From overtourism to a complete absence of tourism, many cities have now shifted their concerns from too few tourists to too many. This predicament can be attributed to various factors including the rise of budget airlines, short-term home rentals, and cruise ships. However, the influence of social media, online influencers, movies, and television shows cannot be ignored as they contribute to the overcrowding of certain destinations. People simply come, take a selfie, post it on social media, and contribute to the popularity of the place before leaving, according to Tatyana Tsukanova, a research associate at EHL Hospitality Business School in Switzerland.
The number of travelers is rapidly increasing, with the United Nations projecting a world population of 8.5 billion by 2030. Additionally, the UN’s World Tourism Organization expects an annual increase of 50 million international tourist arrivals, mostly from Asia, between now and 2030. This growth has prompted cities to take action to address overtourism.
One example is the small village of Hallstatt in Austria, which experienced an overwhelming influx of tourists after appearing in a South Korean television series. To cope with the situation, the villagers initially built a wall at a popular lookout point, but due to negative feedback online, they eventually took it down. Other cities and sites have implemented strategies such as placing caps on daily visitors and restricting large cruise ships. Amsterdam has gone a step further by implementing stricter measures than other destinations.
In an attempt to regulate tourist behavior, some cities have resorted to imposing fines. For instance, Venice fines visitors for consuming food or drinks on the ground, swimming in the canals, and walking around in swimwear. Those who sit or lie on monuments, bridges, steps, or walkways can face fines of 100-200 euros ($105-$210) and even get banned from the area. Other cities like Valencia, Manchester, and Bali plan to implement new tourism taxes to cope with the effects of tourism.
While many travelers may find fees associated with sustainability acceptable, fines and fees alone don’t address the root causes of overtourism. Collaboration among cities, sites, local businesses, and residents is essential, according to Tatyana Tsukanova. To effectively manage overly crowded destinations, the United Nations World Tourism Organization secretary-general suggests focusing on the “tourist flow.” By monitoring crowds and implementing real-time communication, new technologies can aid in managing the flow of tourists. Some countries also encourage travelers to explore less-traveled areas to overcome congestion without losing out on tourist revenue. Darrell Wade, co-founder of Intrepid Travel, believes that tourism needs to become regenerative rather than extractive. Travelers can contribute to the communities they visit by participating in activities that benefit the environment or supporting local businesses.
To create a sustainable future for tourism, it is crucial to educate people about responsible travel and change the mindset of ticking off countries visited or covering a certain percentage of the world’s surface. Visitors need to approach travel in a different way, considering the impact their actions have on the destinations they visit.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
