Overtourism occurs when there are too many visitors in a particular destination, leading to negative impacts on the environment, local communities, and infrastructure. It often results in overcrowding, pollution, increased cost of living for locals, and degradation of cultural heritage.
Causes of Overtourism
- Popular Destinations: Tourists flock to famous landmarks and cities without considering their capacity.
- Low-cost Travel: Affordable travel options make it easier for more people to visit, increasing foot traffic in popular destinations.
- Lack of Regulation: Inadequate management and regulation of tourism can exacerbate the problem.
What’s the problem with too many visitors?
The rise of overtourism in some areas has put a strain on local infrastructure and resources, leading to concerns about environmental degradation and cultural preservation. Despite the progress that has been made in improving travel accessibility, there are still challenges and limitations that remain. Political conflicts and instability in certain regions have led to travel restrictions and advisories, limiting access to popular destinations.
Combatting Overtourism
Strategies | Description |
---|---|
Promoting Alternative Destinations | Encouraging tourists to explore less-visited areas helps distribute tourism revenue more evenly. |
Implementing Visitor Limits | Setting caps on the number of visitors allowed per day can control overcrowding in sensitive areas. |
Regulating Accommodation | Limiting the number of hotels or vacation rentals helps prevent an influx of tourists beyond capacity. |
Developing Sustainable Tourism Practices | Encouraging eco-friendly activities, reducing waste, and supporting local businesses promote sustainable tourism. |
Regulating accommodation is indeed another important approach. By controlling the number and types of accommodations available in a destination, authorities can manage visitor influx and ensure that tourism growth aligns with the area’s capacity. This helps prevent the overdevelopment of tourist infrastructure, maintains the character of local communities, and mitigates the strain on resources and services. However, effective regulation requires collaboration between government agencies, hospitality providers, and community stakeholders to strike a balance between tourism promotion and sustainable development.
Additional Considerations
- Community Involvement: Engaging local residents in decision-making processes empowers them to manage tourism sustainably.
- Educating Travellers: Informing tourists about responsible travel practices and cultural sensitivity fosters respect for local communities and environments.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Regularly assessing the impact of tourism through data collection helps identify areas for improvement.
Places Implementing Measures
These destinations have implemented various measures to address issues and promote sustainable tourism practices. I am not sure if I should be a little embarrassed but by the end of ths year I will have visited 11 of the 14 locations listed below. Most I travelled to before restrictions were put in place and we went out of season. That said, they were still busy. Living in Europe for over ten years made visiting many of the places listed below very affordable.
Place | Measures |
---|---|
Venice, Italy | Tourist quotas, regulating cruise ships, tourist tax |
Barcelona, Spain | Restrictions on new tourist accommodation, promoting alternative destinations, limiting tourists in crowded areas |
Dubrovnik, Croatia | Limiting cruise ships, visitor caps on attractions, promoting sustainable tourism |
Santorini, Greece | Visitor limits on cruise ships, regulating hotel beds, reducing congestion |
Machu Picchu, Peru | Timed entry system, promoting responsible tourism, sustainable initiatives |
Amsterdam, Netherlands | Ban on new hotels, restrictions on short-term rentals, campaigns for exploring other areas.Combating disruptive behaviour, banning “beer bikes”, noise/littering crackdown |
Bali, Indonesia | Cap on hotel rooms, sustainable tourism practices, managing visitor numbers |
Cinque Terre, Italy | Visitor reservation system, limiting tourists, promoting off-peak travel |
Bhutan | “High value, low volume” tourism policy, daily tourist tariff, sustainable practices |
Palma de Mallorca, Spain | Limiting tourist accommodations, restricting vacation rentals, promoting other areas |
Iceland | Managing visitor numbers, restricting access, promoting off-peak travel, raising awareness |
Kyoto, Japan | Visitor management initiatives, limiting access, promoting alternative destinations |
Dubrovnik, Croatia | Managing cruise ship arrivals, stricter regulations, protecting heritage |
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador | Visitor quotas, regulating cruise ships, promoting eco-friendly practices |