Overtourism is defined as a situation where a destination experiences an excessive influx of visitors, causing overcrowding, environmental degradation, and a diminished quality of life for local residents.

The term gained widespread recognition around 2018, coinciding with mounting global awareness of the socio-environmental problems caused by unsustainable levels of tourism.

The phenomenon is primarily driven by factors such as affordable international travel facilitated by low-cost airlines, the widespread influence of social media platforms that amplify the "Instagram effect" by showcasing and popularizing specific tourist sites, favorable exchange rates that make travel finances easier, and an increased desire to travel post-pandemic as restrictions eased worldwide .

Prominent global hotspots of overtourism include urban and natural destinations such as Venice (Italy), which faces daily visitor numbers exceeding its resident population; Barcelona (Spain), which anticipates approximately 13 million tourist arrivals in 2023 compared to a local population of 1.6 million; Dubrovnik (Croatia), noted for resisting and managing tourist influx; Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), suffering from water pollution due to tourism waste; Mount Fuji (Japan), which experiences overcrowding and associated environmental stresses; and Athens (Greece), where high tourist volumes threaten local traditions and infrastructures .

Social impacts of overtourism prominently manifest as displacement of local residents driven by rising rental prices; this occurs as housing stock is shifted from long-term residency to tourism-oriented short-term rentals, creating affordability crises.

Traditional lifestyles and community cohesion erode, leading to tensions and conflicts between locals and tourists.

For example, Barcelona has witnessed public protests and incidents where residents expressed their frustration through actions such as spraying water on tourists to deter crowds.

In Japan, overtourism issues are locally termed "tourism nuisance," encompassing noise disturbances, traffic congestion, and pollution from garbage accumulation .

Environmental consequences include the degradation of natural and cultural resources.

Fragile ecosystems suffer from overconsumption of resources such as freshwater—for example, Koh Samui island faces water shortages tied to tourist demand.

At sites like Ha Long Bay and the Atacama Desert, tourism-related waste leads to pollution and biodiversity loss.

Historical urban centers like Venice endure structural damage exacerbated by countless visitors, causing subsidence and deterioration of cultural heritage.

Freshwater ecosystems including Lake Superior are also under threat owing to increased human activity associated with tourism .

Economically, overtourism generates both benefits and challenges.

While tourism supports employment and local revenue streams, the rising cost of living often precludes the local workforce from residing within the communities they serve.

Additionally, the presence of multinational tourism enterprises can aggravate precarious labor conditions and inflate property markets, further marginalizing residents.

Destinations like Barcelona exemplify these economic tensions, with local workers increasingly unable to afford housing costs, fostering social dissatisfaction .

Policy responses and mitigation strategies have been progressively adopted in affected areas.

Governments and local authorities employ visitor caps, such as Athens’ control of Acropolis visits, to manage daily tourist flows.

Entrance fees and tourist taxes—Venice’s implementation of a mandatory tax constitutes a notable example—serve dual purposes of revenue generation and demand management.

Municipal governments promote "quality over quantity" tourism approaches that prioritize attracting higher-spending tourists while limiting mass influx.

Barcelona has banned short-term rental apartments and is actively regulating Airbnb listings to alleviate housing pressure.

Amsterdam has also restricted new hotel developments and imposed cruise ship limits to preserve urban livability.

In Japan, efforts focus on distributing tourist routes more evenly by introducing alternatives like tricycle rentals in crowded areas, aiming to manage visitor density and reduce pressure on hotspots .

The COVID-19 pandemic offered an inadvertent intervention by drastically reducing global travel, which temporarily alleviated overtourism pressures and allowed some ecosystems and wildlife to recover.

Post-pandemic trends indicate a shift towards sustainability, with increasing demand for eco-friendly accommodations, unified health protocols, and conscious traveler behavior.

There is a growing preference for less-visited destinations, spreading economic benefits more equitably and reducing the burden on traditionally popular sites.

This evolving landscape presents a valuable opportunity for systemic reforms and the adoption of responsible tourism practices globally .

Tourist behavior patterns contribute markedly to overtourism dynamics.

Research demonstrates that 66% of travelers prefer familiar and popular destinations, heavily influenced by social networks and media.

Consequently, only a small fraction of the world’s destinations—approximately 10%—receive 80% of tourists, perpetuating concentrated overtourism hotspots.

To counterbalance this, campaigns such as Dubrovnik's "Respect the City" initiative and visitor management programs in France aim to control tourist volumes and promote off-season and alternative area tourism.

These strategies seek both to improve visitor experience and to protect host communities .

In less urbanized or rural regions such as Wyoming, United States, tourism remains an economic mainstay.

Nevertheless, overtourism challenges emerge in popular national parks like Yellowstone, where overcrowding and resource depletion occur.

Labor shortages in the hospitality sector further complicate sustainable tourism development.

Wyoming’s destination management plans emphasize measures including visitor pre-registration and promoting responsible recreation practices to ensure that tourism supports the economy without compromising environmental and community well-being .

Illustrative case studies provide concrete examples of overtourism impacts.

Mount Fuji experiences increasing climber numbers, leading to environmental strain and safety risks.

Ha Long Bay’s ecosystem deteriorates due to inadequate waste management from tourist vessels.

Venice confronts subsidence and cultural asset damage amid an overwhelming tourist populace, alongside displacement of local residents.

Barcelona continues to grapple with soaring rental prices and significant community opposition, catalyzing strong regulatory interventions to curb overtourism .

In summary, overtourism is a multifaceted global challenge, propelled by economic accessibility, digital media influences, and post-pandemic travel resurgence.

The consequences affect social structures, environmental health, and local economies, necessitating comprehensive management strategies.

Effective policy responses combine regulation with promotion of sustainable and diversified tourism, incorporating resident input and technological innovation.

The ongoing transitions towards responsible tourism and spread of visitation offer promising avenues to mitigate overtourism’s adverse effects while enhancing benefits for host communities and ecosystems globally.

Overtourism is defined as a situation where a destination experiences an excessive influx of visitors, causing overcrowding, environmental degradation, and a diminished quality of life for local residents.

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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 term gained widespread recognition around 2018, coinciding with mounting global awareness of the socio-environmental problems caused by unsustainable levels of tourism.

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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Previous / Next News

The phenomenon is primarily driven by factors such as affordable international travel facilitated by low-cost airlines, the widespread influence of social media platforms that amplify the "Instagram effect" by showcasing and popularizing specific tourist sites, favorable exchange rates that make travel finances easier, and an increased desire to travel post-pandemic as restrictions eased worldwide .

Prominent global hotspots of overtourism include urban and natural destinations such as Venice (Italy), which faces daily visitor numbers exceeding its resident population; Barcelona (Spain), which anticipates approximately 13 million tourist arrivals in 2023 compared to a local population of 1.6 million; Dubrovnik (Croatia), noted for resisting and managing tourist influx; Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), suffering from water pollution due to tourism waste; Mount Fuji (Japan), which experiences overcrowding and associated environmental stresses; and Athens (Greece), where high tourist volumes threaten local traditions and infrastructures .

Social impacts of overtourism prominently manifest as displacement of local residents driven by rising rental prices; this occurs as housing stock is shifted from long-term residency to tourism-oriented short-term rentals, creating affordability crises.

Traditional lifestyles and community cohesion erode, leading to tensions and conflicts between locals and tourists.

For example, Barcelona has witnessed public protests and incidents where residents expressed their frustration through actions such as spraying water on tourists to deter crowds.

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

In Japan, overtourism issues are locally termed "tourism nuisance," encompassing noise disturbances, traffic congestion, and pollution from garbage accumulation .

Environmental consequences include the degradation of natural and cultural resources.

Title:

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.

Fragile ecosystems suffer from overconsumption of resources such as freshwater—for example, Koh Samui island faces water shortages tied to tourist demand.

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Japan 's Mount Fuji Exposed in 2024 "9 Top Places to Avoid Visiting"
Mount Fuji, Japan. (Photo, Euronews)
2023 / 12 / 10 15: 45
Li Xinjie / Editor-in-Chief
[Real-Time News / Comprehensive Report] As 2024 approaches, many people are already excited to prepare for various plans to travel abroad.
However, the well-known American travel magazine Fodor ’ s Travel (Fodor ’ s Travel) announced next year ’ s “9 Best Places to Visit in the World ”, calling on tourists to carefully consider avoiding these famous but much-needed hot spots, and mentioning that these areas are affected by environmental pollution and tourism hazards.
Among them, Mount Fuji in Japan, which Taiwanese love, is also on the list.
According to a comprehensive foreign media report, among the nine “No List ” listed by Fodor Travel on its official website in 2024, four of them are in Asia and the rest are in Europe and the United States.
According to the official website, the original intention of the evaluation is not to deliberately suppress partial generalization, but to "respect" as the starting point of the declaration, this time to open the list of avoid visits, but also focus on tourists to nine tourist attractions and dependent local communities, resulting in "excessive tourism", "excessive waste generation", "affect water resources" these three major impacts.
At the same time, Fodor Tourism also pointed out that these nine tourist hotspots are deeply affected by the "Instagram effect", because the beauty of these places is circulating around the world, causing tourism.
Finally, Fodor Tourism also calls on tourists around the world to let go of these areas when planning their 2024 travel plans, but also to be careful to protect the local environment and culture, and to respect the people and places everywhere.
Mount Fuji, Japan
The number of climbers at the site has skyrocketed in recent years, but local authorities and people have pointed out that many do not fully understand the risks involved in climbing Mount Fuji, resulting in overcrowding at the top of the sacred mountain and putting themselves at risk.
In addition, many climbers are unwilling to pay 1,000 yen (about NT $200) for safety and environmental maintenance, and even leave a lot of garbage and urine filled bottles, which can only be cleaned by volunteers, causing headaches.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
The local waters attract a large number of international tourists to vacation, including snorkeling, water sports and fishing activities, which also lead to the local garbage load, the waters are full of garbage and diesel, and the local government ’ s poor implementation of pollution policies, it is very easy to be avoided by operators, so that the natural ecology of the area is facing unbearable pollution.
Koh Samui, Thailand
The island has been plagued by fresh water shortages for nearly a year, and the influx of tourists has consumed up to 70% of the region ’ s precious water resources, seriously exacerbating the island ’ s freshwater shortage.
Ganges, India
The river, regarded as the source of life for the people of India, has faced problems such as reduced flow, garbage pollution, and endangered freshwater dolphins in recent years, which have been exacerbated by the emerging luxury cruise industry.
Athens, Greece
The lack of a tourism hazard management plan by the local government does not mean that the world heritage is in danger of being destroyed, but also that the traditional way of life of the local people is being destroyed by a large number of tourists.
The Acropolis has already implemented a daily visitor limit, which has been reduced from 23,000 to 20,000 per day, and the Parthenon Temple to 17,000.
Italy (Venice)
Venice has long been affected by subsidence, flooding, and the damage caused by the increasing number of tourists, adding to the stress of this ancient and fragile city, and adversely affecting the local environment and residents.
Although the local government has taken several specific measures to try to reduce tourists, including charging a tourist tax of 5 euros (about NT $171) for all visitors over 14 years old who come to the city for a “day trip ” between the end of April and mid-July next year, it is still considered unlikely to improve the problem.
San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, California
This “natural oasis ” in Los Angeles County, due to the number of tourists and lack of environmental awareness, not only is the monument graffiti by tourists, but even littering everywhere, causing the local environment to suffer a lot of damage.
Lake Superior (United States – Canada border)
Lake Superior, on the border between the United States and Canada, is the largest freshwater lake on the planet, and its ecology is now exposed to a variety of hazards due to human visits, including species invasion, rapid algal blooms, and fish consumption warnings.
Chile's Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert, on the Pacific coast, is a spectacular natural beauty of deserts, geysers, lagoons, salt mines, cliffs and peaks, but the local environment is polluted by "fast fashion" and unfortunately becomes a landfill.
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At sites like Ha Long Bay and the Atacama Desert, tourism-related waste leads to pollution and biodiversity loss.

Historical urban centers like Venice endure structural damage exacerbated by countless visitors, causing subsidence and deterioration of cultural heritage.

Freshwater ecosystems including Lake Superior are also under threat owing to increased human activity associated with tourism .

Economically, overtourism generates both benefits and challenges.

While tourism supports employment and local revenue streams, the rising cost of living often precludes the local workforce from residing within the communities they serve.

Additionally, the presence of multinational tourism enterprises can aggravate precarious labor conditions and inflate property markets, further marginalizing residents.

Destinations like Barcelona exemplify these economic tensions, with local workers increasingly unable to afford housing costs, fostering social dissatisfaction .

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.
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Policy responses and mitigation strategies have been progressively adopted in affected areas.

Title:

Content: Unified health protocols, eco-friendly accommodations: How pandemic is shaping the future of travel

ABS-CBN News

Posted at Apr 21 2022 04:50 PM

MANILA -- The tourism sector continues to adapt to changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic as it encourages people to travel while ensuring their health and safety.

In a panel discussion during the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) global summit in Manila on Thursday, experts shared their thoughts on how the global health crisis is shaping the future of travel around the world.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said they are now working on unifying health protocols in the region to make the process more convenient for travelers.

"We are talking in the ASEAN at least... to see how we can unify our health protocols," she said. "[We want] to make it less tedious. You don't have to answer so many things, and for the traveler to not think that it's such a burden to travel."

"We want to make it as seamless as possible. We hope that we can do it first in the ASEAN, and eventually global," she added.

Romulo-Puyat said this will encourage not just leisure travel but also "workations," noting that many have been combining their business trips with family vacations.

"People are traveling more, even for business, and now they're bringing their families with them. They call it a workation -- they work via Zoom, have their families with them, and stay longer in a place," she said. "Sometimes their kids can go to online schooling and they don't miss a thing... We're more efficient now because we can do so many meetings and at the same time still enjoy tourist destinations."

Other panelists -- which include Marriott Interrnational group president for international Craig Smith, Dubai Airports International CEO Paul Griffiths, and Global Rescue Companies CEO Dan Richards -- similarly spoke of an effort to unify protocols and even health credentials on a single platform to spur tourism.

"We have the technology and we can deploy them at scale. I think as an industry we need to focus on making sure that technology is institutionalized [with help from government]," Richards said.

They also emphasized the need to reassess tourism products to cater to the changing needs of travelers.

"The important statistics about the threat to human life have receded hugely, and we need to start being more confident about travel. I think people will be more demanding about the quality of the experience they have, the safety of their experience from airlines, airports, [and] hotels," Griffiths said.

"All of the component parts of travel and tours will have to take a real quality perspective of their products. And if we reassure people that they can be bold and reach all the corners of the earth, then we'll be in very good shape as an industry."

ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATIONS, LESSER KNOWN-SPOTS

Another WTTC global summit panel discussion specifically looked at trends that the tourism sector needs to prepare for, particularly the rise of eco-friendly accommodations and experiences.

Citing their own research, YouGov global sector head of travel and tourism Eva Stewart said the pandemic has caused a shift in how people think and feel as they take a step back and consider their impact on the environment.

"Some people chose to consume less meat, recycle more, and buy more local produce. And these considerations then shift into travel, naturally," she said.

"We saw a big shift across age groups looking for eco-friendly accommodation... As an industry, if we help consumers find those options for less touristy places and eco-friendly options, then that's going to help resonate [with] the responsible travelers of which we estimate to be around 300 million around the world at the moment," she added.

Stewart said travelers are also starting to appreciate remote and less popular destinations, and are more conscious about buying locally produced goods during their trips.

"They wanted to contribute to communities which have suffered tremendously from loss of income because tourists dissipated from their lives and they depended a lot on it... They wanted to disperse that economic benefit as much as they could," she said.

Tomohiro Kaneko, vice commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, saw a similar trend in his country, and have been focusing their efforts in promoting other destinations as they prepare to open to foreign travelers.

He said that before the pandemic, 60% of foreign tourists only visited popular Japanese cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.

"We would like to promote other regional areas like Hokkaido and Kyushu island to foreign tourists," he said, although he admitted that he still could not say when Japan will finally start welcoming international travelers.

And while more people are starting to travel abroad, TBO Holidays Gaurav Bhatnagar believes that the rise of domestic tourism will continue even after the pandemic.

"The last two years have been about rediscovering our own countries... I think that will continue post-pandemic. It may not be at the same pace, but the residual effect will definitely happen there," he said.

For his part, HotelPlanner and Meetings.com CEO Tim Hentschel noticed an increase in trips related to weddings and sporting events.

"Right now, we're seeing a huge rebound in weddings. Obviously a lot of pent-up demand for weddings market, and getting married virtually is not ideal," he said. "Weddings are just exploding right now."

TRAVEL INSURANCE

The COVID-19 pandemic has also brought travel insurance to the fore as people have become more concerned about their health and safety amid the "new normal."

AIG Travel CEO Jeffrey Rutledge observed that consumer engagement when it comes to travel insurance is "on a level we've never seen before."

"The biggest change from a consumer standpoint is prior to the pandemic, the way that people were motivated by product is very different," he said.

"That has changed post-COVID because every consumer is operating on the same level of concern, that they are taken care of in their journey," he added.

Asked about the idea of compulsory travel insurance being considered by governments, Rutledge replied: "What is important is for certain countries to make a decision based on their tolerance for their health care system is able to do, as to whether or not they want to accept that risk for the individuals that come to their jurisdiction."

Governments and local authorities employ visitor caps, such as Athens’ control of Acropolis visits, to manage daily tourist flows.

Entrance fees and tourist taxes—Venice’s implementation of a mandatory tax constitutes a notable example—serve dual purposes of revenue generation and demand management.

Municipal governments promote "quality over quantity" tourism approaches that prioritize attracting higher-spending tourists while limiting mass influx.

Barcelona has banned short-term rental apartments and is actively regulating Airbnb listings to alleviate housing pressure.

Amsterdam has also restricted new hotel developments and imposed cruise ship limits to preserve urban livability.

In Japan, efforts focus on distributing tourist routes more evenly by introducing alternatives like tricycle rentals in crowded areas, aiming to manage visitor density and reduce pressure on hotspots .

The COVID-19 pandemic offered an inadvertent intervention by drastically reducing global travel, which temporarily alleviated overtourism pressures and allowed some ecosystems and wildlife to recover.

Post-pandemic trends indicate a shift towards sustainability, with increasing demand for eco-friendly accommodations, unified health protocols, and conscious traveler behavior.

There is a growing preference for less-visited destinations, spreading economic benefits more equitably and reducing the burden on traditionally popular sites.

Title:

Content: Are we trapped in a travel bubble? Global survey reveals travel habits
PR Newswire
• YouGov ’ s international survey of more than 17,500 people from 15 travel destinations revealed that nearly two-thirds of the world prioritizes travel to places where friends and family have already visited, exacerbating overtourism in some regions while leaving others relatively unexplored.
66% of travelers think it ’ s important to travel to familiar places, and nearly half feel uncomfortable traveling to places they don ’ t know much about.
However, 83% of those who travelled to a new destination agreed that their views had changed or widened after returning.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 28 September 2023 – International travelers are less likely to consider exploring unfamiliar destinations than they are to travel to more familiar destinations, according to an international YouGov survey published today.
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ARE WE STUCK IN A ‘ TRAVEL BUBBLE ’?
TRAVEL HABITS EXPOSED IN GLOBAL SURVEY
The YouGov survey, commissioned by the Saudi Tourism Authority, covered 15 countries in Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, with more than 17,500 respondents, and was released this year at the World Travel Day in Riyadh.
While results vary from region to region, research shows that 66% of travelers prefer to travel to familiar countries, and 67% typically travel to destinations they ’ ve visited before or heard about on social networks such as family and friends.
There are some global differences in the survey results, with 90% of Middle Eastern travellers citing familiarity with their destination as a key factor in their travel decisions, while those in the UK (62%), France (75%), China (68%) and Japan (74%) feel comfortable travelling to places they know less about.
For destinations where tourism is not yet mature and international advertising funding is limited, this means that they lack the ability to create a sense of familiarity, which is obviously an important factor when people choose their travel destination.
On the other hand, for more established destinations, the challenge is to encourage tourists to leave popular attractions and go to less well-known areas.
The results of this survey echo previous research, which found that 80% of travelers visit only 10% of the world ’ s destinations, [1] and the extreme findings of this survey not only highlight the preference for familiar destinations, but also illustrate the need for more sustainable travel habits around the world.
“The results of this international survey provide us with an in-depth analysis of global passenger trends and habits, as well as the importance of familiarity in their choice of destination, ” said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Board Member of Saudi Tourism Authority.
“However, familiarity does not mean that the destination needs to compromise its authenticity, as research also confirms the view that visiting new places can deepen our appreciation of multiculturalism and promote mutual understanding.
When we travel, we are agents of good things, we spread our culture and come home with new discoveries, new ideas and new perspectives. ”
“I hope that by highlighting the power of travel to broaden horizons, I can inspire more people to choose to travel to less familiar destinations. ”
I look forward to discussing the results of this survey with my peers at this week ’ s World Travel Day in Riyadh and exploring how together we can continue to make the world attractive and accessible to all. ”
The findings support recent news coverage in countries such as Croatia and France, which have implemented measures to better control the large number of travelers in the most popular destinations.
The Croatian city of Dubrovnik has implemented a “Respect the City ” campaign to manage tourism and reduce its impact, while French Tourism Minister Olivia Gregoire said France needs to better manage the influx of tourists during the high season, which threatens“ the environment, the quality of life of local residents and the visitor experience. ”
Eighty-three percent of travelers who ventured to a new destination said the experience changed or broadened their horizons, providing strong evidence of the impact travel has had on connecting people and increasing mutual understanding.
Commissioned by the Saudi Tourism Authority, the global survey is being conducted ahead of this year ’ s World Tourism Day (WTD), which will take place in Riyadh from 27 to 28 September. WTD 2023 will bring together tourism ministers, industry leaders and experts from around the world under the theme “Tourism and Green Investment ”.
Through a series of engaging meetings, panel discussions and seminars, participants will explore the important role of tourism and global cooperation in driving prosperity, protecting culture, protecting the environment, and promoting a more harmonious and connected world.
About Saudi Tourism
Established in June 2020, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) is responsible for promoting Saudi tourist attractions in the global market and developing proposals for them through various programs, packages and commercial support.
Its mission includes developing Saudi Arabia ’ s unique resources and tourist attractions, hosting and participating in industry events, and promoting Saudi tourism brands locally and overseas. STA has 16 representative offices around the world, serving 38 countries or regions.
About UNWTO
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for promoting equitable, inclusive and sustainable tourism.
The World Tourism Organization works with its member states, international organizations and the private sector to promote a safe and seamless travel experience for all.
UNWTO is also committed to making tourism a central pillar of trust and international cooperation, growth and opportunity.
As part of the United Nations system, UNWTO is at the forefront of global efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the ability to create decent work, promote equality and protect natural and cultural heritage.
1.
The Murmuration Study
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This evolving landscape presents a valuable opportunity for systemic reforms and the adoption of responsible tourism practices globally .

Tourist behavior patterns contribute markedly to overtourism dynamics.

Research demonstrates that 66% of travelers prefer familiar and popular destinations, heavily influenced by social networks and media.

Consequently, only a small fraction of the world’s destinations—approximately 10%—receive 80% of tourists, perpetuating concentrated overtourism hotspots.

To counterbalance this, campaigns such as Dubrovnik's "Respect the City" initiative and visitor management programs in France aim to control tourist volumes and promote off-season and alternative area tourism.

These strategies seek both to improve visitor experience and to protect host communities .

In less urbanized or rural regions such as Wyoming, United States, tourism remains an economic mainstay.

Nevertheless, overtourism challenges emerge in popular national parks like Yellowstone, where overcrowding and resource depletion occur.

Labor shortages in the hospitality sector further complicate sustainable tourism development.

Wyoming’s destination management plans emphasize measures including visitor pre-registration and promoting responsible recreation practices to ensure that tourism supports the economy without compromising environmental and community well-being .

Title:

Content: Wyomingites whose businesses support tourism are getting their open arms ready for a big 2022 season. As the state’s second-largest industry, tourism took the biggest hit during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but after two years, this economy has seen not only a rebound, it is now prepping for forecasted growth.

“We are optimistic about the coming year,” said Wyoming Travel and Tourism Executive Director Diane Shober. “We know that as global markets are opening and people have the ability to travel, we can’t take that demand for granted.”

Residents of the state are generally cognizant on a day-to-day level of the number of travelers that pass through the area – especially around the vicinity of Yellowstone National Park. However, the larger economic implications of tourism are easy to overlook because the impact is less direct than that of fossil fuel revenue.

“When we think about tourism being the second leading industry in the state, it’s about jobs and revenues generated,” Schober said. “Tourism represents the largest private sector employer in the state. Many times, people think of that as being entry-level positions, but that industry has a fast-track to mid-level management and executive positions. That’s an important component, because employees at all levels then turn around and buy goods and services, cars, food and housing. They cause economic movement through the community.”

The ramifications of accommodating visitors is one of the main lifelines for the state to generate resources to make livable communities, Shober said.

“As we look at the ‘22 season, it is important for every community to understand they are touched by tourism. As we continue to grow the economic value of this industry, we need them to help us help visitors understand how to recreate responsibly,” she added, noting that it takes people to manage people, and hospitality jobs cannot be roboticized or outsourced.

The opportunity to help people recreate is a calling Keenan Bruce hears loud and clear. Born and raised in Cody, he grew up an outdoorsman and uses his gift in engaging the public as a whitewater raft guide. Last year, he saw an opportunity to develop his other passion, fly fishing, into a second career. His inaugural season as owner/operator of High Country Fly Guides did not disappoint.

“I guided people into October of last year,” he said, adding that it was large demand for guided trips that kept him busy late into the fishing season. “The biggest problem I had last year is I didn’t have employees,” he said. “I had to turn down large groups because I didn’t have enough help to take that many people out.”

Bruce said his community is home to several well-established outfitters that have been in business for more than 30 years, but even so, starting his own endeavor was possible because of the large number of interested clients. Those inquires, he said, are still rolling in.

“There’s plenty of market for it. If there wasn’t, I wouldn’t have gotten any spillover from those larger companies,” Bruce said.

Bruce observed most visitors came from metropolitan areas, where normalcy is still largely upended by pandemic-related measures, including extended lockdowns, curfews, and a general wariness of crowds and indoor spaces.

“They come here looking for a sanctuary,” he explained, noting that while tourist-related demand increased around the state because of the pandemic, the housing market also experienced an influx of buyers. “Last year, the mainland U.S. really stepped up and made the Great American Vacation happen.”

Shober backed up his sentiment by saying part of what has helped the state tourism industry stay relatively afloat through the fallout of attempted contagion containment was the existing culture and lifestyle of the state.

“We didn’t have to change who we were,” she said, adding that, in this case, the rural and outdoors nature of the majority of the state’s most famous attributes translates into the ideal of sustainable resources with the added benefit of implicit social distancing.

Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board communications manager Sue Muncaster said in her corner of the state, accommodating visitors has taken on a new air of urgency.

“We are extremely optimistic about the upcoming year,” she said. “As far as economics go with tourism, we have had unprecedented crowd the last couple of summers and did much better than we ever expected to. We are actually starting to address over-tourism.”

Muncaster said her board has issued a new destination management plan that emphasizes the importance of pre-registration for accommodations in the geographical area that borders Yellowstone.

“It’s a mix of positive and negative for the Tetons,” she explained. “It’s about the economic benefit versus the sheer number of tourists.”

While Muncaster said they will know more after further investigation, it seems like many of the residents in Teton County are exhausted – and even frustrated – with the crowding of trails and facilities. On top of that, the state’s wealthiest county is struggling to find a workable balance in the local labor market.

“Last summer, the labor shortage was definitely amplified,” Muncaster said, referring to the nationwide phenomena that has resulted in low-wage service sector jobs standing vacant. As a result, many businesses resorted to cutting their hours of operation or availability, which made the situation more manageable for workers, but created a proverbial logjam that is still echoing through most of the hospitality bedrock of the community.

Muncaster said the present situation amplifies the need to do things differently in visitor hotspots.

“The easiest thing to do with over-tourism is to have businesses ramp up advanced reservations,” she said. “I know there is resistance to that, especially with older businesses, but I feel like the customer is looking for great websites with super clear ways to book and reserve spots. The more our communities can do that, the better it is for everybody. There are people that just want to travel and just figure things out when they get there, but that’s not the way it can be anymore.”

Ready or not, tourist season in Wyoming is just around the corner. While waiting for the inevitable influx of visitors and all they bring, Wyomingites can contemplate a quote circulated online attributed to an anonymous sage: “If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life, but the same amount of snow.” The same can apply to tourists.

Recommended for you

Illustrative case studies provide concrete examples of overtourism impacts.

Mount Fuji experiences increasing climber numbers, leading to environmental strain and safety risks.

Ha Long Bay’s ecosystem deteriorates due to inadequate waste management from tourist vessels.

Venice confronts subsidence and cultural asset damage amid an overwhelming tourist populace, alongside displacement of local residents.

Barcelona continues to grapple with soaring rental prices and significant community opposition, catalyzing strong regulatory interventions to curb overtourism .

In summary, overtourism is a multifaceted global challenge, propelled by economic accessibility, digital media influences, and post-pandemic travel resurgence.

The consequences affect social structures, environmental health, and local economies, necessitating comprehensive management strategies.

Effective policy responses combine regulation with promotion of sustainable and diversified tourism, incorporating resident input and technological innovation.

The ongoing transitions towards responsible tourism and spread of visitation offer promising avenues to mitigate overtourism’s adverse effects while enhancing benefits for host communities and ecosystems globally.