Introduction to Overtourism: Definition and Global Trends

Overtourism is defined as the excessive influx of visitors to a particular destination, leading to negative consequences for local residents, the environment, and the visitor experience itself.

The phenomenon has grown in prominence over the last two decades, with cities and regions throughout the world experiencing escalating visitor numbers that substantially outstrip their capacity to manage such flows.

This results in crowding, diminished quality of life, environmental degradation, and local backlash .

Global trends indicate that 80% of travelers frequent only 10% of destinations, putting disproportionate strain on select locales due to familiar preferences and the influence of global travel patterns .

The post-pandemic rebound has further intensified visitor pressure on established hotspots, creating both acute and structural challenges for communities and ecosystems.

Causes and Drivers of Overtourism

Several factors drive overtourism.

The rise of budget airlines and widespread affordable flights have lowered the barrier to international travel, dramatically increasing the volume and frequency of visits to particular destinations.

Flexible, low-cost accommodation platforms, especially short-term rentals, have contributed by expanding tourist accommodation beyond the traditional hotel sector.

Social media exerts substantial influence by promoting highly visual, "Instagrammable" destinations, accelerating the popularity of a limited set of places.

Inadequate local regulation and the prioritization of economic benefits from tourism over the carrying capacity or well-being of host communities further exacerbate overtourism.

Additionally, the concentration of tourist arrivals in peak months results in acute seasonal pressures, overwhelming infrastructure and services during brief but intense periods .

Overview of Global Overtourism Hotspots

Overtourism is most visible in urban cultural centers, popular islands, and heritage sites.

Key global hotspots include:
- Barcelona, Spain: With a population of 1.6 million, it hosted over 7.8 million tourist arrivals in 2023.

The city has experienced protest actions and significant local discontent due to unaffordable rents and crowded public spaces .

- Venice, Italy:

Tourists frequently outnumber locals, especially in high season, causing pressure on infrastructure and housing.

Crowd control and tourist tax measures have not significantly reduced visitor loads .
- Dubrovnik, Croatia: Known for its UNESCO heritage and media exposure through "Game of Thrones," the city has launched campaigns to disperse tourists and control cruise ship landings .

- Greek islands (e.g., Santorini, Mykonos):

Endure pronounced seasonal congestion, infrastructure strain, and environmental stress.

- Other notable examples: Amsterdam, Paris, New York, and Bangkok also struggle with mass tourist arrivals, congestion, and rising costs for residents .

- Remote nature destinations, such as Iceland and the Isle of Skye, report similar challenges despite smaller resident populations .

Impacts of Overtourism: Social, Environmental, and Economic Perspectives

Social Impacts: Overtourism often results in the displacement of local communities.

Short-term rental markets drive up rents, making central areas less affordable for residents.

Infrastructure, such as public transport and recreational spaces, becomes overburdened, limiting access for locals.

Increased noise, anti-social behavior, and crowding contribute to a sense of alienation and loss of community identity.

In cities like Barcelona and Venice, a growing proportion of residents now view tourism as a net negative, leading to organized protests and civic action .

Environmental Impacts: Popular destinations experience congestion at natural and heritage sites, which can irreversibly damage fragile ecosystems and cultural assets.

Problems include increased litter, waste, overuse of water and energy, soil erosion, and pollution.

Sensitive landscapes—such as beaches, historic city centers, and protected natural areas—are particularly at risk.

The seasonal concentration of visitation amplifies these effects, causing acute environmental stress .

Economic Impacts: While tourism injects income into local economies and generates jobs, these are often low-wage and seasonal, contributing relatively little to local prosperity or equality.

Rising prices for housing, goods, and services can drive social inequality, especially as profits frequently accrue to global businesses or non-local property owners.

At the same time, a monoculture of tourism-oriented shops and services can erode traditional economies and community life .

Strategies and Policy Responses for Sustainable Tourism

In response to overtourism, authorities have implemented various strategies, with mixed effectiveness.

Regulatory measures include raising tourism taxes or implementing entrance fees (as in Venice), capping or managing short-term rentals, restricting vehicle or cruise-ship access, and imposing limits on new hotel development.

Crowd management approaches—such as time-based ticketing and visitor reservation systems—have been widely adopted but sometimes only relieve symptoms rather than tackling fundamental drivers .

Places such as Paris have shifted from promoting quantity to quality tourism by raising prices and deterring budget mass tourism, while Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Dubrovnik have taken steps to restrict bus access, discourage unruly late-night activity, and distribute tourism flows to less-visited neighborhoods.

"Respect the City" campaigns and similar initiatives try to engage tourists in more sustainable behaviors and highlight alternative destinations to reduce local bottlenecks .

Despite these efforts, enforcement and effective implementation remain challenging, especially where tourism is a critical economic sector and political pressure to maintain high arrivals is strong.

Measures that succeed tend to be those that are built on proactive, long-term urban and tourism planning, rather than reactive, piecemeal interventions.

Effective management also depends on coordination across local government, industry stakeholders, and the resident community, ensuring that benefits are more widely shared and negative impacts addressed .

Conclusion and Recommendations for Responsible Tourism Management

Overtourism is a complex issue rooted in global travel trends, inadequate planning, and the economic imperatives of host destinations.

Its impacts—social, environmental, and economic—undermine the sustainability of both communities and the tourism sector itself.

Sustainable management requires a shift towards qualitative, place-based tourism strategies that limit volume, incentivize dispersal, and embed local voices in decision-making.

Investment in infrastructure, support for authentic local enterprises, and environmental preservation must be priorities.

Integrated governance and anticipatory planning are essential, as is visitor education to align behavior with the needs and capacities of local communities and ecosystems.

Given the uneven global distribution of tourist flows, greater promotion of alternative destinations and the development of balanced, year-round tourism can help mitigate acute overtourism in established hotspots .

Achieving these goals requires commitment at every level of government and industry, guided by robust data and close collaboration with host communities to ensure resilience and long-term viability for both people and places.

Introduction to Overtourism: Definition and Global Trends

Overtourism is defined as the excessive influx of visitors to a particular destination, leading to negative consequences for local residents, the environment, and the visitor experience itself.

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Content:
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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 phenomenon has grown in prominence over the last two decades, with cities and regions throughout the world experiencing escalating visitor numbers that substantially outstrip their capacity to manage such flows.

This results in crowding, diminished quality of life, environmental degradation, and local backlash .

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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Global trends indicate that 80% of travelers frequent only 10% of destinations, putting disproportionate strain on select locales due to familiar preferences and the influence of global travel patterns .

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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The post-pandemic rebound has further intensified visitor pressure on established hotspots, creating both acute and structural challenges for communities and ecosystems.

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Sun Yili: Last year, the number of domestic tourists was nearly 4.9 billion.
Related LINKS http: / / www.CRNT.com 2024-03-11 17: 49: 17
Sun Ye-li, Minister of Culture and Tourism (photo by Li Zi-ning, China Review Agency)
Beijing, March 11 (Reporter Li Zining) The third session of the Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress "Minister Channel" was held at the People's Congress Hall on the 11th.
In response to a reporter's question, Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli said that the number of domestic tourists traveling last year reached nearly 4.9 billion, and the total cost of tourism is close to 5 trillion yuan.
The popularity of tourism has played a very important role in boosting domestic demand, promoting employment, activating the market and boosting confidence.
A reporter asked: Minister Sun Hello, last year Harbin tourism is hot out of the circle, further aroused everyone's concern for "cultural and tourism fever", netizens have shouted all over the Bureau of Culture and Tourism, you as the Minister of Culture and Tourism, how do you see this phenomenon? "cultural and tourism fever" will not continue?
Sun Yeli: Since the beginning of winter last year, Harbin ice and snow tourism has exploded out of the circle, Harbin people and northeastern people with their enthusiasm, with their pet treats and services to tourists to win the favor of customers, attracting guests in the south and north of the sky, forming a phenomenal level of communication, driving the entire ice and snow tourism fever.
According to local statistics, from November to February to Heilongjiang tourism reached 120 million people, tourism income reached 170 billion yuan, Harbin's tourism boom also led to the entire northeast tourism.
Like Jilin, Liaoning although not as hot as the Internet, they are also muffled and rich, a few days ago I went to Jilin delegation to listen to the representatives to speak, understand that Jilin this tourism season tourism revenue is not less than 170 billion yuan, Liaoning I am afraid it is not lower than this number.
General Secretary Xi Jinping said that the ice and snow is also the gold and silver mountain, and now look at the ice and snow is "properly" turned into the gold and silver mountain.
Not only the northeast, last year the country's tourism is very hot, a few days ago we just released the Spring Festival travel data, this Spring Festival holiday travel number reached 470 million people, the cost of travel more than 630 billion yuan.
This is only 8 days of data, if you look at the data of the whole year is more impressive.
We calculated that last year, the number of domestic tourists traveling reached nearly 4.9 billion, and the total cost of tourism was close to 5 trillion.
The popularity of tourism has played a very important role in boosting domestic demand, promoting employment, activating the market and boosting confidence.
This is what we say about tourism, its realization in the cultural tourism has been integrated, our cultural Expo is also very hot.
Perhaps the reporters can see from the station to the People's Congress Hall on the way these two days, the National Palace Museum and the National Expo Gate are always flowing, there are long queues, and popular museums around the world are probably this scene.
The market for literary and artistic performances is also very hot. Last year, there were about 440,000 commercial literary and artistic performances under our national line, and the revenue exceeded 50 billion yuan.
It is worth mentioning that the online cultural performance activities are even more popular, according to a rough estimate, the business income is about more than 200 billion, the number of participants reached 770 million.
Last year can be said that culture and tourism strong recovery, vigorous development, of course, some people said that last year's cultural and tourism fever is a kind of explosive rebound after the stable period of epidemic prevention and control, it is accidental, we analyze the contingency behind its inevitability.
From the point of view of consumer demand, after we comprehensively build a well-off society, the people's yearning for a better life is changing, the content is richer, the requirements are higher, in the past, eat not worry, wear not worry will feel good, now is not worry, wear not worry, but also have leisure money to travel.
It can be said that culture and tourism, poetry and distance have become important contents of the people's yearning for a better life.
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Causes and Drivers of Overtourism

Several factors drive overtourism.

The rise of budget airlines and widespread affordable flights have lowered the barrier to international travel, dramatically increasing the volume and frequency of visits to particular destinations.

Title:

Content: People 's Daily Online > > Economy and Technology
Stimulate tourism development with greater vigor (market walk)
Wang Ke
February 16, 2022 06: 02 | Source: People's Daily - People's Daily
Small number
The accelerated application of new technologies has a profound impact on the entire tourism chain.
Increasing the supply of high-quality tourism products is the key to stimulating greater vitality in the development of tourism.
The State Council recently issued the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Tourism (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), which makes arrangements for the development of tourism in the 14th Five-Year Plan from the aspects of the development environment, overall requirements, major tasks and safeguard measures. specific goals.
The "Plan" has pointed out the direction for the high-quality development of the tourism industry, and has also greatly enhanced the confidence of tourism market players.
Since the "13th Five-Year Plan", China's tourism industry and other industries cross-border integration, coordinated development, the scale of the industry continues to expand, new formats continue to emerge, and the comprehensive driving role of tourism for the stable and healthy development of the economy is more prominent.
Today, tourism has become a rigid demand for a better life for the people, and it is the sunrise industry and happiness industry that is widely favored by the people and the most popular among the people, and the position of tourism as a strategic pillar industry of the national economy has been consolidated.
Statistics show that during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, China's per capita traveled more than four times, and people enjoyed the beautiful mountains and rivers of the motherland and felt the splendid cultural charm, which added more wonderful things to a better life.
Entering a new stage of development, tourism is facing new requirements for high-quality development.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China will fully enter the era of mass tourism, and the development of tourism is still in an important period of strategic opportunities, but there are new development changes in both challenges and opportunities.
From the point of view of the challenges, the international environment is grim and complicated, the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic is extensive and far-reaching, and the global tourism industry has significantly increased uncertainty.
From the perspective of opportunities, on the one hand, the people's travel consumption demand will change from low-level to high-quality and diversified, from focusing on tourism to taking into account tourism and leisure vacation, which has spawned a new growth point of tourism consumption demand.
On the other hand, the accelerated application of new technologies has a profound impact on the entire tourism chain, such as tourism information acquisition, supplier selection, consumer scene creation, convenient payment and social sharing, and has become a new breakthrough point to create a new supply of tourism.
Tourism is an emerging industry, he said, adding that it is necessary to strengthen the construction of all kinds of software and hardware to promote the development of tourism.
China's tourism industry is still facing a serious problem, he said, adding that it is still far from meeting the people's expectations for a better life.
The task of structural reform on the supply side of tourism is still relatively heavy, the momentum of innovation is still insufficient, the governance capacity and level need to be further improved, and the international competitiveness and influence need to be further strengthened, and these problems need to be gradually resolved in the high-quality development of tourism.
In the 14th Five-Year Plan period, increasing the supply of high-quality tourism products is an effective measure to enhance people's satisfaction with tourism products and services, and is also the key to stimulating greater vitality in tourism development.
In this regard, the "Plan" has made "optimize the layout, provide new choices for tourists to travel; establish high-quality products, create a new benchmark for quality tourism; conform to the trend and meet the new needs of urban leisure" and other deployments.
The implementation of these measures will promote the structural reform of the supply side of the tourism industry, continuously enhance the people's sense of travel, happiness and security, and make greater contributions to the comprehensive construction of a socialist modern country.
People 's Daily (February 16, 2022, 17 pages)
(Editor: Bai Yu, Zhao Xinyue)
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Flexible, low-cost accommodation platforms, especially short-term rentals, have contributed by expanding tourist accommodation beyond the traditional hotel sector.

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25 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List

In this post, we list and discuss the 25 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List. If you would like to skip our detailed discussion of the topic, you can go directly to the 5 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List

Four years back, during COVID-19, the travel and tourism industry came to an abrupt halt. However, it is now making a gradual return to its pre-pandemic heights. The UNWTO predicted the tourism industry to recover 90% of pre-COVID levels at year-end 2023. In February 2024 alone, over 4.9 million US citizens traveled outside the country, according to the International Trade Administration’s data.

Another recent report published by UN Tourism forecasts that the international tourism industry will fully recover its pre-pandemic levels by 2024 — with a strong travel stream from the US due to the rising strength of the US dollar. Since the pandemic, people have realized globally the importance of a living-for-experiences lifestyle, and have started to invest more in different forms of travel such as “wellness travel”. At the same time, however, persisting inflation, high-interest rates, volatile oil prices, and disruptions to trade are causing transport and accommodation costs to rise. Therefore, tourists are now opting for cheaper destinations that are closer to their home country, and adopting sustainable practices.

Another factor that is now affecting the travel industry is the mounting geopolitical tensions and conflict eruptions across the world. Travelers are more cautious about their travels and are willing to learn more about the potential risks of traveling to their desired destinations. So, to help US travelers navigate their travels safely, The U.S. State Department issues individual travel advisory levels for over 200 countries worldwide. These are updated frequently and are ranked based on several risk factors, such as health, terrorism, and civil unrest.

The US Travel Advisory’s ranking has four levels. Level 1 means that the country has no major safety risks, but travelers should still exercise normal precautions. When risks to safety and security are heightened in a country, it gets a level 2 rating. Similarly, the level 3 travel advisory countries pose serious risks to the safety and security of citizens as well as tourists. Someone who's planning to travel to level 3 countries is advised to reconsider their travel by the advisory board. The Department of State provides additional guidance to those already in such regions through its website.

If a country has a travel advisory of level 4, it means that travelers should not travel to that country at all. That’s because there is a greater likelihood of falling victim to acts of terrorism, being kidnapped, or getting stuck amidst conflict. Plus, in an emergency, the US government has little to no means to assist its citizens in level 4 advisory countries. Therefore, they are listed as “do not travel” countries. There are also a few countries labeled as “other.” For example, China. That’s because, there are parts of the country that are safe to travel to, parts where caution needs to be exercised, and areas where travel needs to be reconsidered due to safety concerns. So, countries listed as “others” by the travel advisory may or may not be safe depending on which area or parts the tourists travel to.

For those wanting to travel to these “other” countries, or countries with level 3 and 4 warnings despite being advised not to, the advisory has laid out guidelines that need to be followed. Individuals may also reach out to travel risk management (TRM) companies; they identify, assess, and mitigate risks to protect individuals during their travel to a high-risk area.

Some key players in the global travel risk management services industry include Everbridge Inc (NASDAQ:EVBG), Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE), and Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (MIL:G.MI)’s GGA.

Everbridge Inc (NASDAQ: EVBG), a global leader in critical event management (CEM) and safety software applications, is a company that provides information about critical events and helps travelers with personal safety and business continuity. Essentially, it allows users to send notifications to individuals, groups, lists, and geographic locations so they can anticipate, mitigate, and respond to emergency situations. The company has over 160 patents to its name, representing its dedication to innovation and technology. In 2023, Everbridge Inc (NASDAQ: EVBG) received a new patent related to incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in analytics dashboards for CEM software systems.

Meanwhile, Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ: EXPE) is an American travel technology company that owns and operates several aggregators across the travel industry. Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ: EXPE) ensures the safety of travelers in remote or dangerous locations through a comprehensive approach that includes developing and sharing a safety toolkit that identifies the health and safety risks to the travelers. Moreover, Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ: EXPE) has also incorporated generative AI into some of its features and products targeted to travelers.

Lastly, Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (MIL:G.MI)’s Generali Global Assistance (GGA) is a company that offers travel risk management solutions as well as sharing resources regarding unforeseen safety and security risks, such as Hurricane Resources Center. Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (MIL:G.MI) also owns GMMI, which is a global medical risk management company

Below, we list the biggest countries on the US Travel Advisory’s Do Not Travel list.

Our Methodology

For our list of the 25 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List, we have sourced our data from the US Travel Advisories. To rank the list for the biggest countries, we have considered the area of each country and sourced our data from the CIA’s database. Note that there are only 19 countries on the US Do Not Travel list, but some countries on the Reconsider Travel list have large portions of the country listed as “do not travel.” Therefore, we have included six level 3 countries on our list too. The list is in ascending order of area.

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25 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List

25. Lebanon

Total land area (sq km): 10,400

Lebanon, a country in the Middle East, has been issued a level 3 warning by the Travel Advisory. The government asks tourists to reconsider their choice to travel to Lebanon because even though it's a beautiful country, there’s a high risk of tourists falling victim to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, unexploded landmines, and armed conflict. Some areas also have increased risk, especially near the borders. The level 4 areas in Lebanon include the entire southern Lebanon, the Lebanon-Syria border, and Lebanon’s refugee settlements. The country’s safety status was last updated on January 29, 2024.

24. Jamaica

Total land area (sq km): 10,991

The 24th largest country on the list, Jamaica is also a level 3 country where violent crimes, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides are extremely common. Jamaica has fourteen parishes in total, and out of these, nine are marked as do not travel zones for tourists. Other level four areas in the country include the town of Yallahs, the Whitehall, Bethel Town, Red Ground neighborhoods of Negri, Green Vale, Gray Ground, and the Vineyard neighborhoods of Mandeville. The travel advisory last updated Jamaica’s safety status on January 23, 2024.

23. Haiti

Total land area (sq km): 27,750

Haiti is one of the most politically unstable countries in the world. It is marked as a do-not-travel country by the travel advisory since July 27, 2023, after the U.S. Department of State’s ordered departure of family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency U.S. government employees from the country. The State Department also advised all U.S. citizens in Haiti to depart Haiti as soon as possible through any commercial or private transportation available. Kidnapping, violent crime, armed robbery, carjackings, and civil unrest are extremely common in the country too.

22. North Korea

Total land area (sq km): 120,538

North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is classified as a do-not-travel country by the advisory because of the constant (and extremely serious) risks of arrest and long-term wrongful detention of U.S. nationals. As of 2024, all U.S. passports are invalid for travel to, in, or through North Korea unless specially validated by the authority of the Secretary of State. Since the U.S. government does not have any diplomatic or consular relations with DPRK, in cases of emergency, the American government is unable to provide services to its citizens.

21. Syria

Total land area (sq km): 187,437

Syria, a country in the Middle East, has a history that dates all the way back to over 700,000 years. However, most of its history comprises conflicts and destruction. Modern-day Syria is trapped in the clutches of a brutal multi-sided war that has been ongoing since 2011. A year after the war broke out, in February 2012, the US Embassy in Syria’s capital — Damascus — suspended its operations. As of 2024, the US government is still unable to provide any sort of emergency services to its citizens should they travel to Syria and face any issues. To this day, armed conflict is very much active in the country, meaning that no part of Syria is safe from violence. Given these factors and the state of terrorism and unrest in the country, the US Travel Advisory has issued a level 4 warning for Syria.

20. Belarus

Total land area (sq km): 207,600

The 20th biggest country on the list of countries on the Do Not Travel list, Belarus is also on the US Travel Advisory’s Do Not Travel list due to the country’s facilitation of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It was last updated for safety concerns on July 26, 2023. The Belarusian authorities have detained thousands of people, including US citizens, for alleged affiliations with opposition parties and participation in political demonstrations. There is also the potential for civil unrest in the country. The U.S. Embassy has extremely limited ability to assist Americans in Belarus in case of emergencies. According to the advisory, the Department of State had ordered the departure of all its government employees in the country and had suspended U.S. Embassy operations in Minsk till further notice on February 28, 2022.

19. Burkina Faso

Total land area (sq km): 274,200

Burkina Faso is a landlocked low-income country in West Africa with a level four warning issued by the US Travel Advisory because of terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. The Government of Burkina Faso has also maintained a state of emergency in various regions across the country, and the U.S. government is unable to provide any emergency services to its citizens throughout most of Burkina Faso.

18. Iraq

Total land area (sq km): 438,317

Iraq is another one of the biggest countries with a level four warning on the State Department travel warning list. Aside from Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to provide support to American tourists in the country, Iraq earns its position on the do not travel list due to increasingly common occurrences of terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, and civil unrest in the country. On October 20, 2023, the Department ordered the departure of its non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their eligible family members from its Embassy in Baghdad and U.S. Consulate General Erbil because of increased security threats against them.

17. Yemen

Total land area (sq km): 527,968

Yemen is yet another war-torn country in the Middle East. As of 2024, it is one of the poorest countries in the MENA region and is facing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The war in Yemen first broke out in 2014, and the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a (Yemen’s capital) suspended its operations in the country in February 2015. The advisory suggests not to travel to Yemen because of terrorism, civil unrest, crime, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines.

16. Ukraine

Total land area (sq km): 603,550

The Russia-Ukraine war first began in February 2014 when Russia began its annexation of Crimea. Since then, between 2015 and 2021, the line of conflict stabilized. However, on 24 February 2022, Russian forces once again began the invasion of Ukraine, resulting in a significant escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Since then, Ukraine has been marked as a do not travel country by the US Travel Advisory due to active armed conflict. The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable, and the Travel Advisory last updated the situation on May 22, 2023.

15. Central African Republic

Total land area (sq km): 622,984

The Central African Republic greatly lacks social cohesion and is a fragile country. The Travel Advisory has classified it as a do not travel country because even though there have been no prominent incidents of targeted violence or threats against US citizens, the Central African Republic is still very prone to civil unrest, demonstrations, and election-related violence. Embassy Bangui has extremely limited ability to provide support to U.S. citizens in case they fall victim to crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Plus, armed groups control large areas of the country and are known to frequently kidnap, injure, and/or kill civilians.

14. Somalia

Total land area (sq km): 637,657

Located in East Africa, Somalia is a do not travel list country because of crime, illegal roadblocks, physical abuse, terrorism, civil unrest, lack of medical facilities, kidnapping, “cultural rehabilitation centers”, and pirate activity. As reported by Amnesty International, the human rights situation in the country is at its worst, too.

13. South Sudan

Total land area (sq km): 644,329

South Sudan is also an East African country, and its population has been stuck in a deadly situation of armed conflict, economic decline, disease, and hunger since 2013. It is ranked as a level four country due to the high risk of violent crime – such as carjackings, shootings, ambushes, assaults, robberies, kidnapping, and armed conflict. Foreign nationals in the country have frequently fallen victim to rape, sexual assault, armed robberies, and other violent crimes.

12. Afghanistan

Total land area (sq km): 652,230

Ranked 12th on the list of 25 biggest countries in Do Not Travel list, Afghanistan is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. According to the Travel Advisory, no US citizen should travel to Afghanistan for any given reason. The US Embassy in Kabul suspended its operations in the country in 2021, when the Taliban established an “interim government” based in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. Anyone who travels to the country puts themselves at risk of terrorism, wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime, according to the US Travel Advisory.

11. Myanmar (Burma)

Total land area (sq km): 676,578

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is an Asian country with ongoing insurgencies since 1948. Mainly, the conflict has been ethnic-based. The US Travel Advisory has ranked it as a level four country due to civil unrest, armed conflict, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, limited and/or inadequate healthcare, emergency medical resources, land mines, wrongful detentions, and unexploded ordnances.

10. Venezuela

Total land area (sq km): 912,050

Venezuela is a South American country, listed by the travel advisory in their do not travel list because of the high violent crime rates, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure are also major factors for this classification despite the country’s scenic beauty. The US Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from the US Embassy in the country’s capital – Caracas – on March 11, 2019.

9. Nigeria

Total land area (sq km): 923,768

A country in West Africa, Nigeria is classified as a level 3 country by the travel advisory i.e., anyone considering to travel to Nigeria should reconsider because of continued risks of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed gangs. Some areas have increased risk, and are listed as do not travel zones. These include the Borno, Yobe, Kogi, northern Adamawa,

Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states.

8. Ethiopia

Total land area (sq km): 1,104,300

Ethiopia, located in East Africa, is also one of the few level 3 countries on this list. The advisory suggests travelers reconsider going to Ethiopia because of sporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, crime, communications disruptions, terrorism, and kidnapping in border areas. The Tigray Region, the border with Eritrea, the Afar-Tigray border, the Gambella and Benishangul Gumuz Regions, the Oromia Region, Southern Nations and National People (SNNP) Region, the border with Sudan, the border with Kenya, and the border with Somalia are all the places listed as Do Not Travel in the travel advisory for Ethiopia.

7. Colombia

Total land area (sq km): 1,138,910

One of the top 10 biggest countries on the Do Not Travel list by the US Travel Advisory, Colombia is a South American country with a level 3 warning by the advisory. The country has an alarmingly high rate of crime, and constant threats of terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. The Arauca department, Cauca department (excluding Popayán), Norte de Santander departments, and the Colombia-Venezuela border region are listed as do not travel areas in Colombia.

6. Mali

Total land area (sq km): 1,240,192

Ranked 6th, Mali is a landlocked West African country. The US Travel Advisory asks travelers not to go to Mali due to crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and roadblocks. Mali’s travel advisory details were last updated on July 13, 2023.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List.

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Disclosure: None. 25 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List is originally published on Insider Monkey.

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Social media exerts substantial influence by promoting highly visual, "Instagrammable" destinations, accelerating the popularity of a limited set of places.

Inadequate local regulation and the prioritization of economic benefits from tourism over the carrying capacity or well-being of host communities further exacerbate overtourism.

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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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Additionally, the concentration of tourist arrivals in peak months results in acute seasonal pressures, overwhelming infrastructure and services during brief but intense periods .

Overview of Global Overtourism Hotspots

Overtourism is most visible in urban cultural centers, popular islands, and heritage sites.

Key global hotspots include:
- Barcelona, Spain: With a population of 1.6 million, it hosted over 7.8 million tourist arrivals in 2023.

The city has experienced protest actions and significant local discontent due to unaffordable rents and crowded public spaces .

- Venice, Italy:

Tourists frequently outnumber locals, especially in high season, causing pressure on infrastructure and housing.

Crowd control and tourist tax measures have not significantly reduced visitor loads .
- Dubrovnik, Croatia: Known for its UNESCO heritage and media exposure through "Game of Thrones," the city has launched campaigns to disperse tourists and control cruise ship landings .

- Greek islands (e.g., Santorini, Mykonos):

Endure pronounced seasonal congestion, infrastructure strain, and environmental stress.

- Other notable examples: Amsterdam, Paris, New York, and Bangkok also struggle with mass tourist arrivals, congestion, and rising costs for residents .

- Remote nature destinations, such as Iceland and the Isle of Skye, report similar challenges despite smaller resident populations .

Impacts of Overtourism: Social, Environmental, and Economic Perspectives

Social Impacts: Overtourism often results in the displacement of local communities.

Short-term rental markets drive up rents, making central areas less affordable for residents.

Infrastructure, such as public transport and recreational spaces, becomes overburdened, limiting access for locals.

Increased noise, anti-social behavior, and crowding contribute to a sense of alienation and loss of community identity.

In cities like Barcelona and Venice, a growing proportion of residents now view tourism as a net negative, leading to organized protests and civic action .

Environmental Impacts: Popular destinations experience congestion at natural and heritage sites, which can irreversibly damage fragile ecosystems and cultural assets.

Problems include increased litter, waste, overuse of water and energy, soil erosion, and pollution.

Sensitive landscapes—such as beaches, historic city centers, and protected natural areas—are particularly at risk.

The seasonal concentration of visitation amplifies these effects, causing acute environmental stress .

Economic Impacts: While tourism injects income into local economies and generates jobs, these are often low-wage and seasonal, contributing relatively little to local prosperity or equality.

Rising prices for housing, goods, and services can drive social inequality, especially as profits frequently accrue to global businesses or non-local property owners.

At the same time, a monoculture of tourism-oriented shops and services can erode traditional economies and community life .

Strategies and Policy Responses for Sustainable Tourism

In response to overtourism, authorities have implemented various strategies, with mixed effectiveness.

Regulatory measures include raising tourism taxes or implementing entrance fees (as in Venice), capping or managing short-term rentals, restricting vehicle or cruise-ship access, and imposing limits on new hotel development.

Crowd management approaches—such as time-based ticketing and visitor reservation systems—have been widely adopted but sometimes only relieve symptoms rather than tackling fundamental drivers .

Places such as Paris have shifted from promoting quantity to quality tourism by raising prices and deterring budget mass tourism, while Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Dubrovnik have taken steps to restrict bus access, discourage unruly late-night activity, and distribute tourism flows to less-visited neighborhoods.

"Respect the City" campaigns and similar initiatives try to engage tourists in more sustainable behaviors and highlight alternative destinations to reduce local bottlenecks .

Despite these efforts, enforcement and effective implementation remain challenging, especially where tourism is a critical economic sector and political pressure to maintain high arrivals is strong.

Measures that succeed tend to be those that are built on proactive, long-term urban and tourism planning, rather than reactive, piecemeal interventions.

Effective management also depends on coordination across local government, industry stakeholders, and the resident community, ensuring that benefits are more widely shared and negative impacts addressed .

Conclusion and Recommendations for Responsible Tourism Management

Overtourism is a complex issue rooted in global travel trends, inadequate planning, and the economic imperatives of host destinations.

Its impacts—social, environmental, and economic—undermine the sustainability of both communities and the tourism sector itself.

Sustainable management requires a shift towards qualitative, place-based tourism strategies that limit volume, incentivize dispersal, and embed local voices in decision-making.

Investment in infrastructure, support for authentic local enterprises, and environmental preservation must be priorities.

Integrated governance and anticipatory planning are essential, as is visitor education to align behavior with the needs and capacities of local communities and ecosystems.

Given the uneven global distribution of tourist flows, greater promotion of alternative destinations and the development of balanced, year-round tourism can help mitigate acute overtourism in established hotspots .

Achieving these goals requires commitment at every level of government and industry, guided by robust data and close collaboration with host communities to ensure resilience and long-term viability for both people and places.