Written by Lacey Faltz
Last updated: Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 11:10 a.m. ET
European countries are some of the most popular destinations in the summer, and many of the cities and destinations facing record numbers of summer tourists are also looking to curb the downside of too many tourists. , introducing new rules and regulations.
What is overtourism?
The term “overtourism” is gaining popularity as destinations begin to think long-term about their tourism strategies. This often goes hand-in-hand with sustainability efforts, as it is unsustainable to have too many tourists than a destination can successfully manage.
Overtourism can lead to housing shortages for local residents. In February, Portugal passed a law limiting the number of Airbnbs allowed in the country after a housing crisis erupted when foreigners began outbidding local Portuguese residents.
It also increases both pedestrian and vehicle traffic, which can lead to increased pollution and trash. Crowds of tourists can also put a strain on the residents of these destinations, making them less enjoyable places to live full-time.
Curbing overtourism in cities across Europe
Countries across Europe have made several announcements to try to curb millions of tourists.
Italy’s Trentino-Alto-Ardige region, which recorded 34 million overnight guests in 2022 alone, began restricting the number of visitors from September 2022, significantly reducing the number of guests it accepts each year. One way to do this is to cap the number of hotel beds travelers can use in a region.
In June, Barcelona, a destination for large cruise ships and the largest cruise port in the Mediterranean, announced it would explore ways to curb the number of cruise ship calls each year. In 2019, it was named Europe’s most polluted port, welcoming more than 3 million visitors on cruise ships, many of whom stayed in the city for less than four hours.
View of the Acropolis from Plaka in Athens, Greece. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images Plus / iStock / sbolisov) (Getty Images Plus / iStock / sbolisov)
In early July, Greece announced that it would introduce new ways to streamline visits to the Acropolis. The 3,300-year-old archaeological wonder saw an 80% increase in visitor numbers this June and July compared to her 2019.
Most recently, the city of Amsterdam announced that it would ban large cruise ships from calling at the small city, which welcomes 22 million tourists each year. Reasons include incompatibility with sustainability goals and ways to curb mass tourism.
How can we combat overtourism on a larger scale?
According to an article on the matter published by Forbes, the European Union has not yet made an official statement on the matter, but several new efforts have been made in countries to prevent millions of tourists from visiting. It is said that
The United Nations’ World Tourism Organization is offering countries a new way to view sustainable tourism development by focusing on expanding economic and tourism opportunities to rural areas. The organization provides a global list of the best tourism villages that travelers are encouraged to visit, as well as guidelines for countries willing to participate in rural tourism initiatives.
There are several ways travelers can be part of the solution to overtourism.
The biggest way is to think bigger. It’s not just about visiting Paris, London or Rome. Visit smaller destinations and less popular locations for a less crowded, more authentic taste of Europe.
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