From a blessing that brings prosperity, to a curse that burdens cities and threatens their identity, tourism in many global destinations has turned into a phenomenon known as “overtourism” after the huge numbers of tourists exceeded the capacity of some cities to accommodate, and became a heavy burden on the cities’ infrastructure and natural resources, in addition to negative impacts on the culture and traditions of local communities.
This has prompted the affected locals to demand intervention by local authorities against this phenomenon in mass protests witnessed in ancient European cities. Recently, demonstrators in the Spanish city of Barcelona raised slogans demanding restrictions on the number of tourists, and even used water pistols to express their dissatisfaction with the damage caused by “unfair” tourism activity, disregarding any benefits resulting from the presence of tourists in their country.
On the Spanish island of Mallorca, about 20,000 people demonstrated yesterday, Sunday, to protest against overtourism, at the call of 80 organizations and civil society groups. The protesters say that the current model of tourism is putting public services on the brink of collapse, harming natural resources, and making it difficult for local residents of Mallorca to find housing.
The complaint about overtourism is not limited to some tourist countries in Europe, but has extended to Japan. Last week, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that his government will take measures to combat overtourism. His statement came weeks after imposing a $13 fee to enter the famous Mount Fuji area, the highest peak in Japan.
What is overtourism?
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), overtourism is “the impact of tourism on a destination or parts of it that is disproportionate to the quality of life of its citizens.” The term was coined in 2017 and has become the most widely used expression to describe the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and local communities.
How did tourism become unfair?
Tourism is an important source of income for many cities around the world, contributing to the strengthening of the local economy and providing various job opportunities. This has changed with the increase in travel and the increasing problems resulting from it. The phenomenon of “overtourism” that is spreading can be explained in light of a set of factors, including:
- Increased purchasing power in some countries, leading to increased demand for travel and tourism.
- Increased reliance on cheap means of transportation such as low-cost airline travel, which has made it easier for tourists to move between different destinations.
- The spread of online booking platforms has facilitated the process of booking travel tickets and accommodation, and encouraged more people to travel.
- Effective marketing is a major reason for increasing the popularity of many tourist destinations and attracting more tourists to visit them.
Visitor turnout: from blessing to curse!
As a result of these factors, the flow of tourists to some cities has become harmfully intense, exacerbating the negative effects of mass tourism on various aspects of life, starting with severe congestion in streets and tourist attractions, which impedes traffic and makes it difficult to move. Not only that, but it also leads to a significant increase in the prices of goods and services.
It has also led to an increase in demand for housing, especially during peak periods such as summer holidays, which leads to a significant increase in rental prices. Moreover, the large number of visitors puts enormous pressure on the environment, as waste accumulates, pollution increases, and noise looms over cities.
This pressure puts an additional burden on the infrastructure facilities, which become unable to accommodate this huge number of visitors, and therefore, the daily lifestyle of the locals changes against their will to avoid these crowded tourist places.
The Spanish Canary Islands are a stark example of the dangers of overtourism. With the number of visitors increasing dramatically, the islands faced a drinking water shortage in 2023, when the Canary Islands were visited by nearly 14 million tourists, equivalent to seven times the number of local residents, according to a report broadcast by the German news platform “Deutsche Welle” (DW).
In Venice, Italy’s famous floating city, locals are overwhelmed by the 20 million visitors who flock to this small city of just 50,000 people every year.
The suffering of “overtourism” is not limited to European cities only, but many Arab cities also suffer from it, such as the city of Alexandria, located in northern Egypt, where its residents suffer from severe congestion in the summer, due to the influx of tourists from Cairo and other cities escaping the heat.
During the Hajj season, the city of Mecca also suffers from enormous pressure on its public facilities due to the influx of millions of pilgrims from all over the world.
Transforming cities to serve tourists
The effects of overtourism were not limited to the aforementioned aspects, but what is known as “Touristfication” emerged, and this term means radically changing the identity of a place or city to suit the needs and desires of tourists, in order to attract more tourists and achieve more profits.
This translates into reality through the transformation of local shops and markets into selling souvenirs and products that cater to the tastes of tourists, instead of meeting the needs of local residents, leading to the erosion of the local community’s culture and loss of its identity, in addition to the high cost of living for local residents.
Measures to combat overtourism
The huge increase in the number of visitors to Venice has prompted local authorities to restrict the number of tourists by imposing an entrance fee of 5 euros to the city, which was officially implemented from April 2024. Amsterdam has also imposed a daily tourist tax and cancelled official tours in a number of the Dutch capital’s most famous destinations.
While Barcelona city authorities have imposed visitor fees on tourist attractions and increased taxes on public transport in an attempt to deter tourists from using them, some officials say these measures are not enough to curb the growing tourist flow.
Local residents in many tourist-heavy cities are also demanding tougher measures, such as setting a maximum number of daily visitors or restrictions on the type of tourist accommodation available. Residents are expressing their discontent through peaceful marches, demanding that tourists leave the cities and return to their countries.
Possible solutions
As the phenomenon of “overtourism” becomes more severe, it has become necessary to take serious steps to address this problem, and the responsibility for addressing this phenomenon lies with both local authorities and tourists alike.
To achieve this, there are several roles that local authorities must play, namely:
- Strategic tourism planning by developing well-thought-out plans to determine the number of visitors allowed, taking into account each region’s capacity to accommodate them.
- Involving local people in tourism policy-making, to ensure that their needs are taken into account.
- Developing infrastructure to meet the growing demand for services, such as transportation, water and energy.
- Establish strict controls and laws to protect the environment and natural resources in crowded tourist destinations, with penalties imposed on violators.
- Raising tourists’ awareness of innovative ways to encourage responsible behaviors that preserve the environment and respect local culture.
Travelers should also follow several criteria in order to avoid this problem by changing some travel habits such as:
- Travel during off-season when tourist areas are less crowded.
- Discover alternative destinations or lesser-known areas that are equally attractive.
- Avoid common activities and look for different experiences such as activities organized by locals.
- Make sure to stay in places far from tourist centers.
Addressing the phenomenon of “overtourism” requires a joint effort from all stakeholders, from governments to tourist destinations and tourists, to ensure the sustainability of tourism and the protection of the environment and local culture.
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Dr. Radwa Zaki, an Egyptian researcher passionate about travel and writing.
