{"id":20535,"date":"2024-12-10T16:13:38","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T15:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.etifor.com\/en\/?p=20535"},"modified":"2026-05-26T16:38:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T14:38:21","slug":"overtourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.etifor.com\/en\/updates\/overtourism\/","title":{"rendered":"Overtourism: A Challenge for the Future of Tourism<\/span>"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The term “overtourism” was reportedly coined by the travel and tourism platform <\/span>Skift<\/span><\/em><\/a> in 2016, driven by concerns over annual tourist flows reaching one billion. A record-breaking figure was reached in 2019, with 1.46 billion international tourists. Recovery came sooner than expected, with 2023 achieving 89% of pre-COVID levels.<\/strong> Amid the ongoing debate around overtourism and anti-tourism, it’s worth asking if a return to pre-pandemic levels is desirable.<\/span><\/p>\n

For those who enjoy rankings, the term “anti-tourism” has become so widespread that it was nominated<\/strong> (unsuccessfully) as the 2024 Word of the Yea<\/a>r by the <\/span>Collins Dictionary<\/span><\/em>, following a similar nomination by the <\/span>Oxford Dictionary<\/span><\/em> in 2018<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a Google Think<\/a> study enthusiastically predicts that international<\/strong> travellers will number 2.4 billion by 2040.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

What Is Overtourism? A Definition<\/span><\/h2>\n

Tourism is a global and complex phenomenon\u2014unstoppable but governable. Given such numbers, one might wonder: How can it be managed? We’ll delve into this later.<\/span><\/p>\n

The UN Tourism<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0defines overtourism as ” the<\/span> impact of tourism on a destination or parts thereof that excessively influences the perceived quality of life of citizens and the quality of visitor experiences.” <\/span><\/em>Simply put, overtourism displeases both residents and tourists.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Historical Challenges and Carrying Capacity<\/span><\/h2>\n

Aversion to tourists and debates about the commodification of nature and culture by the tourism “industry” have existed for years, as have concerns about the loss of authenticity and the blurred distinction between travellers and tourists. Discussions on carrying capacity<\/strong>\u2014defined by the \u00a0UN Tourism<\/a><\/strong> as “the maximum number of people who can visit a tourist destination simultaneously without causing harm to the physical, economic, and sociocultural environment or reducing visitor satisfaction”\u2014are not new either.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carrying capacity can be physical, measurable, and social, tied to perception factors<\/strong>. For example, Doxey’s irritation index measures residents’ tolerance toward tourism.<\/strong> However, there’s no magic number to define sustainable limits; finding balance requires constant and effective management.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

The Evolution of Travel and Democratization<\/span><\/h2>\n

Structural changes like low-cost airlines and short-term rental platforms have led to what some call the “democratization of travel,” now perceived as a right<\/a>.<\/strong> However, overcrowding, resource overuse, and resident-tourist conflicts have become increasingly evident.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blaming tourists\u2014such as when residents used water pistols against visitors in Barcelona\u2014is only an individual response to a systemic issue.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

What Are the Causes of Overtourism?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Technological advancements,<\/strong> such as the rise of low-cost airlines, improved mobility infrastructures, online travel agencies, and booking platforms, along with greater access to information<\/strong> and the role of social media<\/strong> as a showcase for destinations, have expanded travel flows and changed the frequency and patterns of travel. Added to this are socio-economic transformations: changes in the world of work, different levels of economic availability (with a growing middle class able to travel), and greater independence in planning personal trips.<\/span><\/p>\n

Travel has become “democratized.”<\/strong> Destination promotion also plays a role, whether intentional or not: targeted marketing campaigns coexist with “unexpected” publicity, such as that generated by social media and influencers. This often leads to the increased popularity of a few destinations visited by large numbers of people\u2014the so-called tourist “hotspots,” which can range from cities to lakes or other attractions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seasonality<\/strong> is another possible cause of overtourism, with many visitors concentrated in short periods. As noted, clustering flows in a few “must-see” destinations exacerbates the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Overtourism as Perception<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

If we view overtourism as a phenomenon beyond mere numbers, it can be seen as a new relationship between the local community and tourists. In this context, the causes also lie in a growing awareness among residents that tourism is not always beneficial. It can disrupt a place\u2019s balance to make it unrecognizable. Far from being the \u201csmokeless industry\u201d celebrated in 1980s tourism textbooks, tourism has tangible positive and negative impacts on territories, and a critical mass of people is beginning to bring this to light.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Ineffective Management and Lack of Planning<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Another significant cause of overtourism is ineffective\u2014or absent\u2014management of destinations<\/strong>. Overtourism is a symptom, not the root problem, of longstanding processes that a lack of monitoring and oversight has exacerbated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Given the phenomenon’s complexity, addressing it and attempting to measure it requires both quantitative and qualitative data.<\/strong> Additionally, factors beyond the destination’s control, such as rapidly changing tourist demand, often clash with the slower adaptability of the supply side (the territory), which needs more time to adjust.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

What Are the Consequences of Overtourism?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n