Is There a Solution to Overtourism?
Imagine, you just had a 13-hour flight. Your face feels oily and stomach is grumbling. You can’t wait to find the nearest Starbucks to get a tall iced caramel macchiato and take a hot, long shower at your Airbnb…
It’s a normal routine for you to de-stress at home. However, these seemingly harmless actions multiplied by the millions have lasting impacts on the places you visit.
Travel can boost economies, encourage cultural exchange, and bring people together. Yet, when too many tourists start to visit the same places, these once positive benefits can turn negative.
We may have the best intentions, but we don’t always realize the short-term and long-term effects of our presence, especially in places that are used to mass tourism. When our trip ends, we simply leave the local communities to deal with the aftermaths.
How Does Overtourism Impact a Destination?
Overtourism can take on different forms. In one place, it may look like long lines and crowds, while in another location it can be large chains displacing local businesses.
For example, Barcelona has overcrowded beaches where it’s impossible to enjoy the water. Bali is facing incredible amounts of trash due to inability to handle tourist numbers.
In a study conducted by the World Travel & Tourism Council and McKinsey & Company, researchers dissected the problem of overcrowding into five challenges:
- Alienation of local residents
- Overloading infrastructure
- Damages to nature
- Threats to cultural heritage
- Degraded tourist experiences
The study also asked the public to reflect on this scenario: is crowding around Mona Lisa with smartphones and cameras really the best way to admire such a masterpiece?
What Will Overtourism Look Like in 2019?
Overtourism isn’t going away this year. Due to social media and increased access to budget travel, more of us will visit our dream destinations whenever possible.
Social media, especially Instagram, is a great platform to share beautiful destinations. But when we see friends and influencers all photographing one place, we don’t want to be the last ones to visit.
Some travelers are advocating for generic geotagging when posting on social media. Influencers were even asked to avoid geotagging vulnerable places to reduce traffic and preserve the ecosystems.
Increased access to budget airlines and cheaper accommodations also encourage us to visit the places we see on social media. For example, a roundtrip flight from New York to London can be as cheap as $300!
Popular destinations will only become more crowded as travel becomes more affordable.
What Are Authorities Doing to Tackle Overtourism?
Seasonal Pricing
Waiting in line for two hours for a ride at Disney is nothing new. In an effort to spread attendance throughout the year, Disney World recently implemented ticket prices that fluctuate depending on the date — i.e low-season is cheaper while peak season costs more. Other tour operators are slowly switching over to this type of system as well.
Infrastructure Changes
Iceland is dealing with overtourism in certain areas of the country, particularly Reykjavík and the Golden Circle, while the countryside is wide open. The local government has taken actions to combat overcrowding by expanding tourism infrastructure.
For example, to avoid waste and trashing of areas, more toilets and waste management systems are being built. These projects are continuing to grow with the rising need. Since 2011, more than 750 infrastructure projects have been financed to try to support the tourism numbers.
These government initiatives will help preserve the beautiful places we so badly want to visit in the first place.
Limiting Visitor Numbers
Several governments are restricting the number of visitors in certain destinations.
For example, Peru’s Ministry of Culture has tightened Machu Picchu’s entry policy to allow only 5,000 visitors per day at scheduled times. Tickets allow visitors to stay for no more than four hours with no re-entry. Authorities hope this new ticketing system will control traffic flow at the UNESCO World Heritage site and encourage people to explore other destinations in Peru.
But What Can We Do as Travelers?
Visit During the Off-Season
Although it’s not always possible for students or full-time workers to travel in the off-season, it’s worth considering. Visiting during the off-season can help even out crowds for the destination. It’ll also add to our experience since places are more enjoyable when we can peacefully enjoy them rather than being jostled by crowds.
Go to Lesser-Known Gems and Areas
Specific landmarks are popular for a reason, but there are many beautiful places beyond them. Did you know you can go sand boarding in Peru? Or that there are over 1,000 islands in Thailand? A little research can help take you beyond the typical tourist trail.
Buy From Local Businesses
Tourism can boost a local economy by providing opportunities for many, but it can also be straining to local businesses. Mass tourism tends to drive prices up, pushing local shops out of business. Between a chain coffee shop and a local mom-and-pop shop, try to choose the latter. Generally, the local business will put more money back into the local economy than international chains.
Beware of the Downside of a Sharing Economy
Short-term rental properties like Airbnbs may be forcing the very locals you want to interact with due to a shortage of affordable housing. Cities like Barcelona and Amsterdam have protested to regulate short-term rental listings, most of which are illegal. If you’re looking for affordable accommodation, consider staying at local B&B’s or hostels that follow city regulations and employ local workers instead.
There’s no single solution to overtourism, but it’s a united effort for each one of us to do our part. Our governments, the tour operators we use, and we as travelers have the ability to tackle these problems by working together.
We need to be conscious of our individual actions and the footprint we leave behind. Educate ourselves and others to travel responsibly so we can keep traveling farther and better.
For more articles related to ethical travel, visit The Only Social’s website.
