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In little countries, we can limit the during of traval like 10 days per personn for exemple

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Limit  during of days for the travel when tourist become in a new country

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https://www.theinvisibletourist.com/travel-avoid-contributing-to-overtourism-solutions/

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Crowded streets in Croatia. Photo by amanderson2

Since its inception, tourism has been considered a benign activity. This is hardly surprising; the holiday industry's USP is leisure, enjoyment, a break from all responsibility. It has brought wealth to forgotten rural communities, cushioned the blow of financial crashes, conserved critically endangered species and restored crumbling, historic cities. Tourism's potential benefits are clear. However, the mistake is to think that it can only bring good. Many of us do not believe this myth, and have been speaking out against it for decades. Our concerns were dismissed, until very recently. In summer 2017, the media and the travel industry finally began to turn their gaze to the negative impacts of the holiday industry, and the term 'overtourism' was coined.

What is overtourism?
In short, overtourism occurs when there are too many visitors to a particular destination. "Too many" is a subjective term, of course, but it is defined in each destination by local residents, hosts, business owners and tourists. When rent prices push out local tenants to make way for holiday rentals, that is overtourism. When narrow roads become jammed with tourist vehicles, that is overtourism. When wildlife is scared away, when tourists cannot view landmarks because of the crowds, when fragile environments become degraded – these are all signs of overtourism.

Why is it happening?
The travel industry, like many others, focuses almost exclusively on growth, with little or no concern for the impacts. After decades of virtually uncontrolled growth, it has crossed a threshold: in many destinations, tourism now demonstrably creates more problems than benefits. This can take many forms; perhaps a million additional tourists are arriving in a capital city, or 20 additional tourists in a small, rural community. Overtourism is not just a big city issue; it has been documented in wilderness areas and national parks, and in places such as the Isle of Skye.

Why is this in the news now?
Visitor numbers have been rising steadily for decades, as anyone who lives in a popular tourist city, or who has visited certain beaches or landmarks, will attest. Currently, there are around two billion tourist arrivals per year – a figure which is growing at a steady six percent.

Overtourism is, therefore, not a new problem. However, while the term itself was coined in 2012, it did not hit the headlines until the summer of 2017. This was not because of the increase in tourist numbers, which had not been particularly dramatic. What made the news in 2017 was the sudden backlash from local residents, which had not happened before on any large scale. There had been a slow drip feed of tourism into cities such as Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik, into places one thought of as remote such as Iceland and Skye, and finally, as the balance tipped and this new concept was given a name, the protests spread. There were marches in the streets, graffiti saying "Tourist go home", and in some cases local authorities responded by increasing fees, refusing to issue permits for more tourist-focused businesses in city centres, and even closing entire islands to visitors. It was these responses which made the news.

Tourist go home, Budapest. Photo by Felix Montino

What are the key causes of overtourism?
There are many contributing factors to overtourism, and of course these will vary from place to place. Airbnb has been used as something of a scapegoat in, as thousands of beds have suddenly been made available in towns and cities around the world, without being subject to any kind of planning, permits or – in many cases – taxes. Hosts can undercut nearby hotels and hostels, rooms open up in already-saturated districts, and as the "home share" concept becomes ever more commercialised, the demand for apartments means that rents are pushed up, and local people are pushed out.

But while Airbnb may have a supporting role, it is far from the leading player. If anything, it is more of a symptom of overtourism that one of the main causes. Local and national governments and tourist boards have long believed that more is better. A "successful" year in tourism is generally considered to be one in which numbers have increased substantially. Never mind whether these numbers are of cruise ship passengers, duty free shoppers, resort guests, backpackers or high end visitors; the number is all that counts. This has resulted in a reluctance – or often outright refusal – to cap numbers in any way, to increase (or introduce) daily tourist taxes, to charge cruise lines for docking, or to try and ensure that tourists' behaviour is beneficial – or at the very least, not damaging – to local lifestyles and landscapes.

Another issue is the availability of cheap flights, which have saturated Europe in particular in recent years. When it is cheaper to fly from London to Morocco, than to take a train from London to Manchester – then we have a problem. These artificially low fares are only possible thanks to tax and VAT not being charged on aviation fuel, a "subsidy" which saves the industry billions of pounds per year in the UK alone.

Cruise ships, too, are allowed to burn a particularly cheap and polluting type of fuel, which also allows them to keep costs low. And giant cruise ships are another contributing factor when it comes to overtourism. Thousands of passengers spill out into port cities each day, returning to the ship in time for dinner. Passengers often spend very little in the destinations, yet ensure that historic streets, monuments, cafes and shops are rammed with people, creating an unpleasant experience for residents as well as for visitors who may be staying on land and spending money locally.

Large cruise ship in Venice. Photo by Marc Berry Reid

What can tourists do to avoid overtourism?
Responsible tourism refers to tourism which creates better places for people to live and to visit – with the emphasis on 'to live'. Therefore, by definition, it is the opposite of overtourism, which diminishes the quality of life for local residents and creates a negative experience for visitors. Overtourism is sometimes simply a case of numbers: there are too many people in a particular place at a particular time. But in some cases, taking a more responsible approach to tourism can mitigate the negative effects.

In these cases, the solution can be to travel as a responsible tourist; to travel in ways which maximise positive impacts and minimise the negative ones. Two things to think about are the place, and think about the time. Spain, Italy, Iceland and Croatia have all been in the news as victims of overtourism, but in each case, this is extremely localised. Barcelona is rammed, and many of its residents are understandably fed up, but Spain is a surprisingly large country, and many of its cities are not at all crowded with tourists. Better still, head out into the villages and mountains for a real glimpse of the country away from the mainstream hordes. Not only will you have a much more realistic insight into daily life in Spain; but in many small pueblos you'll be eagerly welcomed as one of the few tourists to arrive. There are many places around the globe that need, and want, more tourists.

Of course, if you really do want to meander through the aisles of La Boqueria, then you have no choice but to visit the Catalan capital. But what you can do is to visit it outside of peak season. This is more pleasant for you, less stressful for residents, puts less pressure on things like public transport, and may even save you quite a bit of money, too.

And whenever you travel, try and ensure as much of your cash stays as local as possible. Pay national park entrance fees to ensure your visit supports conservation; stay in locally owned guesthouses; eat at local restaurants and take tours with local guides. Tourism can still be very much a force for good, and ensuring that local residents, habitats and wildlife benefit from your presence is an important part of that.

Travelling responsibly, in smaller numbers, not only helps avoid overtourism. It will give you a greater connection with local people and ways of life: a far more authentic holiday experience.

What else can be done?
As tourists we can ensure our own behaviour is as beneficial as possible, but to really effect change across the industry, and around the world, things need to happen at a much higher level. Governments and local authorities need to look at ways to control tourist numbers – whether by raising prices, issuing permits to certain attractions, banning cruise ships over a certain size, or having greater control over which businesses open and where.

All the while that increasing numbers remains the goal of tourist boards and other tourism bodies such as the UNWTO, this will not happen. But as soon as the focus shifts away from this, we can really start to tackle some of the industry's greatest challenges. Overtourism may seem like a new concept, but there are many examples around the world of how it has been successfully avoided, dating back years. Gorilla tracking in East Africa is one such example; just eight permits per day are issued to track each gorilla family, and permit prices range from US $500-$750. Far from causing outcry, tourists view the handful of expensive permits as an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experience. The experience has not been boycotted; permits regularly sell out. Better still, the forests remain intact, and gorilla numbers, which were once threatened, have increased substantially since the introduction of tourism.

Gorilla tracking in Rwanda. Photo by David Bacon

In Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands – both exceptionally fragile habitats teeming with endemic and endangered species – restrictions on the size of cruise ships and the number of passengers who may disembark at any one time have ensured the sustainability of tourism. And on the Inca Trail, only around 200 trekking permits per day are made available for tourists. These, too, sell out, often many months in advance.

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Overtourism. What is overtourism and how can we avoid it - Responsible Travel

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What is overtourism? In short, overtourism occurs when there are too many visitors to a particular destination, whether that is an attraction like a museum, a city or an area. Find out more on our what is over tourism page.

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https://www.justraveling.com/alternative-travel/anti-tourism-quest-alternatives/

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https://www.responsibletravel.com/copy/what-is-overtourism

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https://www.monatourisme.fr/habitants-tourismophobie-solutions/
• Limited the number of visitors
• Create relationship between tourists and locals: "Localhood"

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Create a travel diary for eco-travelers (they will be rated by local establishments and the better their ratings, the more they can travel)
MORGANE

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With more people travelling than ever before, how can we continue to do so and avoid contributing to overtourism issues?" ~ Alyse.

Are there any overtourism solutions?

Only a decade or two ago we were yet to see any effects of overtourism. When friends or family travelled abroad back then, it used to be a massive deal. You'd see them off at the Departures hall at the airport, complete with hugs and maybe even tears. They'd set off on their journey and return some weeks later with loads of gifts, photos and stories from what they considered to be their trip of a lifetime.

Today, travel is no longer treated as this occasional luxury. In fact, in recent years the combination of travel becoming more affordable and the rise of the middle class in Asia means more people are travelling than ever before. Unfortunately, these increases are having dire consequences on some local populations.

Perhaps if you weren't travelling about 8-10 years ago, you may not even be aware of the differences to tourism these increases have caused, so I'm here to shed a little light to put things into perspective and explain why it's crucial to know how to not look like a tourist when abroad.

I first published this article in March 2019 and have updated it since. My guess is if you're reading this, you're probably interested in finding out if there are any solutions to tourism problems. How can we travel and avoid contributing to overtourism?

As a travel blogger, I feel as though it's my responsibility to be part of the solution, not part of the problem of overtourism. With this article I'm hoping to spread the word, beginning with you.

I don't have all the answers, but I believe there are ways we can help to fix overtourism, which I've written about in detail below. We all just need to start somewhere. Even the smallest of well-meaning gestures can help in curbing problems with tourism.

I think the last point may be one of the most important and I wonder if you'll agree. On a scale of 1 to 10, how "invisible" are you? Read on to find out more!

This article will cover my top 10 overtourism solutions:

1. Stay longer at your destination

2. Stay in central accommodation (and avoid using Airbnb)

3. Explore off the beaten path

4. Support local businesses

5. Respect locals going about their day-to-day lives

Respect private property

Don't abuse public transport

Obey local road rules & parking regulations

6. Respect the local environment

For future generations & other tourists

For your own safety

For natural wonders & UNESCO World Heritage Sites

For animal welfare

7. Respect local culture

Learn some local language

Clothing & etiquette

Embrace local cuisine

8. Travel during off-peak periods

9. Be prepared and research your destination before you get there

10. Travel for YOURSELF, not for validation from others

Solutions to tourism problems

Nobody likes an annoying tourist. So how can you avoid being one without contributing to tourism problems? There a few key things to consider regarding your travel style first. Some points may be obvious, but others you probably haven't though of!

If you're after the "authentic" travel experience people seem to bang on about these days, contrary to popular belief you won't get it by staying in an Airbnb and watching Netflix whilst nibbling snacks at your destination. You'll get it by being a more mindful and responsible tourist.

An invisible tourist.

Let's get into my 10 overtourism solutions and how you can still travel while helping to combat overtourism at the same time:

1. Stay longer at your destination

How is this an overtourism solution?? I know this sounds counter intuitive, but hear me out.

The majority of travellers only seem to spend a day or two visiting a city. This means overcrowding is all too easy as tourists rush around from place to place because their time is very limited. Travelling in this way can have a crushing impact on local's quality of life, and other tourists for that matter.

If you stay longer at your destination, there's suddenly no need to cram everything into a short timeframe. You're able to visit popular tourist attractions during less busy periods, even visit some museums or galleries at night when the day trippers and large tour groups are long gone. You'll be able to have a more enjoyable experience without the overwhelming burden of crowds and getting elbowed in the ribs every few moments!

2. Stay in central accommodation (& avoid Airbnb)

Make the most of your travel time by staying in a centrally located hotel, hostel or traditional B&B. You'll be able to skip getting the train and bus into the city centre each day at your destination. This saves you a lot of time as well as transport costs. The added bonus for locals here is you won't be taking up a valuable transportation spot a commuter could use during rush hour.

With only a casual stroll back to your accommodation, you'll also be able to see the town from a different perspective during the night and enjoy places day trippers miss out on! I believe this is one of the underrated overtourism solutions.

By staying in a reputable, centrally located hotel, hostel or traditional B&B, you're helping to avoid contributing to issues affecting locals from Airbnb and similar homestay accommodation around the world. Unlike Airbnb which is unregulated, these traditional accommodations are always in areas zoned for tourists so they minimise disruption to locals. They're in areas where high pedestrian traffic is expected and usually tucked away from residential areas.

Airbnbs in city centres are taking away long term accommodation for residents, and sometimes are not in areas zoned for tourists. Noisy tourists coming and going it all hours in a quiet neighbourhood may be detrimental to locals' quality of life. Locals are trying to sleep as they have work the next day and won't appreciate boisterous tourist antics at 4am! No one likes being kept awake by commotion outside.

TIP: These ethical Airbnb alternatives will help you find hosted stays at your next destination and other options that ensure you won't inadvertently be taking long-term accommodation from local residents.

3. Explore off the beaten path

There's SO much more to any destination than what's limited to the photos you see on social media. Even wandering a few streets away from the popular areas will allow you to discover unique treasures, like these hidden gems in Kyoto! We need to try and lessen the impact of our heavy tourist footprints on local communities by doing what we can to dilute crowds from the most heavily visited areas.

Not only will this help minimise the negative impacts of overtourism, it will also give you a greater appreciation and understanding of your destination beyond the tourist hot spots.

You can also help bring new business less-popular and less-visited nearby cities of your main destination. If you're planning to visit a super busy place, research some nearby alternatives you can add to your trip to help enrich your experience. Local sales people, restaurant owners and the like in these less visited-areas will love you for it!

4. Support local businesses

Get behind small companies! Allow yourself to travel independently where possible by avoiding large tour agencies where money doesn't trickle back down to local communities. Although I am not entirely against cruises myself it's a fact that cruise companies are notorious for this.

According to Skift, European cruises have been significantly increasing their frequency in recent years, which has been one of the causes of overtourism in coastal cities like Barcelona and Venice (more on this down the page).

Even though tourists are visiting a city, on a major cruise it means they aren't staying in local accommodation, aren't eating all local food most of the time and aren't spending much of their money in the local community. The majority of their spending goes back to the major cruise operators and the locals bear the brunt of the negative tourism traits without even seeing much of a financial benefit.

One way to see a city and contribute back to the local community is to hire a private, local guide to show you around and share their knowledge with you and participate in local cultural experiences.

My personal favourite sites to find authentic experiences and local guides are for destinations globally and MagicalTrip for Japan. Read more here about the cultural experiences I've personally tried and enjoyed in Japan!

I probably wouldn't have known about this gorgeous cave pictured below on the outskirts of Athens had I not hired a friendly local guide for the day!

If you're worried about travelling independently, don't be. I've shared my personal, detailed itineraries in various destinations around the world to help make things easier for you. Being prepared means you'll have the confidence you need to travel on your own!

5. Respect locals going about their day-to-day lives

Although it may be your holiday, it's important to remember to be respectful to locals who live and work at your destination with this overtourism solution. Here's how:

Respect private property

While it's hard to imagine sometimes, try to put yourself in a local's shoes. You wouldn't want random people trespassing on your fancy front porch in the name of "doing it for the 'Gram", would you? During one of my visits to NYC, being a fan of Sex and the City I wanted to find the building that was filmed as Carrie Bradshaw's apartment.

The disgruntled residents must have been so fed up with people cramming their staircase and getting in the way (and rightly so). They had chained off the entryway and left a note to remind tourists this was their home, so to take a quick photo and be on their way. Respectfully, this is what I did (while cropping out the chain).

Don't abuse public transport

Tram #28 in Lisbon is a regular commuter tram. Although, you'd never guess because it's been completely inundated by tourists wanting to get around the city on the cheap. The line of tourists stretches so far that locals can no longer use this mode of public transport for their commute to work, seeing as queues for an hour or more are not uncommon.

This really sucks for locals trying to go about their daily business.

You're on holiday and should have all the time in the world, right? It's up to you to make a conscious effort to explore by another means if you don't want to make life difficult for locals, and yourself. You'll definitely get to see more when you wander leisurely on foot (and in the time you'd spend lining up, no doubt). Stay longer, take your time and enjoy!

Obey the local road rules & parking regulations

If you're driving around in a new country make sure you know the local road rules and any parking regulations. It's never a good idea to park illegally as this can result in hefty fines or your rental car being towed. What an inconvenience that would be on holiday!

In the small village of Shirakawa-go in the Japanese alps, there's an increasing number of tourists parking illegally, making it difficult for locals to go about their business. For such a small town, it has designated parking areas and simply cannot sustain numbers of illegally parked cars.

Also remember, some countries drive on the LEFT hand side of the road, which may be a challenge to get used to at first.

6. Respect the local environment

In isolation, it may seem that a sneaky action of disobeying rules to get a shot for Instagram isn't going to make much of a difference. This may be true, but when combining everyone's "isolated" actions it becomes very unsustainable for the environment.

We need to think beyond ourselves and at the bigger picture. There are a few ways to respect the environment when travelling to avoid contributing to overtourism issues:

For future generations and other tourists

Firstly, respecting the environment may mean finding a less-visited alternative to a popular attraction. The overwhelming influx of visitors to Iceland in recent years resulted in many popular photo spots like Reykjadalur being closed off to tourists for months. Delicate ecosystems have come under strain from too much tourist love (and disobeying signage), and nature needs time to recover before the damage becomes irreversible.

Furthermore, Maya Bay in Thailand (more popularly known as James Bond Island) has recently been closed to allow time to heal and recover from unsustainable visitor numbers. While this may seem like an inconvenience if you were planning to go, it's important to remember that this action will help save these environments and allow them to be around for future generations.

While this may be inconvenient to your travel plans, it truly is one of the overtourism solutions we see immediate benefits from once enforced.

F or your own safety

Sometimes the warning signs are there to save your life - did you see the crumbly cliff edge you were about to take a selfie on? Or the warning notice about rips occurring at the local beach? With the increasing numbers of tourists around the world, there has also been a correlation to tourist-related injuries and deaths.

In 2011 there were only 3 selfie-related deaths recorded. Did you know that number greatly increased each year to reach to 93 in 2017? Combining all records from 2011 to 2017 brings us to a staggering 259 selfie-related deaths .

While this sounds like a cliché, please respect the environment and any warning signs for your own safety - no one wants to become a statistic.

F or natural wonders and UNESCO World Heritage sites

Resist the unusual urge to carve your name into trees or stones as this causes irreversible damage to significant attractions. In Kyoto, Japan, tourists have been vandalising the bamboo by etching their names into the UNESCO World Heritage Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, causing significant destruction. If everyone did that, there soon may be no bamboo groves left for anyone to enjoy. That would be an absolute shame!

If you're hiking or camping in the wilderness, please follow the "leave no trace" principle. Take home everything you brought along with you and nothing you didn't.

F or animal welfare

If drones are not permitted where you are, please don't be the knob who disregards the rules. In some destinations such as Australia, drones are considered aircraft so it's necessary to learn the regulations beforehand. There are also restrictions for flying your drone over waters when whales are present, as drones have also been known to disrupt wildlife and birds. Unless you work for National Geographic, do you really need to?

Additionally, please consider the ethics related to animals used in tourism. Some animals are being exploited in order to attract your tourist money, like the riding of elephants and patting chained tigers in Thailand. An alternative is to visit an elephant sanctuary where the animals are rescued from cruel conditions and nursed back to health.

In Santorini, Greece, it's been revealed that donkeys have received spinal injuries from lugging tourists up the 600 stairs from the port to the main town, a well as being worked to dehydration in extreme heat. For the sake of the donkey's welfare, the cable car is a much more efficient way to journey up the cliffside from the port. You'll also feel better for doing so and the donkeys will thank you for it!

7. Respect local culture

Each culture is unique and has its own significance in the world. Their differences are what makes them so special. But what happens when we end up turning all places into the same ordinary mono-culture? When the local etiquette, language and cuisine are slowly eroded away by overtourism and replaced by a barrage of the same stuff you see everywhere else? What if the unique cultural differences that attracted us to a destination eventually disappeared?

Some tourists can be pretty demanding folk and expect things to be the same as home when they travel. Alternatively, we should do what we can to help preserve what makes each destination exceptional, and it starts by respecting the local culture.

Learn some local language

As I point out in many of my travel guides and itineraries, try your best to greet locals in their native tongue. It goes such a long way! Not only does this help preserve the local culture, it goes to show you have made a the first step in understanding their culture and appreciating their way of life. This can be one of the most fun overtourism solutions - really!

I've become quite the language hoarder over the years - I am not fluent in any, though! However, learning bits of local languages has helped me get off on the right foot with countless locals I've encountered. I can say basic greetings and phrases I'd need to get by in Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek and a few more. But how do I learn so fast? Find out in my guide to learning language for travel.

Clothing & etiquette

From wearing the appropriate clothing inside religious structures to the correct etiquette when eating out and using public transport, respecting the local culture can come in many different forms. What may seem normal to you may actually be a taboo at your destination so it's important to find out any cultural do's and don'ts before you make a fool of yourself.

Don't be that annoying bikini-wearing tourist wandering the streets if a beach is not visible nearby. In many places this is not appropriate.

Embrace local cuisine

Respecting local culture also intertwines with embracing their cuisine. Unfortunately, over the years I've seen first hand how local cuisine at popular destinations is getting pushed out of cities in favour of foods where tourists originate.

There are many instances of this happening across Europe ( Lisbon is one such example). During my visits over the years to Surfers Paradise, Australia and Queenstown, New Zealand, I've noticed the traditional pub culture is slowly being eradicated and replaced by Chinese and Indian establishments to entice these new visitors from Asia.

What's wrong with tourists sampling the local cuisine? Is there a point of going to a new country to only eat the same food you would at home? Surely this defeats the purpose of travel?

8. Travel during off-peak periods

This is one of my favourite overtourism solutions. Travelling during the off-season or shoulder season is not only a great way to save a little money for yourself, but also brings tourism dollars (or insert other currency here) to locals at times when they actually need it. Visiting Paris in March is the perfect example. Hotels and flights cost less and crowds are also much smaller during these times. It's a win-win and one of the most important overtourism solutions!

By travel during off-peak periods, I'm also talking about daily as well as seasonally. If you have suitcases, try to avoid catching public transport during rush hour where commuters are already fighting it out to get to and from work. If it's possible, you can also try to avoid travelling during major public holidays where crowds are already expected to be huge, like if you're planning a trip to Japan around Golden Week, for instance.

Places like Barcelona, Lisbon, Venice and Santorini have been bombarded with cruise ships and day trippers throughout summer in recent years, causing massive crowds and major overtourism issues. Local's lives are becoming affected negatively and the rate this is happening is not sustainable.

Sure, the weather may not be as desirable for travelling during the off season, and you may have to deal with dreary weather, extra clothing and snow in some locations (but the weather can also surprise you, like it did during my week in Switzerland during winter!) But that sure as hell beats being having to navigate through overcrowded areas and narrow cobbled streets like a watermelon squeezing through a toilet roll, right?

9. Be prepared and research your destination before you get there

I firmly believe this is one of the best overtourism solutions. Know what attractions and things to do there are at your destination to prevent wasting time figuring it out on the go once you arrive. Planning this way also gives you an insight into how long you should stay at a destination in order to give yourself enough time to see everything you want.

Learning beforehand about the significance of attractions will help make your visit a more meaningful one. There isn't much point getting a photo at a temple or monument if you don't know much about its history or why it's an important part of the local culture. This is why finding out about any UNESCO sites is helpful. There's so much more to travel than likes on social media for capturing the same shot as everyone else.

It's also incredibly handy to research how you will get around at your destination in advance. Will you be catching Metros, busses, taxis or exploring on foot? Keep in mind... The cheapest option may not be the most sustainable option, but I believe as tourists it's a price we are obligated to pay.

If people spent as much time researching their travels as they did posting endlessly on social media about what they ate for lunch or without really knowing about what it is they're sharing, tourism pollution would be on its way to being a thing of the past.

10. Travel for YOURSELF, not for validation from others

These days it's so easy to be influenced by the highlight reels of social media. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't inspired to visit somewhere because I saw it on Pinterest. Sure, social media can inspire travel but it should be only used as a starting point for researching the destination further, not be the sole focus of travel.

Make sure you go someplace because it interests you, it resonates with you, you're intrigued by the history and culture. Not just because people you know went there or you want to showcase the same shots on your Instagram as everyone else to keep up appearances.

If you travel somewhere to simply check it off your list and say you've been to impress others, is it really going to be worthwhile, enjoyable or memorable if you don't have an appreciation for what's there? I dare you to try and be in the moment during your next trip.

Allow yourself to be fully immersed in the destination and enjoy it through your own eyes, not the screen of a smartphone.

Concluding my solutions to tourism problems

The negative effects of overtourism have only begun to surface. From the solutions I've listed above, I hope I've inspired you adopt some of them to avoid contributing to overtourism on your next trip. There are now all too many examples in popular destinations of what happens if we don't embrace local culture and the differences to our own.

As guests in a new place, we should be expected to act in a respectful manner to our hosts and adapt. Why should they change their cultural heritage that dates back hundreds - if not thousands - of years to appease us tourists?

To help respect and preserve local culture, grab your invisibility cloak and try to blend in! Learn the local lingo beforehand, correct etiquette and sample local cuisine. Stay longer, search for alternatives and be prepared. These steps will help to prevent the diluting of native culture through hoards of tourists demanding otherwise. Each of my travel guides and itineraries for many destinations around the world show you how!

We don't want to lose what was already there by replacing it with something ordinary that can be found anywhere else. Even the little things you do count towards more sustainable tourism! Do you agree? Let me know if you'll use any of these overtourism solutions on your next trip!

If you'd like more tips to combat overtourism, come and join me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok for more.

Until next time,

Like it? Pin it! 📌

This guide to overtourism solutions contains links to my affiliate partners Klook and MagicalTrip. I may earn a small commission if you decide to click through and make a purchase so if you do, thanks for your support! This helps with the costs of running my blog so I can keep my content free for you. As always, I only recommend a product or service that I genuinely love and use myself!

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Australian-based Alyse has travelled "The Invisible Tourist Way" for twelve years and hopes to encourage fellow travellers to do so, too. Based on her travels to 250+ cities across 32 countries, through her blog she shares passionate advice about responsible travel, history and preserving local cultures for more enriching experiences. Her dreams? Always about the next destination and how to make the most of it by "blending in".

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10 Easy Solutions to Avoid Contributing to Overtourism Issues

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With more people travelling than ever before, how can we continue to do so and avoid contributing to overtourism issues?" ~ Alyse. Are there any overtourism solutions? Only a decade or two ago we were yet to see any effects of overtourism. When friends or family travelled abroad back then, it used to be a massive deal.

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Tyfenn

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Overtourism is a new concept for a lot of people. There are tourists who come from all corners of the world, yet, not every place in the world has tourists.

Last year, global tourist arrivals (the number of people traveling) reached 1.4 billion.

The World Tourism Organization predicted we wouldn't reach that number for a few more years.

Compare this number to 1995 when there were only 525 million tourists worldwide, and you can see where we're headed.

More affordable flights and travel combined with increases in personal wealth has made it possible for more and more people to travel for fun. It's a trend that's both wonderful, and potentially harmful and threatening, too.

The term "overtourism," which is believed to have developed in 2015, is used to explain crowded tourist destinations and the negative impact it has on the communities and cultures surrounding them.

Overtourism is an idea that encompasses all the negative impacts of tourism.

It explains the arising conflict between foreign visitors and locals, which has reached a boiling point in some places.

Overtourism can also explain the impact of the industry on struggling natural environments.

This is seen, for example, in Thailand; or, more specifically, Maya Beach.

Very few people knew about Maya Beach on Koh Phi Phi of southern Thailand until the Hollywood blockbuster, "The Beach" starring Leonardo Decaprio made Maya Bay the most popular destination in all of Southeast Asia.

Since it was released in 2000, tourism on Maya Beach exploded.

It is reported that, at one point, more than 5,000 visitors were frolicking on the beach each day, delivered by more than 200 boats. In turn, the beach suffered a significant environmental loss.

It is estimated over 80 percent of the coral around Maya Bay has already been damaged and government officials in Thailand hope closing the beach to visitors indefinitely will bring it back to life.

As travelers, it is our job to leave a community exactly how it was when we arrived.

Zero-impact travel is what we should all strive for unique places to remain available to future generations of travelers.

Thailand is far from the only place affected. The Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru and the sinking city of Venice in Italy are two more of the many sites being threatened.

Below, we have highlighted different ways you can become more conscious of overtourism. We challenge you to do your part to help the bigger cause.

How You Can Help Prevent Overtourism

1. Pay attention to local signage

It is simple. If the sign says "stay off the grass," don't step on the grass.

If the sign says "do not feed the wild animals," don't do it.

If the sign says "no photography inside the cathedral," don't try to sneak a quick photo when no one is looking.

These signs are made for a reason, and usually, it is to protect yourself, the environment, and the culture.

2. Travel in the off-season

Traveling in the fall or winter months will not only mean fewer queues to deal with, but you will also be going at a time when prices are lower.

Dave, for example, re-visited Florence, Italy last fall. He said the main landmarks like the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio (bridge) were still busy, but not nearly as crowded as they would've been in summer.

Another reason to travel in the should or off-season is that locals will be more willing to strike up a conversation as they haven't been wrestling with hordes of tourists all season.

In some destinations, such as Switzerland, a sheet of snow over the landscape brings out the real magic and makes photographs even better.

Who wants to spend a vacation in lines, anyway?

This is where you may need to do a little research, as the months that constitute off-season travel varies depending on where you want to go.

See also: 10 Essential Tips to Travel Switzerland on a Budget

3. Reconsider hostels/hotels over homeshare services

Did you know over 40 percent of vacation apartments in Barcelona are operated illegally?

That is because greedy landlords have realized tourists are willing to pay much more than residents.

Searching for the cheapest accommodation possible, tourists have begun to stop looking in the direction of hotels, which isn't necessarily a good thing.

Sure, spending locally is always good (see #6). However, what it does is make housing a nightmare for locals; driving rent prices through the roof, and creating more friction between tourists and locals.

Barcelona is not the lone exception to this issue. Combat this growing problem by re-considering going back to the hostels or hotels.

4. Do your part to social responsibility

Leaving a place as it was when you arrived is your responsibility, but have you ever considered doing more than the minimum?

What about leaving the beach with less plastic than you brought?

Instead of placing blame on others, go the extra mile, and help make up for others' neglect.

If every traveler picked up just one piece of litter a day, it would go a long way.

Whenever I go on a hike, I always bring a trash bag for loose trash on the trail and, in most places, I can fill it before my walk is finished.

5. Seek advice past the first page of Google

Here is the truth about travel blogging: it exists on the internet, and people lie on the internet.

Have you ever considered why every small town or village you have read about is "quaint," "paradisiacal," or "unexplored?"

How every tropical destination is excellent for snorkeling, and its beaches are "pristine" and "secluded?"

These are easy, safe, unmeasurable ways to write about places we have never been to.

I, myself, am a part of the problem in travel blogging as I've used these unjustifiable descriptions to convince readers they must go to the most visited destinations in a city.

Admittedly, I have written articles in the past which clients ask me to write about attractions I have never been to.

They have asked me to write about the top ten attractions on TripAdvisor, for example. In turn, this leads to the promotion of the same few attractions in the city.

[ Editor's note: Go Backpacking only publishes stories based on an author's first-hand experience in a destination.]

The world is big. Be open to exploring it independently on a whim, as well as based on the recommendations of blogs.

6. Spend your money locally

Backpackers have historically been good about this, if for no other reason than it's often cheaper to eat locally than at international chains.

Instead of eating at McDonald's, try the local street food across the way. Sure, easy!

However, tour companies have gotten sneakier at disguising themselves as homegrown companies when, in fact, they have roots worldwide.

One of my favorite things to do is the free city walking tours offered in most major cities around the world.

Though a few popular companies, like Sandeman, operate in most cities, they are unique in that all proceeds go to the local guides themselves.

Not only that, but they can save you a pretty penny for your wallet, too.

Most guides, being local, know secrets you can't find on the internet and will take you to places you wouldn't have known about had it not been for taking the walking tour.

7. Be aware of cultural sensitivities

Do your research about the culture before you leave for your destination. This seems like a dying process among all travelers.

With affordable travel and increased tourism around the world, it feels like you can travel to a destination and never cross paths with a country's culture. How tragic.

Immersing yourself in culture and participating in traditions and lifestyles from across the world is what makes travel such a valuable experience. Let's get back to our roots.

Among cultural sensitivities to be aware of, religion is of utmost importance.

To air on the safe side, the less skin you show, the less like a tourist you will appear, and the less likely you are to offend anyone.

Be conservative in public, cautious about voice level, language, and try to blend in as much as you can. After all, that is a common goal as travelers, isn't it, still?

8. Look past the top 10 destinations links - do your research!

Before Leo made Maya Beach into a phenomenon, Koh Phi Phi was just one of the 1,400 Thai islands.

Think about it - despite what people may tell you, there are still gems out there which haven't been discovered by the internet: islands which haven't lost their culture, beaches which don't have vendors walking the shoreline, and streets without tour buses.

However, if you keep following the "Top 10 Destinations in ____" lists, you are not going to find those places.

If you read it on the internet, so did thousands of others. Try doing some research and exploration on your own.

[ Editor's note: Yes, we've published our share of "Top X" lists on Go Backpacking, too. While we don't believe there's anything inherently wrong with a list format, we'll be keeping the problem of overtourism in mind as we draft the content of such articles in the future.]
Let's tackle overtourism together before it's too late
No matter which country - in which community - we are traveling, we have a responsibility (which everyone is now aware of) to be conscious travelers.

That means taking control of our actions, thinking before we act, and making decisions for the betterment of the place we are visiting.

If everyone does their part to be a more responsible traveler, we can fix this issue ourselves - without closing beaches indefinitely or irritating locals to the point of conflict.

Let's get a grip before overtourism gets out of hand.

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking uses and recommends:

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Overtourism is a new concept for a lot of people. There are tourists who come from all corners of the world, yet, not every place in the world has tourists. Last year, global tourist arrivals (the number of people traveling) reached 1.4 billion.

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City mayors must tke an interest in this subject and meet with the traders in the city

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What can I do about overtourism?

- Avoid mainstream and/or iconic destinations.
- Make “second city” tourism a habi
- Highlight lesser known places
- Travel as slowly as possibleTravel in smaller groups
- Make sure people in your photos have given consent
- Local local local
- Travel off peak - in the low season

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Tyfenn

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We all have a bucket list of amazing destinations we want to visit, but we are also worried about the impact of our travels and how to avoid overtourism. You're probably very familiar with this situation: you've just arrived in your dream destination after planning and saving a lot, and you head to your first spot, the city's most famous attraction. When you arrive, you find yourself in an extremely overcrowded place with many people fighting for the best selfie spot.

When we think about places like the Colosseum in Rome, or Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, we all know they're going to be busy. When a place becomes famous among travellers, they tend to develop new facilities to welcome large numbers of people and the destination begins to change. The streets become crowded, souvenir shops appear, and you start to find many photos on Instagram. Problems start when the amount of visitors becomes way higher than the town or attraction can cope with.

What is overtourism?

A group of researchers described it as:

"Overtourism describes the situation in which the impact of tourism at certain times and places exceeds the physical, ecological, social, economic, psychological and / or political limit."

Just because a place is full, it doesn't mean that it suffers from overtourism. This could just be crowding, meaning there are a lot of people in relation to the space available. Think of the Eiffel Tower in summer, or Times Square in New York. Overtourism only happens when the massive presence of tourists threatens the culture, economy and nature of a destination.

Do locals like tourists?

Badly behaved tourists have annoyed locals for a long time. In the 1960s, American sociologist Dean MacCannell described tourists as silly creatures, drawn to "pseudo-events" and "staged authenticity." For him, tourists arrive, get excited about everything and leave, back to their reality, without ever thinking about the reality of the other. Which is why we're all culturally and environmentally aware backpackers... right?

Nowadays, cities like Barcelona, Berlin and Lisbon have to battle the advance of home-rental sites, which have increased rent prices and made the cities unliveable for some locals. However, criticising or banning travellers is counterproductive, especially because these cities get much of their income from tourism.

Judging travellers as guilty is not the solution - first of all, we need to understand the problem and how to avoid overtourism.

How Instagram contributes to overtourism
📷@francineito
So basically, crowded places are not necessarily threatened places. However, with the emergence of new forms of communication and the change in the way we travel, we need to put another element into the equation: the Instagram factor. When influencers visit a place, chances are their followers will want to repeat the photo.

A well-known example is Heaven's Gate, in Bali. The place became so famous on Instagram that nowadays you'll find a queue of travellers waiting for their turn to repeat the shot. But you wouldn't expect what's nearby and doesn't appear in the photo. The Lempuyang Temple, home to the famous gate, is sacred to the Balinese and deserves a more respectful visit. Overtourism happens when the life of locals has to change because of the behaviour of tourists. When thousands of people treat a sacred place like an Instagram opportunity, locals see their costumes disrespected and their lives disrupted. This is obviously not the only problem Bali is facing, with the number of tourists increasing every year. The island has also suffered beaches full of plastic left behind by travellers, congestion and water shortages.

Threatened paradises

It's not only ultra-photographed places that suffer from overtourism - it doesn't threaten the big cities and their residents, but rather the small, rural towns and the surrounding environment.

In short, when the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is full, this is just crowding. But when Thailand's government decides to close Maya Bay, its most famous beach, by 2021, it's because nature can no longer defend itself against the damage caused by tourism. This is when we should start to rethink how we choose our dream destinations, how we regulate our travels and how we can avoid overtourism.

The most dangerous consequences of overtourism

When out of control, overtourism can wipe out historic sites, native species and ancient cultures. The pressure that thousands of visitors puts on a place is much bigger than we can imagine. Travellers leave a lot of money wherever they go, but can also leave immense amounts of trash.

Think of a small town that has a sewer system designed for its 10,000 inhabitants. When the government decides to organise an international event that will host 2,000 people, they calculate how much money visitors bring, but they don't always think about the daily droppings that overload the system. Yes, we are talking about pee and poop.

A simple projection error can break a pipe, interrupt the water supply in the city, contaminate the water table and rivers, and finally an entire city! Sounds like an exaggeration? Well, this is a common story in some towns in South America when huge events like the Dakar Rally take place.

Overtourism protection laws

So how do we solve the problem? Stop travelling? Lock ourselves in our homes and cry softly thinking of places we'll never see? It's not up to us backpackers to solve the infrastructure problems of entire cities. But it is up to us to respect the rules, to not be a burden, to consider how to avoid overtourism and to not waste natural resources.

An example of success is the sacred site of Machu Picchu in Peru. We'd been hearing rumours for years that Machu Picchu was at risk of closing due to damage caused by overtourism. This risk was combatted by introducing a limit to the number of travellers that can visit the ruins daily, thanks to pressure from the UNESCO committee that protects World Heritage sites. The initiative worked and now Machu Picchu will be opening its arms to visitors for a long time. Responsible travel is possible, and we can make big changes when we all work together!

How to not be an irresponsible traveller

We backpackers like to think we know how to travel better than the average tourist. This is because normally we have more freedom on our adventures, we spend more time in one place and we embrace local experiences. This is a fact, but there are more factors to consider.

Respecting local customs seems to be common sense, but it's hard to see the cultural nuances that differ from our hosts if we don't pay enough attention. Research customs before you travel, ask questions, listen and observe. You and your friends are so excited to ride a train from one big city to another in Egypt, but for the other passengers it's probably just another commute. Respect their silence! Basically, be mindful of those who are in the same spaces as you, just living their daily lives.

Sustainable ways to travel

Sustainable ways of travelling are already here, and you probably do many of them without even realising. Staying in a hostel is a great way to travel more consciously, as you can exchange accommodation for work, or share a dorm which occupies way less space than a king size bed in a five-star hotel. Plus, you can cook for yourself and avoid producing loads of trash in fast food restaurants. You can even go one step further and make sure you stay in an eco-friendly hostel.

By travelling at a slower pace and staying longer in places, you make your carbon footprint smaller, get to meet the locals and understand how it really is to live there.

7 ways to avoid overtourism
@leonorsousa
Don't feel that overtourism is unavoidable and there's nothing you can do. In fact, it's the opposite! Here are some super simple tips you can try on your next trip, helping to ease the pressure that overtourism puts on destinations and allowing more people to visit in the future.

1. Choose to travel by train or bus instead of taking a flight when possible.

2. Take your reusable water bottle and cutlery everywhere you go.

3. Research where you are going and choose to travel in low season.

4. "In Rome, do like the Romans". That means act like a local - and eat like a local too, encouraging small family businesses rather than multinational chains.

5. Choose your souvenirs well to avoid contributing to predatory industries (no bird feathers, gems, bits of archaeological sites).

6. Do not visit attractions that use animals for human entertainment, such as elephant rides.

7. Never leave your trash anywhere, especially when visiting nature reserves.

📚 About the Author 📚
For help finding your perfect hostel, download the Hostelworld app and get ready to meet the world!

Freelance journalist and translator living in Berlin, mother of a German-Brazilian family and a collector of tropical plants. On her free time, she is doing a Phd in sociology of tourism, where she researches backpackers in South America and cultural conflicts. You can find some of her articles on the blog Travel Praxis.

Keep reading: ⬇️

🌟 THE sustainable packing list for an eco-friendly traveller

🌟 Ethical Volunteering Tips

🌟 21 eco-friendly hostels perfect for the sustainable traveller

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How to avoid overtourism and be a responsible traveller

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We all have a bucket list of amazing destinations we want to visit, but we are also worried about the impact of our travels and how to avoid overtourism. You're probably very familiar with this situation: you've just arrived in your dream destination after planning and saving a lot, and you head to your first spot, the city's most famous attraction.

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https://assets.weforum.org/editor/large_6naX8fL-gQTBeaTE5dJ9bYNVPViZncwe7IWi9Qv0idA.JPG

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We can absolutely work towards solutions for overtourism, but it requires the cooperation of tourists, destinations, and the media together. I’ll dig into what we, as individual tourists can do shortly, but for now, lets look at travel industry solutions:

Limit transportation options so that destinations do not become overwhelmed. This can mean cutting down the amount of flights or cruise ships that are permitted to arrive on a given day. By limiting entries, you can directly control the amount of tourists that enter a region or city at a time.

Introduce a tourist tax. Many countries around the world, like Bhutan and Spain, have already implemented this solution. The taxes are often added onto hotel bills, or are paid as an exit fee at the airport. Tourist taxes are then used to protect natural resources and maintain tourism facilities.

Improve marketing and education. This is an important one! Marketing and education directly influence tourism choices, and so marketing efforts need to shift to embrace a larger scope, and refocus on lesser-traveled regions. This effort needs to be carefully done of course, so that we don’t end up creating a new hotspot.

Restricting time spent at popular sites. Another tactic is to restrict the amount of time a tourist has at a site so that there is less overcrowding. This has been used already at famous sites like Machu Picchu and India’s Taj Mahal.

These are just some of the industry solutions that can help to curb the impact of mass tourism in places that are overwhelmed. Because these strategies limit the choices that tourists can make, it has a bottom-up effect, which can make a difference quickly.

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Put in place legislation to regulate overtourism, put in place a charter with tourist establishments and local people in order to respect everyone's freedom
MORGANE

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For most of us, travel is on hold while we work together to get through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I've been trying to continue feeling the travel passion while stuck at home, and have been taking this time to think about ways we can do better as travelers.

There are lots of ways that tourists can do better - this is something I've discovered in recording my responsible travel podcast, Alpaca My Bags. In my conversations with guests on the podcast, I've learned about travel-related issues like travel privilege , lack of accessibility in tourism, and the impact of flying on our environment. Another topic that has come up frequently is overtourism.

You can listen to my travel podcast, Alpaca My Bags, here.

Overtourism can lead to issues that impact the people and environments that tourism was meant to benefit. These damaging side effects often overshadow the benefits of tourism.

What is overtourism?

Tourism can be extremely beneficial: it can help build economies, especially for small communities, create jobs, encourage conservation, and encourage the restoration and preservation of historic sites. For example, in a recent study it was found that in Bangladesh, there are now 944 related jobs for every 100 visitors to the country, or nine jobs for every tourist.

There is a tipping point to tourism's positive benefits, though. In short, overtourism describes when too many tourists visit a particular destination. It's the umbrella term that describes the many side effects that mass tourism can create.

The many impacts of mass tourism

When tourism becomes unsustainable in a place, you start to see negative consequences. These consequences have the potential to impact local life, culture, the land, animals, and more. Before diving into overtourism solutions, it's important to know what the consequences are:

In some places, overtourism has resulted in unaffordable rent that pushes local residents out to make space for holiday rentals. This has been the case in Barcelona, Spain, where locals report that an influx of Airbnb rental apartments has caused rent prices to go up as well.

In the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, for example, revenue from tourism has helped protect parks on the islands. But tour operators say that they are worried that popular land-based trips are harming the islands' beaches and wildlife. Damage has already been done in other regions of the world. The island of Boracay in the Philippines, for example, was closed to visitors for 6 months in 2018, so that the island could be rehabilitated from damage done by mass tourism.

Mass tourism can end up perpetuating exploitative wildlife tourism by creating a demand for animal encounters, and it can put endangered species at greater risk. For example, in India, the impact that tourism has had on the country's Bengal tiger population has long been debated.

There are also the impacts that mass tourism has on local way of life, and cultural practises. For example, the neighborhood of Gion in Kyoto, Japan has struggled to maintain its local way of life because of the exponential growth of tourism in Japan. Gion is a particularly popular area and home to many of Japan's geishas, who've felt increasingly uncomfortable with being watched and photographed by tourists, without consent. In 2018, Gion's local resident group voted to ban photography in the community's private streets and homes, with fines for those who flout the law.

Usually tourism will benefit local businesses which in turn can have a positive impact on communities - until it tips over to mass tourism. A prime example is the "train street" in Hanoi, Vietnam. The street, which is in what was once a rough part of the city, drew tourists because it is a picturesque narrow street, lined with cafes - and it's also a train track. Tourists flocked to the spot, popularized by Instagram, which initially brought beneficial business to locals. But in 2019, the Vietnamese government shut it down to the public because they were concerned it'd become a hazard. The cafes that were benefiting were ordered to close and barriers were set up.

This list isn't conclusive, it's just a sample of the ways that tourism can emerge as a threat rather than a benefit to communities and cultures.

Did you know that I host a travel podcast that is all about responsible travel? I chat with guests about topics like animal tourism, extreme travel, accessible travel, and sustainability while traveling. Check out Alpaca My Bags!

This is what causes overtourism

It might seem very straightforward: overtourism is caused by tourists. Yes, individual tourists are responsible to a degree, but it isn't actually that simple. Collectively, tourists are influenced to choose travel destinations based on many different factors like traditional advertising, social media, travel influencers, flight prices, and more.

Blaming individual tourists for overtourism doesn't address these root causes, and these root causes can range depending on where you are in the world. For example, many blame the burst of overtourism in Europe on budget airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet.

Another culprit is cruise ships , which drop tourists at ports for less than 24 hours, which means that those tourists cannot meaningfully contribute their dollars to the local economy, instead, creating inconveniences to residents.

The point is to recognize the forces that help shape our tourism choices. While yes, individual tourists can avoid contributing to overtourism by choosing to visit destinations that haven't been hit as hard by tourism, it is also important to think about how we can restructure the tourism industry to better control influxes of tourists.

There are industry solutions to overtourism

We can absolutely work towards solutions for overtourism, but it requires the cooperation of tourists, destinations, and the media together. I'll dig into what we, as individual tourists can do shortly, but for now, lets look at travel industry solutions:

Limit transportation options so that destinations do not become overwhelmed. This can mean cutting down the amount of flights or cruise ships that are permitted to arrive on a given day. By limiting entries, you can directly control the amount of tourists that enter a region or city at a time.

Introduce a tourist tax. Many countries around the world, like Bhutan and Spain, have already implemented this solution. The taxes are often added onto hotel bills, or are paid as an exit fee at the airport. Tourist taxes are then used to protect natural resources and maintain tourism facilities.

Improve marketing and education. This is an important one! Marketing and education directly influence tourism choices, and so marketing efforts need to shift to embrace a larger scope, and refocus on lesser-traveled regions. This effort needs to be carefully done of course, so that we don't end up creating a new hotspot.

Restricting time spent at popular sites. Another tactic is to restrict the amount of time a tourist has at a site so that there is less overcrowding. This has been used already at famous sites like Machu Picchu and India's Taj Mahal.

These are just some of the industry solutions that can help to curb the impact of mass tourism in places that are overwhelmed. Because these strategies limit the choices that tourists can make, it has a bottom-up effect, which can make a difference quickly.

What can I do about overtourism?

Of course, individual tourists can also do their part to avoid contributing to overtourism. Here are some solutions that every traveler can think about, that will help reduce their impact:

Avoid mainstream and/or iconic destinations. It's tough to skip the landmark spots that have so much global fame, but I promise you, there are plenty of amazing landmarks and regions that haven't got the attention they deserve. Opt for underrated destinations or go off the beaten track by traveling to countries, cities or regions that are less popular.

Make "second city" tourism a habit. Second city tourism means that if you visit a famous city, like Amsterdam, for example, you curb your impact by making a point to visit another Dutch city. If you can't bear to skip the landmarks, introducing "second city tourism" to your traveling habit can reduce your impact and also bring attention to lesser known places.

Highlight lesser known places. If you are a blogger or influencer - and even if you're not - you can highlight lesser known places on your social media platforms and by word of mouth. Doing so helps to inspire others to skip the crowded spots.

Travel as slowly as possible. Slow travel aims for quantity over quality. Rather than ticking off as many destinations as possible in a trip, spend a few extra days at every stop. This way you can properly engage with the communities that you visit, you can explore more of a place rather than just it's well-trodden highlights, and you can invest more tourism dollars into local businesses.

Travel in smaller groups. This helps lessen the size of crowds at landmarks and famous sites, and travel in small groups can also help you better connect with the destination. In small groups you are in less of a social bubble, which means more opportunities to connect with what is happening around you.

Make sure people in your photos have given consent. Taking photos of locals and their cultural traditions can be intrusive, and when it happens en masse it can lead to commodification of cultural practises. If you'd like to take a photo of a local, just ask ahead of time. And if you plan to share that photo widely on social media, you'll want to get consent for that, too.

Local local local. Do your best to always support local businesses so that local residents benefit. This means opting for a local cafe rather than Starbucks! By putting your dollars towards local restaurants, cafes, and other businesses, you can help ensure that tourism remains a force for good.

Travel off peak - in the low season. Traveling off peak, or in the low season, means you travel to a place at the time of year that it is least busy. For example, Europe tends to be busiest from May to October because that is when the weather is the best. Traveling in the low season puts less of a strain on local communities. By traveling off peak, you can avoid crowds and contribute to businesses when they can benefit most from it (because they aren't as busy).

Much of the change that is needed to reduce overtourism is in the hands of large corporations, governments and local authorities. They have the power to control tourist numbers through strategies like limiting transportation, creating tourist taxes, and shifting their marketing approaches. But as individual tourists, we can take steps to ensure that our travel is as beneficial as possible rather than being harmful.
Do you have tips or solutions for reducing overtourism? Tell me in the comments!
For more on responsible tourism and how to avoid contributing to overtourism:
10 ways to be a more responsible tourist The ultimate alternative guide to Amsterdam Responsible tourism: Let's talk travel privilege Your guide to responsible wildlife tourism How to avoid overtourism: Visit these underrated destinations instead

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How to Avoid Contributing to Overtourism

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As travel becomes more and more accessible, overtourism has become a threat. Let's talk overtourism solutions and how to avoid contributing to overtourism. For most of us, travel is on hold while we work together to get through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I've been trying to continue feeling th

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More infrasture to welcome tourist

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https://www.hostelworld.com/blog/how-to-avoid-overtourism/

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Causes and Consequences of overtourism

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Overtourism: one of the words that people use most in recent years. In effect, more and more often, tourist destinations suffer from overtourism, tourism overcrowding. Places that everyone wants to see because they are "famous". Movie scenes shot in locations (such as Lake Braies) that now attract hordes of tourists looking for a short trip. Simply, they stop the time for a selfie and then leave for the next famous stage. This type of mass tourism causes pollution, the devastation of nature and distress of local populations. Let's see in detail what is overtourism, what are its causes, what are the consequences, and what can be done to avoid it.

What is overtourism?

Overtourism is a neologism that indicates the overcrowding of tourists on a holiday destination. The term was first inserted in the Oxford dictionary in 2018 and nominated as the year's word. Overtourism, literally "too much tourism", is a complex phenomenon that we should analyze from various points of view. In essence, we could sum up the concept in one question. Is this place affected by the presence of more tourists than the place and the inhabitants can support?

When it comes to natural tourist destinations, tourism must respect flora, fauna, and microclimate. When the destination is a city, tourism must primarily r espect residents, as well as local culture and archaeological sites. The latter in particular are small microcosms blocked in time that tourism should protect. If this doesn't happen, we talk about overtourism, or unsustainable tourism for the place, for nature, for the people who live there.

The Causes of overtourism

More than 1.4 billion people are moving around the world every year, and they are growing at an exponential rate. The World Tourism Organisation predicts that by 2030 the international flow of tourists will exceed 2 billion. This very high number of people focus on a few tourist destinations in the world, which suffer from the excessive presence of tourists. The causes of too much tourism are many. From the famous films that make tourist destinations famous to the ease with which you can reach any corner of the world. Also, we can name the cruises that bring large quantities around the seas. We talked about cruises and their environmental impact in this article.

Cultural tourism, a new trend

A trend of the moment is tourism i nfluenced by mass culture. According to this kind of tourism, people chose the destination based on social media, influencers, television programs and films. Tourism influenced by film and TV series products, also known as film tourism, has in some cases led to real disasters. An example is what is happening in the Pacific Islands: in Thailand at Maya Bay, where the film "The Beach" was shot with Leonardo Di Caprio. Over the years, tourists who wanted to see the film set invaded the small beach. This forced the Thai government to prohibit the entry of tourists to restore the delicate balance of the beautiful bay.

The increase in low-cost air flights and cruises is certainly one of the causes of Overtourism.

The numbers published by the World Tourism Organisation (Unwto) speak for themselves. Even in Italy, we have examples of how mass tourism damages the nature and residents of cities invaded by travelers. Venice, for example, is visited by about 20 million people a year. A number a little too high for such a delicate city, devastated also by cruise ships causing pollution.

Even Florence, Capri and the Cinque Terre National Park in Liguria suffer from the excessive number of tourists arriving every year. This influx is leading the administrations of the various Italian municipalities to take steps to limit the number of revenues.

Consequences of overtourism

1 Destruction of natural ecosystems

The flora and fauna are usually the first to suffer overtourism in the most popular natural tourist destinations. In some natural destinations, environmental issues led to the destruction of entire ecosystems. Among these problems, we can mention deforestation, exploitation of the soil and pollution. But also, no policy of raising awareness and protecting natural environments. In some cases, this situation has no possibility of redemption, such as, for example, what happens to coral reefs around the world. As global warming and tourists irreparably ruined them, corals are part of a natural system that is becoming extinct.

2. Increase in the amount of waste

Another consequence of mass tourism is the large accumulation of waste that people don't differentiate. Inevitably, it creates a major environmental problem of disposal and pollution. Boracay Island, in the Philippines, has been closed to restore the ecosystem after years of uncontrolled tourism. The waste problem is also very important on the island of Bali, which is trying to combat it thanks to the thought of Zero waste Bali.

3. Escape and malaise of residents

Too much tourism affects mainly the locals. Across Europe, in cities like Barcelona or Venice, the phenomenon of overtourism has unleashed strong tensions from the inhabitants. Residents complain about the rising of housing prices and rentals. In effect, they inflated them due to the spread of online platforms such as Airbnb. But also, they talked about the disappearance of small shops, replaced by tourist shops, and the inviolability of their cities. The last consequence is the escape of residents from their cities, which have become tourist theatres, thus losing their authenticity.

Solutions to overtourism for destinations

As tourist flows around the world increased, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has dedicated an entire Report to overtourism. Certainly, there is not one single solution, but many small things that we can do during our holidays. The Report thus proposes 11 strategies and 68 measures to combat excessive tourism.

Here are the 11 suggestions that tourist destinations can follow to counter the phenomenon of overtourism.

Encourage the dispersion of tourists within the city, and even beyond the territory, suggesting the visit of lesser-known destinations and less touristic areas.

Promote tourism in different periods (for example out of season) and at different times from the most popular.

Create new and different itineraries and tourist attractions.

Review and improve regulations, such as closing some overcrowded areas to traffic.

Attract more responsible types of travelers.

ensure the benefits of tourism to local communities, for example by increasing the number of inhabitants employed in tourism, and by involving residents in the creation of tourism experiences.

Develop and promote experiences in the city or territory that benefit both tourists and residents.

Increase the infrastructure and services of the resort.

Involve the local community in tourist decisions and choices.

Educate travelers and tell them how to be more responsible and respectful of the place.

Monitor and measure changes.

And what can we do?

With Ecobnb we promote responsible tourism, avoiding overcrowded famous destinations and promoting the close destinations. Often we don't know what surrounds us and which beauties we can find without necessarily taking planes that emit huge amounts of CO2. Slow and sustainable tourism offers authentic locations. These places enrich local communities and those who invest in eco-sustainable activities. The real holiday could also be for you the relaxing and unplugging holiday. You could simply recharge the energies in contact with nature. Nonetheless, remember to try and lessen as much as possible for your environmental impact.

The good news is that each of us can do our part to counteract overtourism and promote sustainable tourism.

Here's your vademecum

Here are 5 simple ideas, a vademecum, to promote quality tourism, instead of quantity, every time we travel.

1. Avoid air flights and cruises, move by train and public transport whenever you can.

2. Don't take your decisions following the mass. If everyone goes to the mountains on August 15, why don't you choose a different date?

3. Organize your holidays in an alternative way, choose authentic and less touristy destinations.

4. Travel out of season: spring and autumn are beautiful and less expensive seasons.

5. Respect the places you visit (here you find 40 tips to travel green), try to live like a local", immerse yourself in the culture of the place and make friends with the inhabitants.

Cover image: photo by Elizeu Dias via Unsplash

Author: Alessia Framba

My name is Alessia, I'm 21 years old and I'm studying modern languages for touristic and business mediation. I'm a down-to-earth, straightforward and sincere girl. I love animals and nature. A long walk in the open air is all I want after a week of crazy study!
More posts by Alessia Framba →

This entry was posted in curiosity, go green and tagged ecotourism, overtourism, responsible tourism. Bookmark the permalink.

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Overtourism: Causes, Consequences and Solutions - Ecobnb

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Overtourism: one of the words that people use most in recent years. In effect, more and more often, tourist destinations suffer from overtourism, tourism overcrowding. Places that everyone wants to see because they are "famous". Movie scenes shot in locations (such as Lake Braies) that now attract hordes of tourists looking for a short trip.

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For most of us, travel is on hold while we work together to get through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I've been trying to continue feeling the travel passion while stuck at home, and have been taking this time to think about ways we can do better as travelers.

There are lots of ways that tourists can do better - this is something I've discovered in recording my responsible travel podcast, Alpaca My Bags. In my conversations with guests on the podcast, I've learned about travel-related issues like travel privilege , lack of accessibility in tourism, and the impact of flying on our environment. Another topic that has come up frequently is overtourism.

You can listen to my travel podcast, Alpaca My Bags, here.

Overtourism can lead to issues that impact the people and environments that tourism was meant to benefit. These damaging side effects often overshadow the benefits of tourism.

What is overtourism?

Tourism can be extremely beneficial: it can help build economies, especially for small communities, create jobs, encourage conservation, and encourage the restoration and preservation of historic sites. For example, in a recent study it was found that in Bangladesh, there are now 944 related jobs for every 100 visitors to the country, or nine jobs for every tourist.

There is a tipping point to tourism's positive benefits, though. In short, overtourism describes when too many tourists visit a particular destination. It's the umbrella term that describes the many side effects that mass tourism can create.

The many impacts of mass tourism

When tourism becomes unsustainable in a place, you start to see negative consequences. These consequences have the potential to impact local life, culture, the land, animals, and more. Before diving into overtourism solutions, it's important to know what the consequences are:

In some places, overtourism has resulted in unaffordable rent that pushes local residents out to make space for holiday rentals. This has been the case in Barcelona, Spain, where locals report that an influx of Airbnb rental apartments has caused rent prices to go up as well.

In the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, for example, revenue from tourism has helped protect parks on the islands. But tour operators say that they are worried that popular land-based trips are harming the islands' beaches and wildlife. Damage has already been done in other regions of the world. The island of Boracay in the Philippines, for example, was closed to visitors for 6 months in 2018, so that the island could be rehabilitated from damage done by mass tourism.

Mass tourism can end up perpetuating exploitative wildlife tourism by creating a demand for animal encounters, and it can put endangered species at greater risk. For example, in India, the impact that tourism has had on the country's Bengal tiger population has long been debated.

There are also the impacts that mass tourism has on local way of life, and cultural practises. For example, the neighborhood of Gion in Kyoto, Japan has struggled to maintain its local way of life because of the exponential growth of tourism in Japan. Gion is a particularly popular area and home to many of Japan's geishas, who've felt increasingly uncomfortable with being watched and photographed by tourists, without consent. In 2018, Gion's local resident group voted to ban photography in the community's private streets and homes, with fines for those who flout the law.

Usually tourism will benefit local businesses which in turn can have a positive impact on communities - until it tips over to mass tourism. A prime example is the "train street" in Hanoi, Vietnam. The street, which is in what was once a rough part of the city, drew tourists because it is a picturesque narrow street, lined with cafes - and it's also a train track. Tourists flocked to the spot, popularized by Instagram, which initially brought beneficial business to locals. But in 2019, the Vietnamese government shut it down to the public because they were concerned it'd become a hazard. The cafes that were benefiting were ordered to close and barriers were set up.

This list isn't conclusive, it's just a sample of the ways that tourism can emerge as a threat rather than a benefit to communities and cultures.

Did you know that I host a travel podcast that is all about responsible travel? I chat with guests about topics like animal tourism, extreme travel, accessible travel, and sustainability while traveling. Check out Alpaca My Bags!

This is what causes overtourism

It might seem very straightforward: overtourism is caused by tourists. Yes, individual tourists are responsible to a degree, but it isn't actually that simple. Collectively, tourists are influenced to choose travel destinations based on many different factors like traditional advertising, social media, travel influencers, flight prices, and more.

Blaming individual tourists for overtourism doesn't address these root causes, and these root causes can range depending on where you are in the world. For example, many blame the burst of overtourism in Europe on budget airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet.

Another culprit is cruise ships , which drop tourists at ports for less than 24 hours, which means that those tourists cannot meaningfully contribute their dollars to the local economy, instead, creating inconveniences to residents.

The point is to recognize the forces that help shape our tourism choices. While yes, individual tourists can avoid contributing to overtourism by choosing to visit destinations that haven't been hit as hard by tourism, it is also important to think about how we can restructure the tourism industry to better control influxes of tourists.

There are industry solutions to overtourism

We can absolutely work towards solutions for overtourism, but it requires the cooperation of tourists, destinations, and the media together. I'll dig into what we, as individual tourists can do shortly, but for now, lets look at travel industry solutions:

Limit transportation options so that destinations do not become overwhelmed. This can mean cutting down the amount of flights or cruise ships that are permitted to arrive on a given day. By limiting entries, you can directly control the amount of tourists that enter a region or city at a time.

Introduce a tourist tax. Many countries around the world, like Bhutan and Spain, have already implemented this solution. The taxes are often added onto hotel bills, or are paid as an exit fee at the airport. Tourist taxes are then used to protect natural resources and maintain tourism facilities.

Improve marketing and education. This is an important one! Marketing and education directly influence tourism choices, and so marketing efforts need to shift to embrace a larger scope, and refocus on lesser-traveled regions. This effort needs to be carefully done of course, so that we don't end up creating a new hotspot.

Restricting time spent at popular sites. Another tactic is to restrict the amount of time a tourist has at a site so that there is less overcrowding. This has been used already at famous sites like Machu Picchu and India's Taj Mahal.

These are just some of the industry solutions that can help to curb the impact of mass tourism in places that are overwhelmed. Because these strategies limit the choices that tourists can make, it has a bottom-up effect, which can make a difference quickly.

What can I do about overtourism?

Of course, individual tourists can also do their part to avoid contributing to overtourism. Here are some solutions that every traveler can think about, that will help reduce their impact:

Avoid mainstream and/or iconic destinations. It's tough to skip the landmark spots that have so much global fame, but I promise you, there are plenty of amazing landmarks and regions that haven't got the attention they deserve. Opt for underrated destinations or go off the beaten track by traveling to countries, cities or regions that are less popular.

Make "second city" tourism a habit. Second city tourism means that if you visit a famous city, like Amsterdam, for example, you curb your impact by making a point to visit another Dutch city. If you can't bear to skip the landmarks, introducing "second city tourism" to your traveling habit can reduce your impact and also bring attention to lesser known places.

Highlight lesser known places. If you are a blogger or influencer - and even if you're not - you can highlight lesser known places on your social media platforms and by word of mouth. Doing so helps to inspire others to skip the crowded spots.

Travel as slowly as possible. Slow travel aims for quantity over quality. Rather than ticking off as many destinations as possible in a trip, spend a few extra days at every stop. This way you can properly engage with the communities that you visit, you can explore more of a place rather than just it's well-trodden highlights, and you can invest more tourism dollars into local businesses.

Travel in smaller groups. This helps lessen the size of crowds at landmarks and famous sites, and travel in small groups can also help you better connect with the destination. In small groups you are in less of a social bubble, which means more opportunities to connect with what is happening around you.

Make sure people in your photos have given consent. Taking photos of locals and their cultural traditions can be intrusive, and when it happens en masse it can lead to commodification of cultural practises. If you'd like to take a photo of a local, just ask ahead of time. And if you plan to share that photo widely on social media, you'll want to get consent for that, too.

Local local local. Do your best to always support local businesses so that local residents benefit. This means opting for a local cafe rather than Starbucks! By putting your dollars towards local restaurants, cafes, and other businesses, you can help ensure that tourism remains a force for good.

Travel off peak - in the low season. Traveling off peak, or in the low season, means you travel to a place at the time of year that it is least busy. For example, Europe tends to be busiest from May to October because that is when the weather is the best. Traveling in the low season puts less of a strain on local communities. By traveling off peak, you can avoid crowds and contribute to businesses when they can benefit most from it (because they aren't as busy).

Much of the change that is needed to reduce overtourism is in the hands of large corporations, governments and local authorities. They have the power to control tourist numbers through strategies like limiting transportation, creating tourist taxes, and shifting their marketing approaches. But as individual tourists, we can take steps to ensure that our travel is as beneficial as possible rather than being harmful.
Do you have tips or solutions for reducing overtourism? Tell me in the comments!
For more on responsible tourism and how to avoid contributing to overtourism:
10 ways to be a more responsible tourist The ultimate alternative guide to Amsterdam Responsible tourism: Let's talk travel privilege Your guide to responsible wildlife tourism How to avoid overtourism: Visit these underrated destinations instead

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How to Avoid Contributing to Overtourism

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As travel becomes more and more accessible, overtourism has become a threat. Let's talk overtourism solutions and how to avoid contributing to overtourism. For most of us, travel is on hold while we work together to get through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I've been trying to continue feeling th

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https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284417254