Overtourism is a significant concern for local communities worldwide, affecting destinations like Tenerife, Ibiza, Barcelona, and Venice.

Tenerife's 600,000 tourist increase from 2019 to 2023 drove up property and rent costs, displacing locals.

In Ibiza, a surge in tourism has caused a housing shortage, forcing locals to leave due to unaffordable rents and mortgages.

Tourism generates significant revenue and employment in Ibiza, accounting for 45% of the island's GDP and creating 200,000 local jobs.

Overtourism in Barcelona has led to a 68% rise in housing costs, sparking local protests as residents struggle to afford rent.

The closure of local shops for tourist businesses in Barcelona erodes community character and identity.

Barcelona is banning tourist apartments from renting starting in 2028 to reduce pressure on housing and local services.

Tens of thousands in the Canary Islands have protested against excessive tourism, citing environmental, housing, and service concerns.

The islands' 2.2 million residents are overwhelmed by 16 million annual tourists, causing overpopulation, biodiversity loss, and a housing crisis.

Residents are demanding limits on tourist numbers and a tourist tax to fund conservation and support local communities.

Overtourism is not unique to these destinations, as cities like Venice, Amsterdam, and Rome also face its negative impacts.

Venice's population has declined 70% since the 1950s due to tourism, eroding community and cultural heritage.

A tourist tax is proposed in the Canary Islands to fund environmental conservation and address over-tourism concerns, where tourism accounts for 40% of employment, yet over 33% of the population lives in poverty.

Destinations like Ras Al Khaimah, Venice, and Taitung are using digital solutions to manage tourist flows and promote sustainability.

These strategies can help mitigate the negative impacts of overtourism and create a more sustainable and equitable tourism industry.

Overtourism is a significant concern for local communities worldwide, affecting destinations like Tenerife, Ibiza, Barcelona, and Venice.

Title:

Content: 'I live in Tenerife - we've had enough of ignorant tourists keeping us up until 3am'

Fed-up locals in Tenerife are gearing up to march against unsustainable mass tourism next month.

By Alice Scarsi, World News Reporter

Fed up locals in Tenerife will take part in a march against overtourism in April (Image: GETTY-STOCK)

Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, welcomed a record-breaking number of tourists in 2023.

Data shared by the local Chamber of Commerce revealed more than 6.5 million people arrived on the island in 2023.

Most notably, the number of arrivals - around five million of which were international - was 600,000 higher than that recorded in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the tourism sector worldwide.

While tourism remains a vital sector for the island's economy, the mass arrivals have become more than a nuisance for many residents.

The large demand for short-term accommodations is one of the factors pushing up the cost of properties and rent, forcing many locals out of their homes and cities.

Particularly in southern Tenerife, some unable to pay rent had to relocate to shanty towns, motorhomes and tents.

Mass tourism is also placing local services and infrastructure under immense strain.

Moreover, as local municipalities are introducing stringent water restrictions amid a drought emergency, residents fear masses of tourists may worsen the situation on the island.

These, however, aren't the only challenging aspects of overtourism.

Josua Garcia-Garcia, 33, who works in a bar in Playas de las Americas, lamented the disregard for rules and lack of manners displayed by some visitors.

Tenerife welcomed a record-breaking number of tourists last year (Image: GETTY-STOCK)

He told the Olive Press: "It can be a nightmare when the tourists come, I only get four hours of sleep every night because of the music and noise, which keeps me up until 3am. We need stricter rules for tourists, a lot of them are ignorant of how we are suffering."

British expat Alex Kelly, 20, who works in the Rejoyce bar in Las Playas de Las Americas, said life in Tenerife has become "tough" in recent years.

Speaking about the eye-watering costs of long-term accommodations, she added: "I’m living with my boyfriend in his parents’ home because we can’t afford to move out.

"I totally get the viewpoint of the anti-tourism people, a lot of young people feel that way, the prices are crazy."

Despite many acknowledging that mass tourism is an increasing issue for Tenerife, other locals realise it is a necessary evil, as much of the economy of the island is based on it.

The frustration expressed by many locals will be publicly voiced next month.

Organisers of the protest taking place on April 20 - many of whom are groups focused on safeguarding the environment - will protest under the slogan "The Canary Islands have a limit. For a change of the model!

Their aim is to highlight how in their opinion the current tourism model has "overwhelmed" the island.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?

Tenerife's 600,000 tourist increase from 2019 to 2023 drove up property and rent costs, displacing locals.

In Ibiza, a surge in tourism has caused a housing shortage, forcing locals to leave due to unaffordable rents and mortgages.

Title:

Content: British tourists warned European island 'doesn't have enough locals left to run things'

Ibiza is the latest holiday hotspot in Spain where anger with overtourism is boiling over.

By Alice Scarsi, World News Reporter

Ibiza welcomes around three million tourists every year (Image: GETTY)

The cost of rents and mortgages, which activists say is being pushed up by over-tourism, is prompting people to leave Ibiza, one of the most popular Balearic Islands.

This, in turn, is harming public services, as there aren't enough people available to work in them, it has been claimed.

Iván Fidalgo, a Guardia Civil officer and local coordinator for the Spanish Association of Civil Guards, told Euronews Travel: "They sell Ibiza as a first-class resort, but it is not because it doesn’t even have the public services because there are not enough people to work in them."

Many of the locals who don't leave the island are forced to leave in cramped accommodations or relocate in caravans, campaigners have claimed.

Ibiza attracts on average three million tourists a year, some 800,000 of which are Britons.

Tourism is an industry important to the economy of the island (Image: GETTY)

In 2023, the Balearics as a whole saw an unprecedented surge of international interest, attracting 14.4 million visitors from abroad - who spent collectively £14.75bn (€17.22bn).

Tourism is a majorly important industry for the archipelago, creating 200,000 jobs locally and generating 45 percent of the islands' GDP.

However, an increased demand for temporary accommodation created by tourism reportedly means that many locals are pushed out of their homes as they are unable to afford the increasing housing costs.

Similar issues are being lamented by activists elsewhere in popular Spanish destinations - including the Canary Islands.

Last month, many of these islands including Tenerife held massive anti-overtourism protests, in which they demanded local governments to limit the number of visitors and curb the development of tourist stays.

Similar pleas were heard on Friday in Ibiza, where around a 1000 people took to the streets of the island's capital to demand limits on the number of tourist arrivals.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?

Tourism generates significant revenue and employment in Ibiza, accounting for 45% of the island's GDP and creating 200,000 local jobs.

Overtourism in Barcelona has led to a 68% rise in housing costs, sparking local protests as residents struggle to afford rent.

Title:

Content: Excessive tourism _ Spanish tourists push up property prices, anger thousands of people in Barcelona
Author: United Morning Post
Published: Updated:
Thousands of demonstrators marched in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday (July 6) to denounce the negative impact of the large number of tourists.
French media reported that under the slogan “Enough! Let ’ s limit tourism ”, about 2,800 people marched in a coastal area of Barcelona.
They called for a new economic model to reduce the number of visits by millions of tourists each year.
"I am not against tourism, but Barcelona is suffering from overtourism, which makes our city unlivable," said one participant.
On July 6, 2024, a large number of demonstrators took to the streets in Barcelona, Spain, to protest against “excessive tourism ” in the area.
(Reuters)
Demonstrators carried banners reading “Less sightseeing now! ” chanting slogans such as“ Tourists leave our community ” and stopping in front of the hotel to the surprise of the tourists.
The cost of housing in Barcelona continues to rise.
According to the local government, the cost of housing has risen 68% over the past decade, as well as the negative impact of tourism on local businesses and jobs in Barcelona, sparking the protests.
June 29, 2024, Malaga, Spain, tourists arrive at Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport and walk inside the passenger terminal while a group of tour guides wait for passengers to cross the border to start work. (REUTERS / Jon Nazca)
One protester said: “Local shops are closing to make way for those that can ’ t meet the needs of the community. ”
People can't afford to pay rent. "
In response to the “negative impact of mass tourism, ” the Barcelona City Council has announced that tourist apartments will be banned from renting from 2028 in order to put them back on the local housing market.
This was opposed by the Tourist Apartments Association, who said it would only help the black market.
On June 29, 2024, Malaga, Spain, tourists walk inside the passenger terminal after arriving at Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport. (REUTERS / Jon Nazca)
Spain is the second most visited European country, receiving 85 million foreign tourists in 2023, an increase of 18.7% over the previous year, just behind France.
The most visited region is Catalonia, which received 18 million visitors last year.
On June 25, 2024, in Ronda, Spain, two German tourists jumped at an attraction and their friends took photos of it. (REUTERS / Jon Nazca)
This article is authorized by the United Morning Post.

The closure of local shops for tourist businesses in Barcelona erodes community character and identity.

Barcelona is banning tourist apartments from renting starting in 2028 to reduce pressure on housing and local services.

Title:

Content: Sunday 07 July 2024
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
Abdurrahim Ali
Editor-in-Chief
Dalia Abdul Rahim
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editorial Board
Abdurrahim Ali
Editor-in-Chief
Dalia Abdul Rahim
The world.
Demonstration in Barcelona against mass tourism
Follow the latest news through the app
Thousands of people demonstrated in Barcelona against excessive tourism, Radio France Internationale reported.
I opened the slogan "Enough!
Some 2,800 protesters, according to police, marched to demand a change in the economic model of the most visited city in the country.
Critics of excessive tourism mainly condemn its impact on housing prices – rents have risen 68% over the past decade, according to the Barcelona City Council – but also its harmful consequences for local businesses, the environment and the working conditions of local employees.
Barcelona received more than 12 million tourists last year, according to the city council.
To facilitate residents ’ access to housing, the city council recently announced its desire to end rental of tourist apartments by 2029.
Spain, the world's second-largest tourist destination after France, welcomed a record 85.1 million foreign visitors last year.
The most visited region was Catalonia with 18 million visitors, followed by the Balearic Islands (14.4 million) and the Canary Islands (13.9 million).
Tourism in Spain accounts for 12.8% of GDP and 12.6% of jobs.

Tens of thousands in the Canary Islands have protested against excessive tourism, citing environmental, housing, and service concerns.

Title:

Content: Excessive tourism is sweeping the archipelago.
Canaries want to “respect the place. ”
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Spain ’ s Canary Islands to protest against excessive tourism they say is sweeping the archipelago.
About 20,000 people, according to police and 50,000 according to organisers, held placards with some reading “Canary Islands are not for sale ” or“ Yes to stop tourism ” and “Respect where I live ”.
The demonstration took place on the streets of the main cities of the archipelago at the invitation of some 20 social and environmental groups who believe that the current economic model is harmful to both the population and the environment, and are demanding that the authorities limit the number of tourists.
One protester told Spanish public television TVE: “We are not against tourism, we are just calling for a change of the current model that allows unlimited growth of tourism. ”
One of the most prominent demands of the demonstrators is to stop the construction of two new hotels in Tenerife, the largest and most developed of the seven islands of the archipelago, and for the residents to have a say in decisions regarding the development of tourism.
Nevis Rodriguez Rivera, 59, told AFP: "We are tired of overpopulation.
“If wealthy foreigners buy land from our ancestors, we don ’ t have the financial means to buy it. ”
The constant influx of visitors is destroying biodiversity and exacerbating the housing crisis by increasing rent, says Antonio Samuel Díaz García, 22.
The Canary Islands off the coast of North Africa attract tourists with its volcanic nature and sunny beaches.
It has a population of 2.2 million and last year attracted 16 million tourists.
Four out of 10 residents work in the tourism sector, which accounts for 36% of GDP.
twitter

The islands' 2.2 million residents are overwhelmed by 16 million annual tourists, causing overpopulation, biodiversity loss, and a housing crisis.

Residents are demanding limits on tourist numbers and a tourist tax to fund conservation and support local communities.

Title:

Content: Today, on April 20, 2024, the Canary Islands are witnessing a widespread protest aimed at challenging the current development model heavily reliant on tourism. This significant event is set to occur simultaneously across all eight islands of the archipelago, as well as in various cities internationally including Málaga, Granada, Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, and Berlin. The protests are unified under the slogan “The Canary Islands have a limit.”

Booking.com

The protest aims to reshape the development strategy on the islands, highlighting concerns about the tourism sector’s role in economic disparity and resource consumption. Despite tourism supporting approximately 40% of employment and being a primary contributor to the GDP, it’s also associated with creating inequalities and not distributing wealth effectively among the local population. This is exemplified by the Canary Islands recording their highest tourist numbers alongside their highest poverty rates in both 2017 and 2023.

Organizers clarify that the intent is not to expel tourists or eliminate the industry but to implement limits and conditions, and address governance that prioritizes economic gains over broader interests. Key issues fueling the protests include:

  1. Low Wages and High Poverty Rates: The Canary Islands have some of Spain’s lowest salaries and a significant poverty rate, affecting over 33% of the population. The islands have experienced rapid population growth, particularly in Tenerife and Fuerteventura, exacerbating these issues.
  2. Environmental and Infrastructure Concerns: Despite having numerous protected spaces, the islands face challenges such as insufficient protection agents and underdeveloped infrastructure in health, education, and sanitation. Notably, several islands struggle with untreated wastewater being discharged into the sea.
  3. Housing and Over-Tourism: The spread of holiday homes has dispersed tourists across the islands, impacting local communities by driving up rental prices and displacing residents. This issue is compounded by the government’s initiatives to attract digital nomads, further straining the housing market.
  4. Legal and Regulatory Challenges: Recent government stances on controversial tourism projects, like those on La Tejita beach and Cuna del Alma in Tenerife, have sparked outrage for perceived favoritism towards developers despite legal infractions.

The protest is seen as a venting mechanism for accumulated frustrations with the aim to initiate significant changes in how the islands develop and manage tourism. Proposals include imposing a tourist tax to fund environmental conservation, enacting a moratorium on new tourist accommodations, and establishing residence laws to curb speculative real estate purchases by non-residents.

This protest is part of a broader call to reconsider the islands’ economic models, prioritizing sustainability and equitable growth over mere economic output. This event might mark the beginning of a significant shift in policy and public discourse around tourism and development in the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands are on track to set a new historical record for tourist arrivals in 2024, continuing a trend of increasing numbers which began in earnest following the pandemic. With official estimates indicating a potential total of around 17 million visitors for the year, this surpasses the previous high of 16.2 million in 2023. These figures are bolstered by a significant recovery in tourism since the slowdown during the COVID-19 years of 2020 and 2021.

This surge in tourism is seen as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it signifies a robust recovery and a boon for the local economy, driven by both foreign and domestic visitors. On the other, it underscores the challenges and pressures faced by the islands, particularly in terms of infrastructure, local community impact, and environmental sustainability. This has led to today’s widespread protests across the Canary Islands under the campaign “Canarias tiene un límite” (The Canary Islands have a limit), highlighting concerns over the sustainability of this growth model.

The protests reflect broader anxieties about the direction of tourism development, which, despite its economic benefits, is perceived to exacerbate local issues such as high poverty rates, environmental degradation, and the displacement of local communities due to rising housing costs. These concerns are amplified by predictions that the influx of tourists may continue to grow, particularly with the diversion of tourists from Eastern Mediterranean destinations affected by geopolitical tensions, such as the conflict in Gaza.

In response to these pressures, there is a growing call for more responsible tourism practices. Organizations like Exceltur advocate for strategies that alleviate the saturation of local spaces and services, promote more sustainable transportation options, and address the social impacts of tourism. This includes managing the explosive growth of vacation rentals, which have significant negative externalities on local residents.

The protests and the ongoing discourse represent a critical juncture for the Canary Islands, as the community seeks to balance the economic advantages of tourism with the need for sustainable development and equitable growth. The outcome of these discussions and the ability of the islands to adapt to these challenges will likely shape the future of tourism and community life in the archipelago.

Booking.com

Overtourism is not unique to these destinations, as cities like Venice, Amsterdam, and Rome also face its negative impacts.

Title:

Content: This complicates the lives of local residents, activists say
PHOTO REUTERS
Thousands of people protesting against tourism came out on Sunday to protest in the Spanish city of Palma de Mallorca, Reuters reported.
According to police, about 10,000 people took part in the demonstration.
Protesters carried makeshift models of aircraft and cruise liners, as well as posters saying “No to mass tourism ” and“ Stop private jets. ”
Protest organiser Pere Joan Femenia told Reuters that protesters want fewer tourists on the island.
“Mass tourism makes life harder for locals who can ’ t afford to live on their own island as tourist apartments inflate prices.
Tourists fill beaches and put a strain on utilities in the summer, ” he said, adding that activists are seeking to “reduce mass tourism and prohibit non-residents from buying homes that are used only a few months a year or for speculation purposes. ”
Anti-tourism activists this year also staged a series of protests in Barcelona and other popular holiday destinations such as Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and the Canary Islands, claiming that visitors are raising the cost of housing and making locals unable to afford to live in the city centre.
According to the National Institute of Statistics of Spain, last year the Balearic Islands became the second most popular region of the country among tourists after Catalonia, receiving 14.4 million tourists.
And in the first quarter of this year, 16.1 million people visited Spain, which is 18% more than in the same period last year.
More on the subject:
Fresh from this section

Venice's population has declined 70% since the 1950s due to tourism, eroding community and cultural heritage.

Title:

Content: It was easy to look away when local protesters sprayed water on surprised tourists snacking on pavement cafes on a recent sunny afternoon in Barcelona, one of Europe ’ s best summer destinations.
But the anti-tourism demonstration here was also a telling snapshot – and a warning – of rising tensions on the continent and beyond, where record travel levels this summer are colliding with climate change, social disparities and capacity even in the most visitor-friendly cities.
If you think the world ’ s tourist hotspots are already saturated, think again – specifically the hitherto untapped markets for international travelers from China and India.
For decades, tourism has been growing around the world, and its impact has varied disproportionately in Europe, especially in the solar belt region of southern Europe.
Barcelona, a magical place whose popularity has skyrocketed since hosting the Olympics 32 years ago, is an example.
In 1990, the overcrowded city of Barcelona, with a population of 1.6 million, hosted less than two million tourists.
This year, city officials expect nearly 13 million arrivals, representing about 38 million tourist nights.
As a result, rents in the city have risen by almost 70% in a decade.
Nearly 150,000 people work in tourism jobs in Barcelona, but many cannot live in the city.
Similar concerns surround Lisbon, Athens, Las Palmas, Ibiza and other major destinations, as these cities are the victims of their tourism-revenue success, but increasingly fear the loss of working-class residents, neighborhood grocery stores — and their lives.
No European city has seen as much tourist density as Venice, where 70% of its population has been driven out since the 1950s, and more than 20 million visitors a year are crowded into the three-square-mile city.
Venice this year imposed an entrance fee of $5.30 on day visitors, a gesture that seems futile.
Reactions and protests by locals against tourist waves are intensifying – not only in southern Europe, but also in Amsterdam, Tokyo, Seoul and elsewhere.
In Barcelona, where tourism was almost universally viewed as positive 15 years ago, nearly a quarter of the population now say it has brought negative impacts.
In Barcelona, I spoke with Jordi Valls, the city ’ s deputy mayor for economy, taxation, economic promotion and tourism, who took office last year.
He soon decided that tourism, which accounts for nearly a fifth of the city ’ s non-public economy, had reached its limits and could not be stopped either.
He said: “I can ’ t control the demand.
I can only influence the show. ”
In pursuit of this goal, the city has banned the renting of rooms in private apartments, and by 2028 plans to cancel another 10,000 short-term rental rooms through Airbnb and similar companies.
The city also raised the municipal overnight tax, capped new hotels in the city centre and legalized the size of tourist groups.
This is difficult enough in some parts of the city, and then there is the long-term pressure exerted by tourists on water, electricity, transportation and other resources.
Writer specializing in European affairs
Published by special arrangement with Washington Post Leasing and Syndication

A tourist tax is proposed in the Canary Islands to fund environmental conservation and address over-tourism concerns, where tourism accounts for 40% of employment, yet over 33% of the population lives in poverty.

Destinations like Ras Al Khaimah, Venice, and Taitung are using digital solutions to manage tourist flows and promote sustainability.

Title:

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.

Up Next

Loading next stories

Title:

Content: Dystopian predictions come true? Venice 's "100 cameras" track the flow of tourists
International Center Chi-Chieh Yeung / General Report
2021-11-15 14: 41: 49
The pandemic has hit the global tourism industry hard. With the increase in vaccine coverage, European countries are preparing to re-welcome international tourists in the near future, with the release of restrictions on entry.
However, for the water city of Venice, the epidemic is a golden period for the city to relax and relax. Once the opening of the tourist waiting list is likely to usher in a huge tourist flow, the mayor of Venice is also ready to activate the charging mechanism and control the flow of people through new technologies such as mobile phone tracking system.
This is an advertisement, please continue reading.
Venetian mayor Luigi Brugnaro has decided to use new technology to control the influx of tourists, including tourists. Cameras, optical sensors and mobile phone tracking systems can be combined with software to monitor where tourists are coming from, where they are going and their movement speed, even basic information such as gender, age and nationality can be mastered.
City officials believe that due to the crowded tourist traffic in Venice, in addition to the burden on the environment and ecology, the local residents are also very inconvenient to live, resulting in a high degree of emigration. This will clearly check whether the city is overcrowded, whether the canal boats or boat people are speeding, etc. Ticket prices vary depending on the season and the crowds, and are expected to range from 3 to 10 euros (about NT $96 to 318).
Some people support policies that help reduce the flow of tourists, but more residents believe that such surveillance and control of people ’ s actions are a dystopian prophecy, with local people describing the future of internal charging as a declaration that Venice is no longer a city but a museum, and local media warning that Venice will become an open-air version of the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. ".
At present, many countries in Europe, in order to revitalize the economy, require people entering and leaving public places to show a "COVID-19 pass" to prove that they are fully vaccinated, have been cured or screened negative, and are committed to promoting vaccination. Venice has to be prepared before the tourist influx.
* [NOWnews Today] Remind you:
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, CDC has continued to strengthen surveillance and border control measures. If you have fever, cough and other symptoms after entering the country, please call the 1922 hotline or 0800-001922.
This is an advertisement, please continue reading.

Title:

Content: Alert
The sixth round of high-end "temporary renewal" will have to wait until this time to add BNT.
Introducing Data Analysis Taitung Joins Vpon to Create Sustainable Tourism
Taitung County government recently promoted the “slow economy ” and developed people-oriented organic tourism. Together with Vpon, the local data industry startup, Vpon helps Taitung County government to carry out digital transformation with big data solutions and people flow data analysis. 100 times sustainable sightseeing environment.
Victor Wu, founder and CEO of Vpon, said that Taitung has always been a popular tourist destination. Data SDK and DMP data are collected, including relevant app user behavior data, traffic, and user travel trends. Make early preparations to face the tourism trend in the post-epidemic era.
Yu Ming-hsun, director of the Transportation and Tourism Development Office of Taitung County Government, said that in addition to the digital transformation of people flow analysis technology provided by Vpon, it is also the first county and city in the country to host a cloud travel exhibition.
The Taitung App also added many new features, such as 4K real-time sightseeing images that allow people to watch the beautiful scenery, virtual integration of AR augmented reality technology, and 360 ° live programming.
In order to allow the citizens of other counties to participate in the 2021 Taiwan International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, Taitung County Government used 360 ° video technology to launch online 360 ° closed-screen live, daily stay 360 ° live, and 360 ° weekend live programs to experience the zero distance of the event.
Vpon is a pioneer in Asian passenger data analysis. In the past, Vpon has cooperated with the Japan Tourism Bureau, Osaka Tourism Bureau and other government agencies at home and abroad to help Taitung focus on promoting local culture and special industries.
Taitung Tourist Cloud
Extended reading
Hsinchu International Kite Festival Launches Live for the First Time on September 4
BNT Vaccine Reservation System crashes
Zi Yu was threatened with death, and her fans rushed to report the shocking message, hoping that the company would protect her.
Three days later, the police confirmed that he was crushed by a motorhome.
Related News
Te Lee Ho Tsai-yung's performance as successor was praised by his father.
Special force CEO He Tong Xiong yesterday (27) talked about the performance of eldest daughter He Caiyong succession, praising her for the correct strategy of opening a small shop in the community, and also mentioned the previous comments, the daughter did not have to adopt, but now with...
UnitedUnitedUnitedUnitedShip Charter
Taili held a shareholders' meeting yesterday (27). CEO He Tongxiong talked about the company 's operation. He said for the first time that the trade industry is booming due to the epidemic, but...
Malicious snatching of the Yantian port. Lots of chaos.
Shenzhen Yantian Port, the world 's largest single container terminal and the most important port in southern China, recently requested container drivers to...
US Seaport Increases Container Freight Rates
The problem of port congestion in the United States has intensified, and the freight price of the Far East-United States line has risen continuously. In the latest week, the Far East-United States rose by 2.4% and the weekly rise reached 9.62%.
The epidemic has slowed down. The Taipei Hall 1 is closed.
The domestic epidemic has slowed down, the hotel industry has resumed its vitality, and the strategic layout has been adjusted accordingly. TSC cooperated with the relief to reduce the rent by 20%, and FURONG Taipei One Hall announced yesterday (27) that the lease was renewed for five years.
The second generation goes out of their own way.
Libao Group 's Ming Xuan Development won the first MRT joint project in Kaohsiung. Wu Hongying, the daughter of Wu Baotian, the chairman of Ming Xuan and the group president, led the company to focus on the northern market in the past.
Product recommendation
udn Forum

These strategies can help mitigate the negative impacts of overtourism and create a more sustainable and equitable tourism industry.

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.
We hope that we have succeeded in conveying the full details of the spraying with water guns..
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
In God ’ s care and protection.
Advertisements
You may also read.