Overtourism: it’s a term you’ve probably heard a lot in the last few years, with beloved cities like Barcelona and Dubrovnik and iconic sites like Machu Picchu and Cinque Terre among the many victims.
Recently, it’s been Venice in the headlines with its new entry fee for day-trippers. The city, which is home to fewer than 50,000 residents, receives more than 30 million tourists per year, many of whom are day-trippers who spend little to no money there. The entry fee will fund measures to maintain the city and combat the effects of these overwhelming visitor numbers.
The World Tourism Organization’s definition of overtourism is “the impact of tourism on a destination, or parts thereof, that excessively influences perceived quality of life of citizens and/or quality of visitor experiences in a negative way”.
Unpleasant crowds and excessive wait times, pollution and environmental degradation, and residents being driven out of their neighbourhoods as homes are turned into short-stay accommodation are a few of the possible negative impacts.
Overtourism is an issue that will need action from governments and tourism industry members to address. But that doesn’t mean we’re off the hook as travellers. We obviously want a quality visitor experience on our hard-earned holiday – and we wouldn’t want our visit to have a negative impact on the quality of life for locals.
So what can we do to be part of the solution rather than the problem?
1. Choose less popular destinations
Yes, of course we all want to see the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China and the Galápagos islands. And you don’t have to take them off your bucket list. But perhaps you could resolve to choose a lesser-known destination for every second trip.
You don’t have to go way off the beaten track. Sometimes it’s as simple as choosing a country’s ‘second city’.
For example, Glasgow offers magnificent museums, a buzzing bar and restaurant scene, beautiful buildings and heaps of history, without the throngs of tourists and souvenir-shop-filled high street of Edinburgh.
France has SO many amazing cities beyond Paris. Bordeaux is a great choice with similar beautiful streets but a much more laid-back pace (and easy access to both beach towns and wine regions). And cities like Lille and Marseille have their own completely different feels.
Less popular destinations will often surprise you with all kinds of amazing things you’d never heard of, and you’ll bring back unique stories to share with your friends.
2. Travel during low or shoulder season
High season not only means bigger crowds but higher prices and more competition for pretty much everything.
Low season brings the lowest prices but often the worst weather and possibly fewer services and attractions open, while shoulder season (in between the high and low seasons) can offer the perfect balance: decent weather, decent prices, and breathing space.
Find out when the tourism peaks and troughs are in your destination and don’t go when everyone else does. That way you’ll help alleviate the pressures that high season brings, contribute to the local economy when they need it, and ensure a more pleasant experience for yourself.
3. Support local, ethical and sustainable businesses
Do some background research on your accommodation and tour options and look for companies that are locally-run and have ethical and sustainable business practices (like paying workers fairly and taking measures to minimise environmental impact).
Not will you be supporting local people and minimising your impact, but you’ll probably end up with a more authentic and meaningful experience.
4. Embrace slow travel
Slow travel is about spending longer in places to really get a feel for local life and an understanding of the culture, rather than just hitting up the top attractions on a whirlwind tour. It may also mean choosing modes of transport like buses and trains (or even walking or cycling) over planes and appreciating the journey, not just the destination.
By travelling slower, you’ll enhance your own experience, make more of a contribution to the local economy, and reduce the environmental impact of your transportation choices.
It’s clear that some places won’t be the same in future if things continue the way they have been. By considering the impact of our travel plans and making conscious choices, we can play our part in preserving the wonders of our planet.
What’s your experience been like in overtouristed places? How do you try to minimise your impact when travelling?