There aren't many things that are worse for a destination than over-tourism. It's a word that brings with it negative connotations that have the potential to destroy a once-beloved location and, sadly, it has been seen with many popular travel hotspots. While there might not be any way that we can prevent certain destinations from being over-toured, we can know about it - and that's one more step to stopping it.
Over-tourism also brings with it additional threats to a destination's overall survival, and there are warning signs that travelers should be aware of. When it comes to a vacation to a place that's threatened by over-tourism and tourists, in general, here's what future travelers should know.
What Is Over-Tourism And How Does It Start?
Over-tourism is somewhat of a domino effect. It begins when a destination begins picking up popularity which is a double-edged sword for many places. However, prior to that happening, it's important to go back to the start for many places that have been over-toured.
In general, it's important to remember that not every place began as a big city or a place that's constantly filled with people. Not every destination encompasses the potential for capacity like New York City or has the ability to support millions of tourists like Hong Kong. Some of the most well-known places that have fallen victim to over-tourism began as small towns, villages, or even farmlands or wilderness. As they were built up and became more inhabited, word spread - and, soon enough, the crowds came rolling in. One excellent example of this is Aspen, Colorado. What is now a bustling ski resort town was once a town that almost ceased to exist. With the addition of resorts, chalets for rent, and, of course, some of the best ski slopes in the world, Aspen was quickly snatched from the jaws of extinction.
On the other hand, there are places around the world that face over-tourism simply because there are too many people scrambling to visit at once. One example of this is Dubrovnik, Croatia. The threat of over-tourism has reached the shores of Dubrovnik in the form of too many people trodding across its ancient stone streets, which has threatened both the structural integrity of the city as well as its overly worn-in streets. Additionally, the threat from cruise ships coming into the harbor poses risks not only to the land with even more tourists but to the ocean, as well.
- Another Problem: Dubrovnik, in particular, faces another unique problem due to over-tourism. Not only is constant foot traffic an issue, but many who spend a few hours in the city before getting back on ships tend to spend little to no money in the city. This means that the city is subject to tremendous amounts of traffic with no money to put back into the local economy, and no funds from which to fix the structural issues that are occurring.
How Can We Stop Or Slow Over-Tourism?
For starters, it's important to know the main threats of over-tourism. Those are:
- Damage to local environments
- Locals being displaced from their homes
- Further harm to endangered species
- Threats to local ways of life
- Serious disruption of neighborhoods
Luckily, there are ways to address all of these things while traveling. While it might seem inconvenient to change plans or find alternative means of travel, it's something that will ensure that the world's most popular - and beautiful - destinations continue to thrive for years to come. Those interested in stopping over-tourism can help in these ways:
- Consider choosing a less-visited destination. This can be a bummer but that's only for those who don't do their research beforehand. Alternatives to the world's most popular cities and landmarks are available and some might even be happy to follow the road less taken.
- Engage in 'second city' tourism. Basically, this means that if a traveler visits one major city, they'll visit a second smaller city nearby, as well. This can help to boost the economy of smaller cities, towns, and villages that might lose out to their more popular tourist hotspots.
- Spend more time at a destination. This might sound counterintuitive but it's actually a good tactic for stopping over-tourism. If a traveler is vacationing in Paris, it's worth spending a few more days there - not to scope out the Eiffel Tower multiple times, but to explore its lesser-known parts. Check out a local café or restaurant, scope out some less-touristy attractions, or visit a nearby town or village.
- Travel during the off-peak season. Not every destination requires travel during the peak season. In fact, traveling during the off-peak season will give travelers a less-touristy experience and there will be less guilt when visiting an over-toured attraction.
- Shop local. Putting money back into the economy is so important when it comes to over-tourism. In order to fix what's been broken, construction and restoration bills must be paid, which comes from tourism, in general.