Destination Diary: Over Tourism

The Problem and the way Forward

UNWTO has defined tourism's carrying capacity as “the maximum number of people that may visit a tourist destination at the same time, without causing destruction of the physical, economic and socio-cultural environment … ” However, over-tourism refers to an impact on the destination due to too many visitors, in a way, that negatively influences the quality of life of the citizens or the quality of visitors' experiences. Across the world, tourism boosts the economy of the area which in turn makes them better places to live or visit. However, the impact of over-tourism is completely contrary to responsible tourism.

Figures show international arrivals have risen from 25 million in 1950 to over 1.3 billion in 2017. As per UNWTO forecasts, about 1.8 billion tourists will travel to foreign countries by 2030. However, the growth of tourism may put undue strain on infrastructure causing overcrowding and congestion. It may suck into the natural resources and adversely affect the socio-cultural scenario. For example, Iceland — known for its party and sex tourism — faced issues like tourists misbehaving with local girls. There have been instances where tourists have camped in residential areas or defecated anywhere.

So, what does over-tourism looks like in terms of figures? As per the Intrepid Adventure Index, Iceland welcomed about 2.3 million tourists as against its own population of 347,000 in 2017. Croatia had 57,587,000 tourists and only 4,170,600 locals. Other top cities with high multiples of tourists against the number of their populace are Hungary, Denmark, France, Singapore, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and others.

Tourists Go Home