: "Traveling Everywhere" and "Over-Travel"
Earlier, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Hsia Baolong, advocated the concept of “travel everywhere ” to fully explore Hong Kong ’ s tourism resources.
To speed up the implementation of the concept, the authorities are planning to set up a "special class" to bring together people inside and outside the Government for in-depth discussions.
In recent days, officials and legislators have expressed their views on the development of "red tourism", exploring new spots in the community, beautifying the streets, and presenting some scenes in the movies.
Simply put, it may be the story behind the attraction, or the accumulated word of mouth on social media, and every tree and grass anywhere can become a tourist attraction.
Of course, the author hopes that the "class" can launch various new ideas; and since the task of the class is to implement the concept of "travel everywhere", then how to implement the concept is the best for Hong Kong, the industry, the community and the public, the class can not ignore.
The University of Hong Kong campus has been forced by tourists, and the school has implemented reservation measures this month.
HKU itself has a complete management structure, and the university can still implement crowd control according to the situation. However, if some scenic spots that go deep into the community or even close to residential buildings are really "red hot", it may not be easy to implement crowd control.
“Everywhere travel ” is a concept, the key to implementation lies in the ability of the authorities to foresee problems. If you rely only on“ see and see ”, it is very likely that good things will turn into bad things.
“Aggressive ” Travel
In 2018, the word “overtourism ” was chosen as the Oxford English Dictionary ’ s word of the year, referring to the negative effects of overloading the area, declining quality of life and environmental damage caused by the influx of tourists to tourist attractions.
For example, Venice, Italy, which has long been affected by “overtourism ”, is not a“ once in a lifetime ” – the local population is only 50,000, and the number of daily tourists has exceeded the local population; during peak season, the number of daily visitors has even doubled.
I have friends who visited the place more than a decade ago, and they all agreed to say that people are crowded and will not go again.
In addition to Venice, some European cities or small islands with a tourism-led economy (such as the Canarias in Spain) also face the problem of job opportunities, high prices, and a homogenization of shops. Multinational companies invest heavily in hotels and holiday cottages, which also lead to higher rents, which locals can ’ t afford.
Even if tourism brings a lot of jobs to the region, it does not mean that the average person can earn a living wage.
People in these places understand the importance of tourism to the local economy, but they do not want the tourism industry to be unlimited, resulting in the resources of the whole place are only for the service of tourists.
"Tourism Hazards" and How to Deal with them
In Japanese society after the epidemic, a similar term, "tourism nuisance", has also appeared to describe problems such as traffic, noise, nuisance, and garbage pollution caused by too many tourists.
This phenomenon, in addition to the popularity of exchange rates, affordable air tickets, and people's desire to travel after the epidemic, social media will also have the effect of focusing on specific hot spots.
In the era of image-led, everyone can follow the picture, some places that were not originally planned as tourist attractions have begun to face sudden overcrowding.
Hong Kong people who love to visit Japan will not be unfamiliar with two “attractions ”: the Daokou near Enojima Electric Railway ’ s Kamakura University Station, and a Lawson convenience store in Kawaguchi-cho.
The former is the "holy place" of the popular manga "When Men are in the bottle". In recent years, the crossing has been congested with traffic due to frequent visits by tourists to "punch", local people can not get on the electric train, and some tourists are dangerous for taking good photos. Lawson is also a "punch" attraction, and the picture is a convenience store with a beautiful view of Mount Fuji. of tourists are constantly crossing the road and parking without permission, causing local residents to feel troubled.
Too many tourists can also lead to a decline in the quality of service, even in Japan, which values the spirit of “work people ”.
When I visited Japan last year, I saw some shops find ways to deal with “tourism hazards ” on their own, such as not allowing diners to take photos in the store, so that after the photos are uploaded to social media, it will cause more people to come and see them; limiting the number of diners to the number of people that the staff can serve, even if the seats are not full.
However, some tourists always find it difficult to understand the intentions behind these arrangements, and I have heard some tourists complain: "Obviously there is still a place, why not let us sit?"
When these conflicts can no longer be handled by businesses and residents themselves, how to strike a balance between “tourism ” and“ public nuisance ” will gradually become a policy issue.
The most extreme way to deal with it is to “eliminate ” popular attractions – coincidentally, the authorities of Kawaguchiko recently erected a 20-meter-long and 2.5-meter-high“ black curtain ” in front of Lawson to drive away tourists who came to take photos.
The reason why the authorities have to take extreme measures is that management alone can not prevent tourists from rushing out of the road, which is actually to "play the spot".
In addition, there are more and more tourist cities and hotspots charging tourists "admission fees" or "admission fees", but this method can not play a large role.
In Venice, for example, the city has been charging a 5 euro entry fee (about HK $42) to “overnight ” travelers since last month.
However, these fees simply cannot curb the huge demand for tourists, and the revenue is mainly used as a financial source to cope with "excessive travel", which can only cure the symptoms, not the root cause.
The Real Meaning of “Travel Everywhere ”
At this point, some people may point out that the above problems will only become problems if we succeed in attracting tourists to Hong Kong; what we have to focus on is how to get more people to come to Hong Kong.
However, how much tourism can bring to a city depends on the management and policies of the city, not on the remedial measures that can be taken.
Although the share of tourism industry in Hong Kong's economy is far less than that of the "tourist city" mentioned above, Hong Kong can't wait to see that other places are looking for countermeasures for the "tourism nuisance", and even start to turn to attack, redefine the tourism industry from the planning level and actively promote tourist education.
In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for example, the government announced last month that it would ban new hotels and limit the number of cruise ships to return the city to a livable and tourism-friendly city. In Kamakura, Japan, people are no longer concentrated at certain points by decentralizing transportation (such as the launch of electric tricycle rental business) and proactively promoting multiple circumnavigation routes (such as the travel routes at 13 locations of Kamakura Shogunate).
The main disadvantage of post-event remediation is that the difficulty and cost of solving the problem are greatly increased, which will also affect the experience of tourists. More than 10 years ago, the North District of Hong Kong also experienced a pharmacy every few steps, and the situation of residents in the North District driving out water consignors on their own, which hurt the feelings of the people of the two places.
In particular, there are many policy issues that can be foreseen in advance, and we do not have to go through them personally before we know what the problem is (for example, the legal problems faced by cleaners under the garbage levy will not be known until the moment of trial).
Since there is a great deal of experience and policy measures in various places to refer to, the “Special Class ” must also strike a balance between tourism and city operations when formulating tourist routes and supporting packages, otherwise the attraction will only lead to losses. After the city of Kamakura solved the problem of overcrowding of tourists, the tourism industry representative of Kanagawa Prefecture (that is, the seat of Kamakura City) pointed out:“ Attraction is not tourism. ” The amount of time it takes to win is certainly not appropriate.
“Travel Everywhere ” is not just about adding tourist attractions, but promoting quality tourism in a more nuanced and proactive way to avoid problems.
The author is a public policy consultant.
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[Lin Chi-yin]
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Other European cities, including Rome, Amsterdam, and Paris, are also struggling with overtourism, with issues such as rent prices pushing out local tenants, narrow roads becoming jammed with tourist vehicles, and tourists being unable to view landmarks due to crowds.

Title:

Content: Point of view
Chan Chi-yuen
Chen Zhiyuan: What “results ” should the travel industry pursue?
We need to abandon the "explosive" development.
Competition in the tourism industry between cities is cruel, but many people do not realize that we are at a critical moment and the situation is not optimistic.
At present, Hong Kong is facing a double challenge: we must strive to re-welcome tourists as soon as possible through customs clearance, but we must also strive to get rid of the turbulent and depleted tourism ecology in the past, and change our minds to the strategy and track of sustainable development, instead of creating social conflicts and affecting the quality of life of our citizens.
This is not only about the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people, but also about whether the development of tourism can be placed in a more macro strategic pattern, so that the tourism industry can enhance its status as a city and cultural soft power, rather than becoming a drag on it in turn.
In the past, we have continuously missed opportunities for change, and time does not wait for people. Today's (again) inaction will only further weaken the cultural competitiveness of Hong Kong.
In terms of welcoming tourists again, when we were shaken by the fifth wave of the epidemic, many tourist cities that “coexist with the virus ” have been reopened to tourists, and flights have resumed, and the tourism industry has officially begun to recover.
In the past few months, Hong Kong has paid a huge social and economic price for "dynamic zero clearance". Unfortunately, the virus has never been cleared. Coupled with measures such as quarantine and flight fusing, the opportunity to restart the travel industry has long been taken by others.
Pursue sustainable and managed growth
Reflecting on the sustainable development of the travel industry, we are not making any progress.
Although the new coronavirus has disrupted the world, the epidemic is a rare opportunity to transform the tourism industry and promote change if we take a "half cup full" attitude.
Unfortunately, what the fifth wave of the epidemic reflects is that Hong Kong's ability to deal with the crisis has also been questioned, and the industry has not seen the will to find a way out and break through.
The situation is stronger than people, trapped in the blind alley of clearing, the tourism industry can only "hanging salt water" survival, survival has become a problem, inevitably can only focus on the current difficulties, all the long-existing structural problems and "deep contradictions" in the tourism industry, can only continue to be put on one side.
It can be predicted that one day the customs clearance will be lifted and the tourism industry will reopen, and I believe that we will only go back to the old road (to put it bluntly, we will continue to "eat the old money") and miss another opportunity for change.
If "taking results as the goal" is the policy objective for the future, we need to ask: What kind of "results" should we pursue when it comes to tourism?
In the past, Hong Kong's "tourism planning" was actually rather passive, basically dominated by the industry and the market, while the cities only cooperated passively; and the "results" pursued were often only focused on current profits, striving for more tourists to come to Hong Kong and higher tourist consumption, which became the absolute goal of tourism development.
This kind of passive development, with short-term benefits in mind, also makes the city can only follow the waves and passively provide tourism resources until the place is exhausted (that is, “played out ”).
The tourism industry has exploded and reached saturation in the shortest possible time. As a result, when the boom is full of people and people, it can not enhance the value of the place, and there is no reason to let people forget to return and continue to come.
Passively catering to the tourist market, blindly pursuing the number of tourists, exceeding the city's capacity, and sacrificing the quality of life of the citizens are outdated "results".
If Hong Kong is to become a great tourist city, we must not let the past "surge" development, but pursue a sustainable and controlled growth: profitability is important, but only if we have a win-win relationship with the city, with the goal of making the city more livable and enhancing its cultural status.
Promote culture and natural advantages to attract the "right tourists"
At the very least, we need to have a more holistic view of the overall tourism resources: what places must be kept as they are?
Where can I develop properly?
What community ecological and cultural experiences must be protected?
What regional projects need support and innovation?
The core is to deeply understand their own historical, cultural and natural advantages, strive to manage and protect their irreplaceable attractions, and encourage cultural innovation to promote these advantages, then focus on attracting the "right tourists", so that they continue to come, not just to see the flowers, fast and fast.
To stand out from the fierce competition in today's tourism industry, this is the vision and pattern that should be.
Develop a Sustainable Tourism Strategy as soon as possible
Proactive planning of the tourism industry requires government and policy intervention.
If there is no surprise, the next government will set up a new Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, which is certainly worth watching, especially to overcome the problems of many different policies and lack of coordination in the past tourism planning; but just like the car components are re-matched to make the engine smoother, it is also useful to find the right direction of travel, otherwise it will only be a wrong way.
In addition to the restructuring, it is also crucial to formulate a sustainable tourism development strategy as soon as possible, and to have a specific task force with relevant cultural perspectives. Continue to conduct cultural tourism resource surveys, successful case studies, and dare to carry out sustainable tourism pilot projects in local areas (such as “local innovation ” programs in Japan and Taiwan). Market, preservation of monuments, street performances and arts, rural revitalization, etc.).
These changes cannot be postponed because time really does not wait for people.
Co-founder and CEO of Walk in Hong Kong
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[Chen Zhiyuan]
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Sedona Film Festival presents ‘Crowded Out’

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring over-tourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts. (Image provided by SIFF)

Originally Published: September 14, 2022 8:43 p.m.

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the third film in its four-week Sustainable Tourism Film Series. “Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will show on Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre at 4 p.m. The event will also include a selection of “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” short films along with a panel discussion.

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring overtourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts.

Overtourism occurs when there are too many visitors to a particular destination. When rent prices push out local tenants to make way for holiday rentals, when narrow roads become jammed with tourist vehicles, when tourists cannot view landmarks because of the crowds – these are all signs of overtourism.

And it is the backlash from local residents that has made overtourism news. Cities such as Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik, and places once thought of as remote such as Iceland and Skye have suffered firsthand, and the protests by local residents have spread.

There has been decades of virtually uncontrolled growth, and it has crossed a threshold: in many destinations, tourism now demonstrably creates more problems than benefits.

This special event will also include a selection of short films from “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” This series includes short-form documentary films, featuring insightful stories from the global travel and tourism sector showing how they are driving sustainable travel and protecting these precious destinations.

Following the screenings, there will be a panel discussion with representatives the City of Sedona, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Keep Sedona Beautiful and the tourism and hospitality industry here.

“Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.

The final film in the Sustainable Tourism Series is:

Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. “Vendemmia”

The social impacts of overtourism are significant, with local residents often struggling to cope with the influx of tourists, leading to protests and calls for increased tourism taxes and restrictions.

In Barcelona, for example, residents are struggling with the global popularity of their city, which is leading to increased costs of living and a decline in the quality of life.

The economic impacts of overtourism are also substantial, with the tourism industry contributing significantly to the local economy, but also leading to issues such as over-reliance on tourism, seasonal fluctuations, and a lack of investment in other industries.

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Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
The Guardian: Tourism contributes significantly to the climate crisis
It is a terrible paradox of the climate crisis that some of the most beautiful – and popular – places in the world are also the most vulnerable, especially as most of them have poor infrastructure, which means that with rising temperatures, increasing weather extremes, drying up water sources and the death of natural habitats, these places face another devastating loss, especially tourists.
Tourism contributes significantly to the climate crisis – around 8% of global emissions – and hordes of visitors cause many problems, including excessive development and degradation of natural areas.
The revenue generated by tourists can bring enormous economic benefits to these destinations, and many do not own other forms of industry or otherwise rely on extractive industries such as mining or logging.
She added that tourism can also spread awareness of environmental problems, such as bleaching coral reefs or endangered animal species, and provide funding for conservation efforts.
This complex relationship was highlighted during the coronavirus outbreak, when tourism stopped, carbon emissions dropped, wildlife flourished, and leatherback turtles in Thailand laid the largest number of eggs in two decades, but all this has come at a cost, with the global tourism industry taking a heavy toll, triggering an emergency in developing countries, families struggling to find food, illegal logging in some places has increased, and overfishing has increased.
As the rebuilding of tourism begins, it has become impossible to ignore that the future of the industry is inextricably linked to the climate crisis.
Instead of becoming a major cause of the climate crisis, tourism can be used to raise awareness, increase tourism resources and improve infrastructure.

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Retaliatory tourism in Europe, lack of work, excessive pain training, 6 hours online
2022 / 7 / 26 16: 42 （ Updated on 7 / 26 17: 13 ）
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Europe ’ s tourism industry is facing its first major peak season after the outbreak of the pandemic, but the shortage of manpower is the biggest problem, with the World Travel and Tourism Association estimating that there are 1.2 million related jobs in the 27 EU countries to be filled.
A worker eats breakfast on the street in Vienna. (Image from Unsplash Gallery)
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(Central News Agency reporter Tian Xi such as Taipei, 26) The tourism industry, which has held up the hope of the European economy, is facing its first big season after the outbreak of the epidemic, but the shortage of manpower is the biggest problem.
The World Travel and Tourism Association estimates that there are 1.2 million vacancies in the 27 EU countries. Europe ’ s largest hotel chain admits that those without experience are hired within 24 hours and trained within 6 hours.
Europe ’ s tourism industry has been hit by disasters for more than two years. In addition to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) epidemic, there are two major events.
First, Brexit has made the customs clearance of both sides of the border more troublesome, for example, the US political news media Politico reported that passengers from the southern British port of Dover (Dover Port) to enter Europe by boat from France, entry checks are more than in the past several hours, British public opinion suspect that the French are inefficient, and France opposes who is to blame for leaving the EU.
On the other hand, the Russian-Ukrainian war disrupted the pace of tourism recovery in Eastern Europe, while southern Europe has been flooded with tourists since the spring, and even inflation has caused prices to rise.
Inmaculada Benito, head of tourism at the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), told the Financial Times: “The desire to travel is strong and tourists don ’ t worry much about prices. ”
The European Travel Commission pointed out that last year, when countries began to relax control of the epidemic, tourism revenue contributed to the EU ’ s overall economy rose to 30.4%, and 571,000 new jobs were created, and this year the World Travel and Tourism Association (WTTC) predicted that tourism will return to its pre-epidemic status and contribute to the EU economy to 32.9%.
However, it depends on how the labour market looks. The WTTC estimates that 1.2 million tourism-related jobs remain unfilled in the EU, including more than 20% in the aviation and accommodation sectors, posing a major risk to the recovery of Europe ’ s tourism economy.
The Financial Times reported that Europe ’ s tourism industry lost 9.3% of its workforce in 2020, and the outbreak of the new strain of Omicron in the second half of last year has slowed the demand for employment, with many moving to industries such as delivery, sharing, construction and warehousing that are less affected by the outbreak.
According to the Shengen Visa News, the pandemic has changed the minds of travel professionals, and cooking, cleaning and hosting tasks that cannot be done remotely are more likely to pose health risks.
In addition, governments ’ administrative barriers to immigration also limit the availability of human resources.
George Valsamis, the head of boutique hotels in the Greek resort of Santorini, cited another reason for the job vacancy in a Financial Times interview: overtourism, he said that the Greek island is not able to serve so many people.
In addition to the overcrowding of tourists, employees of the tourism industry often overwork, and the environment of employees' dormitories in small islands such as Mykonos and Santorini is also deteriorating, because the houses are rented out by tourists.
Accor, Europe ’ s largest hotel group with hotel chains such as Sofitel and ibis, began trying to hire inexperienced staff in late June.
“We interviewed people with no resumes and no relevant experience, and they were accepted within 24 hours, ” CEO Sebastien Bazin told Reuters.
He said students, immigrants from North Africa, were their new source of manpower, and the newcomers had to learn while doing six hours of training.
In an effort to attract talent, hotel owners have raised salaries, benefits, and vacations, such as dividends or even let employees stay directly in hotel rooms.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said at a forum in June that “tourism must be attractive not only to tourists but also to employees. ”
For travelers, the result of a lack of work at the hotel is a reduction in service.
European hotel operators responded by not serving lunch, not picking up wedding or baptism dinners, stopping spa facilities, not providing shuttle buses, and reducing bar hours.
In addition, not only does the increase in oil prices make air tickets more expensive, but the lack of manpower at airports and airlines also makes flights shorter and the range longer due to factors such as connecting.
According to Hannah Free, an analyst at GlobalData, British Airways cancelled 13% of its summer flights and easyjet lost 11,000 flights during the summer holidays. The reason for both companies is that they are short of staff, but Fu believes that the airlines are not prepared to hire in advance for the post-epidemic recovery.
She also said that in the travel industry ecosystem, such as travel agencies and car rental companies, some operators have had financial difficulties during the epidemic, which has also brought about a chain effect, making the recovery of flights less than expected.
Cristina Siza Vieira, executive vice president of the Portuguese Hotel Industry Association, told the Financial Times that "the era of fast, frequent and cheap holidays is over". (Editor: Wei Shu) 1110726
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In addition, the tourism industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers, with 1.2 million tourism-related jobs remaining unfilled in the EU, and a decline of 9.3% in the workforce in 2020.

The environmental impacts of overtourism are also severe, with issues such as pollution, waste management, and degradation of natural habitats.

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Content: Featured ArticlesInternational
World Travel and Tourism Summit reveals global climate footprint data for travel and tourism
Regions _ Followers
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched environmental and social research on the climate footprint of the global travel and tourism industry.
This came during the 22nd World Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council, organized by the World Travel and Tourism Council in cooperation with the Global Center for Tourism Sustainability in the capital Riyadh.
Environmental and social research covers 185 countries on all continents, the first of its kind at the international level, and will be updated annually with the latest figures, including measures that monitor the sector ’ s impact on a range of indicators, including pollutants, energy sources and water use, as well as social data, age data and gender wages in jobs related to the travel and tourism sector. Accuracy.
Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), announced in her opening speech the results of Environmental and Social Research (ESR).
One of the largest research projects, the World Travel and Tourism Council will be able to provide accurate reports and track the impact of various industry activities on the environment.
She explained that the tourism and travel sector is making great strides in decarbonization, stressing a focus in increasing the production of sustainable aviation fuel supported by government incentives, and also to greater use of renewable energy in national public electricity grids so as to promote the use of sustainable energy in hotel rooms.
The sector ’ s 8.1% share of the carbon footprint can be impacted by becoming more efficient and decoupling growth from the amount of energy consumed starting today, she said, noting that every decision and every step towards change will lead to a better and brighter future for all.
For his part, His Excellency the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ahmed Al-Khatib, expressed his pleasure for the participation of the World Travel and Tourism Council in this important research that will follow the impact of future activities, stressing that the Kingdom recognizes that travelers and investors want policies that promote sustainability in the sector and that the Kingdom has embarked on a phase to make it a leader in the field of sustainable tourism.
“Within the framework of the Saudi Green Initiative, we launched more than 60 initiatives last year to achieve this goal, the first batch of initiatives was investments in the green economy worth more than $186 billion, ” he said.
Previous estimates have indicated that the global travel and tourism sector is responsible for up to 11% of all global emissions, however, leading research by the World Travel and Tourism Council shows that the sector ’ s total greenhouse gas emissions reached only 8.1% in 2019 globally. Thermal.
These emissions have continued to decline continuously since 2010, as a result of technological developments, as well as the introduction of a number of energy efficiency measures to activities within the sector. Between 2010 and 2019, the GDP of the tourism and travel sector grew at a rate of 4.3% annually, while its environmental impact increased by only 2.4%.
The World Travel and Tourism Council will continue to release new data on the sector ’ s performance in these indicators over the course of 2023.
Governments around the world will have a tool to guide their decision-making and more accurately accelerate the process of environmental change.
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Content: « Agriculture »: Cotton wood is lost gold is considered a wasted national wealth
Alsawy Ahmed
4: 48 PM, Sunday, 22 May 22
Prof. Dr. Amal Saber, former head of research and director of the Cotton Institute, said that she considers cotton a magical plant should not believe that its economic value lies in a hair only, which is called white gold, but cotton speeches have an economic importance submerged and lost, so she called it another type of gold called yellow gold, which represents additional income for cotton farms because it enters as a raw material in the manufacture of hundreds of non-traditional economic products It is the subject of this news and is being registered as patents, which enriches the research work of the Cotton Research Institute at the Agricultural Research Center, where several parties have submitted scientific cooperation protocols to transfer the technology of these innovations to civil society to encourage entrepreneurship, especially young people such as:
1. Producing smart wood resistant to combustion and microbes from cotton wood.
Production of activated charcoal in an innovative and environmentally friendly way and its biological uses and teeth whitening and the production of smart filters for air, water and cars.
3 - Production of non-traditional foods using some components of cotton seeds with components of eggshell powder to produce baked milk juices and explained that the optimal economic use of agricultural waste in this time instead of burning it is one of the most important strategic goals of the Egyptian state for sustainable development.
She described the agricultural waste of the cotton crop as a wealth that must be preserved and this is due to the fact that Egypt is one of the poor countries in the so-called “biomass ” energy, which is trees, forests and plant waste, as the area cultivated by them in Egypt represents only 4% of the value of the total area, and therefore the burning of this agricultural waste is a waste of new renewable energy. My crop produces from 5 to 6 tons of residues, which is mainly a mine of organic materials, where 40-50% of them are organic components such as heme cellulose, cellulose, embryo, ash and other important organic materials.
Saber stressed that huge quantities of chemical fertilizers, water and human effort have been used to produce them, so the importance of safely benefiting from the agricultural waste of the cotton crop instead of burning it by turning it into environmentally friendly economic products is important and urgent.
It was found that the burning of cotton wood by some farmers after harvesting affect the vital and organic components in the soil as a result of its impact on the natural and chemical properties of the soil such as ventilation and humidity level, and reduce the microbial content in the surface layer of the soil and a serious pollutant to the environment, which leads to waste huge amounts of billions of pounds annually if these wastes are recycled in a way The environmental impacts of the recycling process are:
1.
Reducing the burning of waste on the surface of the soil, which leads to the elimination of organisms beneficial to the agricultural soil, which increases its fertility and burning organic matter in the surface layer and the entry of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the agricultural soil and at the expense of oxygen necessary to breathe plants and microorganisms in the soil, which hinders their spread and reproduction, reducing soil fertility and turning the soil into a deadly substance to natural enemies of insects and pests It also leads to the deterioration of existing vegetable crops as well as fruit trees in neighboring fields other than high temperatures and the escalation of carbon dioxide, which increases global warming.
2.
Contribute to reducing the severity of the black cloud to protect the air from the products of burning these wastes and the money of health return on citizens as the increase of pollution in the air as a result of burning agricultural waste affects the new buildings sealed and air-conditioned that does not have proper ventilation, which leads to what is known as the disease phenomenon of buildings. With pollution increasing to more than $500 million a year.
As well as the occurrence of health diseases (chest allergy, inflammation in the eye, high inflammation of the sinuses and throat, weakness of the immune system) resulting from the burning of cotton waste where the smoke containing carbon dioxide rises and leads to constriction in the airways and thus lack of oxygen and the occurrence of shortness of breath and asthma.
In addition, smoke from organic and inorganic fires has about 11 carcinogens.
3.
The recycling of agricultural waste contributes to the environmental awareness of citizens and spare farmers the resort to burning agricultural waste, which gives an example to citizens to encourage them to work collectively in the face of their problems.
4.
In the tourism sector, the focus of the tourist when planning to travel is on the cleanliness of the environment by 60%, and therefore we lose more than 4 million and 200 thousand tourist nights worth 500 million, especially in the months of burning cotton waste.
5.
Accidents occur between cars when agricultural waste is burned on the highway and fires occur.
6.
Reducing the annual environmental expenses incurred by the state after burning the slate, where the state spends about 6.5% of the national product on environmental treatmentThe social effects of recycling cotton waste are:
7.
Contribute to solving the problem of unemployment by providing real and stable job opportunities for young people of both sexes.
8.
Improving human health.
9.
The economic return of the recycling process to produce these innovative products increases investment opportunities and national income and increases farm income.
10.
Producing these products with local raw materials and saving hard currency by not importing them.
11.
Reduce treatment costs as a result of air pollution.

In Venice, for example, the high volume of tourists is leading to environmental damage, including pollution and erosion of the city's historic buildings and canals.

The tourism sector is responsible for 8.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, although emissions have declined since 2010 due to technological developments.

However, the sector's GDP grew 4.3% annually from 2010 to 2019, and the environmental impact increased by only 2.4% from 2010 to 2019.

Sustainable tourism practices are essential to reducing the negative impacts of overtourism, and many destinations are implementing measures to promote sustainable tourism, such as investing in renewable energy, reducing waste, and promoting cultural and natural heritage.

In Ras Al Khaimah, for example, the government has launched a Sustainable Destination Strategy, aiming to reduce tourism's carbon footprint and promote authentic tourism experiences.

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Content: Skift Take

The UAE’s “Nature Emirate” is on a quest to become a regional leader in sustainable tourism by 2025. Its “Balanced Tourism” approach offers vibrant nature and cultural adventures alongside support and incentives for both new and existing hotels.

As travel returns, destinations and tourism boards pivoting toward sustainability — and those with the most ambitious, authentic, and achievable sustainability goals — will reshape how we travel in the decade ahead. According to Expedia Group Media Solutions’ 2022 Sustainable Travel Study, half of consumers want to see more information on sustainability from destinations.

On a mission to engage this more responsible traveler, Ras Al Khaimah has declared its vision to become the Middle East’s most sustainable destination by 2025, with the goal of attracting over 3 million visitors annually by 2030. Its new “Balanced Tourism” strategy, created in partnership with EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification, and advisory group for travel and tourism, goes far beyond tackling single-use plastic and promoting recycling to scale up sustainability in every sense.

The process began with a policy commitment from Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and its partners across government and industry, before establishing the benchmarks that progress would be measured against. The second part of the sustainability strategy takes the form of two certification programs, one for the destination and one for businesses, the latter looking to drive sustainability certification for at least 30 tourism businesses initially.

To tackle hot-button issues like overtourism, Balanced Tourism encompasses areas including cultural preservation and social and economic sustainability. As Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “Usually everybody only talks about the environmental piece and forgets about the social and the economic piece. We wanted to make sure we were supporting smaller businesses and that whatever efforts we make also keep the local ecosystem, population, culture, and heritage in mind.”

Inspired by the blueprint set by countries like Slovenia, Costa Rica, and Rwanda, Ras Al Khaimah seeks not only to build the foundations for sustainable tourism growth at home but to establish a template for other destinations that wish to make a meaningful impact on sustainability without “greenwashing” or sacrificing tourism goals.

Sustainable Development

Tourism is a central part of Ras Al Khaimah’s economy, contributing over 5 percent of its GDP and providing around 10,000 jobs. However, this growth can also threaten the country’s natural splendor, giving rise to issues like overtourism, population growth, and environmental damage.

One way in which the tourism authority plans to combat this is by taking a measured approach to hotel development. Any property will have to abide by newly introduced green building codes that prioritize sustainable standards in areas such as food waste reduction and sustainable landscaping.

“This green hotel rating is an initiative that aims to achieve 100 percent integrated sustainability in all of Ras Al Khaimah’s hotels,” said Phillips. “We’ve also launched our green public procurement program (GPP) to support the adoption of sustainable procurement practices and produce products and services that have a low environmental impact.”

Take the recently integrated Wynn Resort, set to open in 2026. The brand is known for its pioneering approach to sustainability and energy efficiency, with a target of achieving 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. It has already implemented robust waste management programs at its properties, diverting between 26 percent and 100 percent of waste from entering landfills, as well as reducing water consumption and investing in new waste-to-energy solutions.

Sustainable development is also a question of market positioning, whether to developers, existing hotels, travelers, or the wider world. “We’re open for tourists, and we love welcoming them, but the way we message and position ourselves as a sustainable destination sets a certain expectation,” said Phillips.

Hosting upcoming events like the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2023 will also help set this expectation. Working with hotels to develop value propositions that cater to eco-conscious clients is another. “We want to make sure we are able to drive the maximum amount of profitability for hospitality partners,” said Phillips. “We are talking about a 50 percent five-star inventory.”

This means meeting with local community partners to help them understand how to drive a higher average rate rather than focusing on volume business, as well as setting KPIs and incentivizing with benefits such as tax offsetting. “We rebated 20 percent of the destination fee during Covid to help keep hotels afloat. Now we’ve added that element into sustainability, where based on specific metrics being met, we’re rewarding hotels and businesses,” said Phillips.

Attractions With Purpose

Unlike other tourist destinations in the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah has the advantage of being a developing destination — or what Phillips calls “a destination of the future.” This presents an opportunity to do things differently. And by investing around $140 million into 20 projects that will be built according to these new sustainability standards, Ras Al Khaimah is actively walking the walk when it comes to securing a more sustainable future.

Rather than massive attractions designed to drive mass volumes, the projects chosen have a strong sustainable focus, ranging from 50 kilometers of hiking trails to a tobogganing ride called the Jais Sledder. In the mountains, guests will be able to check into Anavrin Equestrian Resort, a wellness resort focused on “healing with horses” set to open in Q4 2022, and Saij Mountain Lodge, a protected and sustainably managed resort featuring lodges made from natural and sustainable materials, opening on Jebel Jais in 2023. At sea level, the proposed Scallop Ranch at Al Hamra Marina will enhance understanding of the marine ecosystem.

Cultural Conservation

Ras Al Khaimah is home to four cultural and heritage sites that are on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, the most among the Emirates. Preserving and restoring these cultural treasures is therefore a crucial part of its sustainability strategy, providing storied alternatives to crowded heritage sites for curious travelers.

Examples already underway include Suwaidi Pearls Farm, the only site in the UAE which still cultivates local pearls by hand, and Al Jazirah Al Hamra, an ancient pearling village of the Al Zaab tribe. Working with UNESCO experts and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, a program is underway to restore the village using traditional, sustainable materials by 2025, as well as creating curated tours that underpin its unique tribal history.

Community and Liveability

In addition to these cultural restoration projects, the tourism authority is engaging with the local community by staging over 20 events a year, including the RAK Fine Arts Festival, RAK Half Marathon, DP World Tour, and UAE Tour. Its sustainability strategy also involves programs to help the community think more sustainably — for example, it created a Buy RAK program for local suppliers that have a very low carbon footprint, negotiating deals for local fishermen to be able to buy directly. This will be supported by a carbon-mindful event in December to further educate the community.

The tourism authority also acknowledges the importance of employee well-being, having launched RAKFAM, a series of initiatives aimed at enriching connectivity, community life, and facilities for tourism sector employees in the Emirate. With several progressive policies in place to promote employee well-being, the tourism authority was recognized as the sixth-best workplace in the UAE by Great Place to Work for 2022 in the “small and medium organizations” category.

Ultimately, Ras Al Khaimah is pioneering this holistic approach to destination management not just because it’s the right thing to do. “Our customers are demanding it,” Phillips said. “We know travelers are looking for destinations where sustainability is at the forefront.”

For more information about Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, click here.

This content was created collaboratively by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX.

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Title:

Content: Countdown to Expo 2020 Dubai
Ras Al Khaimah launches ‘ Sustainable Destination Strategy ’
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) today launched its Sustainable Destination Strategy, which aims to position the emirate as a regional leader in eco-friendly tourism by 2025.
Ras Al Khaimah ’ s sustainable tourism guidelines include providing authentic tourism experiences by preserving and protecting the surrounding environment; a comprehensive focus on the tourism sector to enable enhanced economic productivity and sustainable development; and improving the quality of life and well-being of citizens and residents through a social approach and environmental objectives based on reducing the sector ’ s carbon footprint.
Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of EcoTourism, said: “The impact of the global pandemic has underscored the unprecedented need to accelerate our ecotourism plans.
Rather than just focusing on the environment, we have also developed our tourism methodology to be more capable of finding effective solutions to all sustainability issues, from preserving cultural heritage; enhancing the mental health of employees; to complying with the highest tourism protocols and achieving carbon reduction targets.
“With this year ’ s Arab and African Hotel Investment Conference under the theme ‘ We Rise Together ’, we stand on the cusp of an ideal period to direct the attention of investors in the sector towards the need to take into account the environment and focus on it first in long-term investments and hospitality projects at the destination.
The strategy follows the recent launch of more than 20 new sustainable tourism initiatives, which together constitute an investment of half a billion dirhams in partnership with RAKHospitality Holding and Ras Al Khaimah Chamber.
Environment
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) is working with Legacy Check, a global network of environmental experts, to develop and implement sustainable practices that address several key issues facing the tourism sector in terms of sustainability and climate change.
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The strategy includes measures such as improving citizens' quality of life, enhancing mental health of employees, and achieving carbon reduction targets.

Other destinations, such as Oman, are also prioritizing sustainability, with a focus on preserving heritage and culture, and promoting luxury and sustainable cruises.

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Content: Muscat : It is necessary to distinguish the tourism market of Oman from other destinations to increase the number of tourists while creating the roadmap on what's the type of nationality that Oman wants, according to a top UN official.

Speaking to the Observer on the sidelines of a regional tourism conference, Natalia Bayona, Executive Director, UN Tourism, said, "To increase the number of tourists, it is essential to have air connectivity, a roadmap on what's the type of nationality that you want and what are the next steps when it comes not only for air transportation, but also to attract luxury and sustainable cruises."

On the visa facilitation report, she said, "We mentioned it briefly. But it's true that the more open a country is, it is for the better because less bureaucracy at the end of the day is for the tourists. I feel it's a very good idea. See the European Union, that's a good example. Nearly 54 per cent of international tourism goes to the European Union."

"At the end of the day, the more open and the more coordinated you are which is much better. It's more efficient, for the tourists," she added.

On sustainability in tourism, Natalia said, "Sustainability is the way you assure economic growth, social impact and growth. And of course, environmental preservation. If you have the three of them, you go into sustainability. So, when you are talking about tourism, the good thing about tourism is that it's the most human economic sector."

"When you are creating a sustainability strategy, you need to think about the three things how tourism is helping your community to evolve in terms of employment, in terms of investments, in terms of social cohesion," she added.

She said that Oman had around 4.5 million tourism arrivals last year and it is not bad when you compare the population. “Compared to Saudi Arabia, which is booming with tourism, the uniqueness of Oman is that preservation of heritage and culture has been made a strategy that is focused on bringing people, but as well to go little by little in the way they get connected to other regions and at the end that can help on the preservation of all the routes that you have here. So, I feel that both models are good. The thing is that they are different on the way.”

2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

In conclusion, overtourism is a complex issue with significant social, environmental, and economic impacts, affecting various parts of the world.

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Content: According to the statistics of the Tourism Bureau, the number of tourists visiting scenic spots last year was about 211 million, a decline of 35.2% compared with the previous year. Based on the recession, the annual domestic tourism output value of about 400 billion yuan was only about 270 billion yuan last year. "We need to put more effort into reimagining tourist attractions, adjusting tourism products, and building a new style," says Cheng.
After the outbreak of the epidemic, some of the lack of competition in the tourism industry is facing a tidal wave, and the market has a mechanism for exiting. For example, in terms of the frequency of travel and the level of consumption, it is likely that there will be further improvements, which will be positive factors for boosting domestic tourism as a whole after the epidemic.
In the case that the road ahead is still full of uncertainty, operators can still regard this crisis as an opportunity to adjust their physical fitness, modify the existing business direction model, and review the customer service needs.
For example, in Taitung, for example, Taitung has the advantage of abundant natural and ecological resources. However, due to its location on the border, the long-term transportation difficulties of railways and highways, expensive air tickets, and the inconvenience of overseas transportation, enterprises' investment in Taitung's tourism industry is mostly discouraged due to transportation costs, and the tourism development of Taitung County has been limited for a long time. The lack of uniqueness reduces the incentive for tourists to be willing to stop.
However, in recent years, Taitung has successfully turned hot air balloons, tourism related industries have flourished, and the surrounding livelihood industries have also risen along with the tide. How to create a reason for tourists to "come to Taitung" from the advantages of Taitung, Taitung has made hot air balloons a sustainable tourism industry, revitalizing Taitung's economy and creating real tourism value.
In the medium and long term, increasing the demand for experiential products is the most inevitable, in order to transform through a long time, the off-season will flourish.
In addition, by classifying consumption and travel product demand, emphasizing the experience culture and improving quality, you can increase the price and increase satisfaction.
In addition, for the medium and remote passenger flow, it is necessary to extend the number of days of travel, make differentiated and customized content, and optimize the development of exquisite travel.
Cheng Yuet-tsai also points out that "perfect itinerary planning can make tourists experience the beauty of the place", because tourism can not only be natural scenery, but also must be accompanied by tourism activities to complement each other. Not only can it bring tourists a deeper travel experience, but it can also achieve the goals of cultural inheritance, education and lifelong learning.
Zheng Yuecai also pointed out that many tourist hotels in China claim to be five-star, but many actually do not participate in the government's star rating, but in the media, advertising confusion, there is a suspicion of deceiving consumers, for the law-abiding investment of tourist hotels business is very unfair.
Due to the current shortage of labor in domestic hotels, the government should reward enterprises that have passed the five-star evaluation and introduce tourism migrant workers to help enterprises solve the manpower dilemma, which can indirectly promote five-star hotels to solve the labor manpower problem and pay attention to improving service quality to achieve a win-win situation.
However, it is worth considering that this phenomenon of "retaliatory travel" has caused the tourists to overload the load of tourist attractions, and the people not only do not get the tourism quality that they deserve, but also cause a serious impact on the local social, cultural and ecological environment. And...
Zheng Yuetai also with many years of experience in the operation of tourist resorts put forward suggestions, scenic spots next to do an important work is to attract domestic tourists, first of all to the domestic young ethnic tourists, and then the urban population, foreign long-distance passenger flow gradually back to the border.
He believes that counties and cities need to strengthen the marketing of tourist attractions, change the image of the reshaping attractions, establish a new image of health and vitality, and also re-establish the confidence of tourists to travel, and promote the government to help the outside world to establish a message of health and safety of domestic tourism.
At the same time, counties and cities affected by the epidemic will have more psychological sympathy after the recovery of the epidemic.
Zheng Yucai believes that whether the tourism industry can recover quickly at the end of the year, in addition to whether the government can put forward favorable policies, the most important thing for the industry is to "self-help". In addition to understanding customer needs, it should also establish its own brand value and establish a deep connection with customers.
When the tourism industry can grasp and properly express the fundamental values that are of great significance to consumers, it will ultimately create deep customer loyalty and create momentum for the sustainable growth of tourism.
Zheng Yucai also said that he hopes that the domestic tourism industry can turn the crisis into a turning point in the post-epidemic era and create new tourism peaks.
# Travel # Zheng Yue Cai # Businessman # Taitung # Tourists

It is essential to implement sustainable tourism practices, invest in renewable energy, reduce waste, and promote cultural and natural heritage to reduce the negative impacts of overtourism.

By prioritizing sustainability, destinations can promote authentic tourism experiences, improve the quality of life for local residents, and reduce the environmental impacts of tourism.

Ultimately, the key to managing overtourism is to adopt a balanced approach, prioritizing the needs of local residents, the environment, and the tourism industry, to create a sustainable and responsible tourism sector.