Overtourism

Overtourism is a situation in which the volume and patterns of tourism in a destination place unacceptable pressure on residents, infrastructure, natural resources, and the cultural heritage that attract visitors in the first place. It is not simply high numbers of visitors, but the distribution of visitation, the pace of arrivals, and the effectiveness of management. The term gained prominence in the 2010s as destinations around the world faced crowding, congestion, and degradation of local quality of life.

Key drivers include growth in international travel and low-cost flying, social media visibility, seasonal peaks, cruise ship influxes, and economies that depend heavily on tourism. Insufficient planning, housing market dynamics, and inadequate public services can amplify impacts, especially in historic towns and fragile natural areas.

Impacts include elevated rents and real estate pressure for locals, traffic congestion, long waits at attractions, pollution, strain on water and waste systems, habitat damage, and erosion of cultural heritage. The visitor experience can suffer as overcrowding reduces spontaneity and authenticity, while communities may experience displacement or a sense of loss.

Common indicators include occupancy and capacity thresholds, crowding metrics, environmental indicators, and changes in the housing market. Venice, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Santorini, and Iceland have all been cited in discussions of overtourism, though contexts vary.

Governance approaches focus on managing demand and spreading visitation across times and places. Tools include tourist caps, entrance fees or taxes, cruise ship limits, zoning and land-use controls, timed entries, infrastructure investment, and community consultation. Sustainable tourism strategies, data monitoring, and diversifying economies can help build resilience.