Overtourism: How it's ruining the world's greatest attractions

Overtourism is one of the main problems that the world's greatest attractions are struggling with these days. Though the international tourism sector has flourished over the past few decades, becoming a prime source of revenue, culture exchange, and social experiences. As per the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the tourism sector accounted for 10.4% of global GDP and generated 319 million jobs in 2018.

Five years later, in the first quarter of 2024, international overnight visitors reached 97% of 2019 levels, with an estimated 285 million tourists travelling internationally. This represents a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2023, which saw a total of 1.286 billion overnight visitors.

As per UN Tourism Data Dashboard (2024), nations including Thailand, Seychelles, and Greece have seen major increase in tourism, with international arrivals more than doubling in the decade before COVID.

However, with the advent of social media and easy accessibility has given rise to the phenomenon of overtourism. It has also threatened some of the world's most iconic attractions and landmarks.

Let’s explore how overtourism is ruining the world’s greatest attractions, the future issues it carries.

Understanding overtourism and the reason behind

Overtourism happens when an overwhelming influx of visitors crowd a city, attraction or a destination, to the extent that it goes beyond the local capacity for sustainable management. This phenomenon is mostly seen in majorly popular cities, pretty natural landscapes, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

One of the prime reasons behind it would be social media influence and increased budget air travel. It’s undeniable that social media and the comfort of booking trips online have made travel more accessible and affordable. This is the reason there is an unprecedented demand for top tourist destinations among growing number travellers.

From the Taj Mahal in India and the olden city of Machu Picchu in Peru and the pretty beaches of Thailand, overtourism has negatively affected every nook and cranny of the planet. Though tourism helps in economic growth of the place, such as job creation and increased revenue, along with it come several negative consequences, including overcrowding and environmental hazards, among others.

Some of the popular attractions under overtourism attack

Spain: You’ll be shocked to know that in 2023, Barcelona was visited by some 12 million tourists. The city with a population of about 1.6 million is certainly feeling the pressure of overtourism. The locals here are so frustrated that they hit the roads to oppose tourism. Slogans like "tourists go home" and anti-tourism demonstrations have only shown the discomfort and increasing tension between the city's thriving tourism industry and residents trying to lead a normal life.

Machu Picchu, Peru: Machu Picchu, a UNESCO Heritage Site, is among the most affected attractions in the world by overtourism. The Incan citadel in the Andes Mountains has been attracting visitors from across the globe since ages now. But its growing popularity has resulted in manhandling and vandalising of the place. The reports say back in 2019, the Peruvian government recorded over 1.5 million visitors, which was a 35% increase from the year before.
The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: The Galápagos Islands, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have also been badly hit by overtourism thanks to social media influencers. According to Shivani Sinha, who is an ardent traveller and also an influencer, the islands were lesser-known until a few years ago. She said she used to travel here because the islands were peaceful and brimming with unique wildlife like giant tortoises and marine iguanas. But recently, these have attracted increasing numbers of tourists due to their ecological significance.

In 2018, Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism reported that the Galápagos Islands received over 275,000 visitors, which is a significant jump from previous years. The ecosystem has suffered as a result of increased human interference.

The Caribbean overtourism: A number of Caribbean islands too are struggling with overtourism. Places such as Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic are the worst hit. The Caribbean is famous for its pretty virgin beaches, but the region’s growing popularity as a vacation, especially post-COVID, has caused significant environmental degradation.

Venice, Italy: Venice is an iconic city and also considered the most romantic cities in the world! However, overcrowding has ruined all the romance of the place. It is another prime example of the harming effects of overtourism. The canals, palaces, and historic Italian squares draw millions of visitors every year.

Pre-COVID era, in 2019, Venice was visited by over 30 million visitors, which is more than 50 times the city’s resident population of around 260,000! There’s a lot of pressure on the government of Venice to save its architectural beauty, particularly on the pavements and canal banks.

Similarly, countries like India and Japan in Asia, are battling overtourism. Though governments everywhere have come up with several plans and measures to safeguard their cultural heritage, it doesn’t seem to be helping much.

Repercussion of overtourism
Environmental degradation: Number one is environmental degradation! Overtourism is among the most concerning phenomena which is causing irreversible harm to natural landmarks, beaches, and coral reefs.

For example, the impact of overtourism on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is severe. The studies say that coral bleaching, which has been exacerbated by climate change, is made worse by pollution and physical damage from tourists.

Cultural erosion: Another impact of overtourism is cultural erosion which dilutes the authenticity of cultural heritage. In places like Venice and the ancient city of Kyoto, Japan, local traditions and ways of life are being replaced by the demands of the tourism industry.

Indigenous communities at places like Machu Picchu find their cultural identity undermined as they are pushed to meet the demands of international visitors.

Economic disparities: Though tourism gets money and revenue, the economic benefits are most of the time not evenly distributed. Wealthy international corporations leave local communities with only a small portion of the financial benefits.

Are there solutions to overtourism?
Every problem has a solution and overtourism certainly has several, all people need to do is follow some basic rules and understand the dynamics. Some measures can be implemented to reduce the negative effects of overtourism which are:

Putting a cap on numbers of tourists: One of the best solutions is putting a cap or implementing reservation systems at attractions like museums, forts, palaces and natural wonders. It can certainly help regulate the influx of tourists.
Sustainable tourism practices: By following eco-tourism and responsible travel and making tourists aware of such practices can help save the environment.

These are two majors but of course there are several other measures to ensure a perfect flow of tourists without causing any damage to the environment or the attractions.

While overtourism is definitely a growing international issue, tourism certainly plays a significant role in getting revenue, jobs and economies worldwide. So by understanding sustainable practices and prompting responsible tourism, we can help protect these great attractions and sites for our future and upcoming generation.