Addressing Overtourism - A Strategic Approach

Overtourism has become a pressing concern for many popular destinations worldwide. The news is flooded with headlines of residents protesting visitors as the numbers rise for summer.

Iconic cities like Dubrovnik and Barcelona are grappling with the influx of visitors, which is straining infrastructure, causing environmental degradation, and diminishing the quality of life for residents. The challenge lies in managing the sheer numbers and ensuring sustainable tourism that benefits both visitors and locals.

This blog delves into the current issues posed by overtourism and explores how we at Acorn Tourism can help destinations manage these problems with data tracking and strategy development.

Examples of destinations struggling with overtourism

Many city destinations have been fighting these issues for years. Amsterdam and Venice are leading examples, where the growing influx of tourists has priced out locals through rising housing prices and general living costs. Amsterdam has attracted an increasing number of stag and hen parties, while Venice suffers from huge tour groups that crowd the tiny streets. In general, these types of tourists don’t respect the place or local communities, making the city difficult to live. Locals are fed up and, in many places, have taken to the streets, daubing slogans on walls like ‘tourists go home’.

Island destinations like Mallorca are facing similar issues. A surge in tourism has led to severe environmental issues, including water shortages, waste management issues, and habitat destruction.  The local population has had enough of these adverse environmental effects and other problems related to rising house prices, noise pollution and the erosion of the local culture. The issues in Mallorca are complex, as tourism is the most significant industry on the island, with most locals relying on its income to live on.

It's more than just European destinations that are struggling with such issues. Machu Pichu in Peru has seen problems with environmental degradation and tourists vandalising the sacred ruins.

National parks in Africa and other continents also see large numbers of tourists disrupting conservation efforts and impacting the local environment. For example, in the Maasai Mara, the decline in wildlife that has been recorded over the last twenty years is blamed on the growing number of visitors to the area.

How can we help?

A data-driven and strategic approach is essential to tackle the complex challenges of over-tourism. Here’s how we can help:

1. Data Tracking and Analysis

Understanding the dynamics of tourist flow and behaviour is crucial for effective management. We offer advanced data tracking solutions that can monitor visitor numbers, peak times, and hotspots. We use tools such as GPS tracking, mobile data analysis, and social media trends to provide real-time insights into tourist patterns. Solutions include:

• Visitor Management Systems: control the number of visitors to popular sites through ticketing and timed entry, reducing congestion and enhancing the visitor experience.

• Environmental Impact Monitoring: tracks tourism's environmental footprint, including water usage, waste production, and carbon emissions, to develop sustainable practices.

• Resident Sentiment Analysis: gauges the impact of tourism on local communities through surveys and social media monitoring, ensuring that development strategies align with residents' needs and concerns.

2. Strategic Planning and Implementation

With robust data in hand, strategic planning becomes more precise and effective. We assist destinations in developing comprehensive tourism strategies that balance economic growth with sustainability. These include:

• Carrying Capacity Planning: which determines the optimal number of tourists that a destination can sustainably handle, considering infrastructure, resources, and resident well-being.

• Diversification of Attractions: this encourages the development of lesser-known attractions to distribute visitor numbers more evenly and reduce pressure on popular sites.

• Seasonal Distribution: to promote off-season tourism and staggered visiting times to avoid peak congestion periods and maintain a steady flow throughout the year.

• Community Engagement: to foster a collaborative approach by involving local communities in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices are heard and their interests safeguarded.

Case Studies and Success Stories

• In cities like Amsterdam, authorities have already started implementing measures to manage the influx, such as limiting short-term rentals, increasing tourism taxes and, most recently, banning the construction of new hotels. They also introduced a ‘stay away’ campaign in 2023 to deter rowdy tourists from visiting the city.

• In Mallorca, efforts to promote sustainable tourism practices, such as eco-friendly accommodations and responsible travel campaigns, are gaining traction.

• In Venice, local authorities have banned cruise ships from the Grand Canal, introduced tourism taxes for day visitors and, most recently, are working on a move to ban large group tours from operating within the city.

• In Barcelona, the tourism board will drop "Visit” from its slogan, hoping that this will end the call to attract large numbers of visitors.

• Several initiatives have been implemented in the Maasai Mara, including rules and regulations on the number of vehicles allowed around one sighting. Most recently, they have banned private cars inside the park to ensure that a private guide will accompany all visitors.

• In Machu Picchu, tourism stakeholders have worked to build time slots for ticket purchases, which help them regulate and distribute visitor numbers throughout the day. Visitors must also follow a predesigned path around the site and be accompanied by a professional local guide.

Conclusion

By harnessing the power of data tracking and strategic planning, we can support destinations that suffer from overtourism to manage their tourism numbers more effectively. The goal is to create a balance where tourism can thrive without compromising the quality of life for residents or damaging the environment.

If you would like to hear more about how we can support your destination combat these issues, please get in touch with Alison Burgh, alison@acorntourism.co.uk