Overtourismi

Overtourism is a term used to describe a situation in which the number of visitors to a destination overwhelms its ability to accommodate them, resulting in negative impacts on residents, the environment, and the character of the place. The concept has gained prominence in tourism research and policy since the 2010s, and in Italian discourse it is often rendered as overtourismi.

Causes include sustained growth in international travel, the rise of low-cost carriers, the popularity of short visits and cruise itineraries, and the seasonal concentration of demand. Social media and marketing can amplify interest in particular sites, while limited planning, inadequate infrastructure, and governance gaps can reduce a destination’s capacity to manage crowds.

Impacts can be social, economic, and environmental. Residents may face higher housing costs and displacement, traffic congestion, noise, litter, and greater pressure on public services. Local businesses may become oriented toward tourists at the expense of communities. Environmental effects include ecosystem degradation, increased water and energy use, and damage to cultural heritage sites.

Indicators used to assess overtourism include visitor numbers relative to local capacity, crowding at attractions, hotel occupancy and price trends, traffic and transit congestion, waste generation, and shifts in resident attitudes toward tourism.

Examples are often cited in well-known destinations that struggle with peak-season crowds, including historic city centers and popular island sites. Overtourismi is part of a broader debate about sustainable tourism and balancing visitor demand with local quality of life.

Responses range from visitor management measures such as quotas, timed-entry, and caps on day trips or cruise calls, to pricing instruments like tourism taxes or congestion charges. Other approaches include diversifying attractions, investing in sustainable infrastructure, engaging communities, and promoting off-peak and responsible travel.