A Morning Consult survey reveals that one-third, or 35 percent, of U.S. adults say they have seen, read or heard about overtourism. The phenomenon is also affecting travel behavior. More than half of frequent leisure travelers have avoided a destination because they knew it was overcrowded with tourists and are looking for alternative places to visit. According to the report, baby boomers are the most concerned about the impact of overtourism, but it is young people who avoid overcrowded locations.
The phenomenon of overtourism has re-emerged with the resurgence of mass tourism globally after the pandemic. As early as 2019, the United Nations World Tourism Organization called for “such growth to be managed responsibly so as to make the most of the opportunities that tourism can generate for communities around the world.”
In particular as the report points out, the phenomenon is particularly pronounced in cities such as Barcelona and other famous cities, including London, Amsterdam, Dubrovnik, Venice, Kyoto, and Rome. After the pandemic, the focus on responsible and sustainable travel was short-lived, as demand rose in 2022 and 2023 after travel restrictions loosened. As a result, the most popular destinations have been mass tourism destinations.
Overtourism occurs–as Hospitality Investor reports–when tourism demand exceeds the carrying capacity by host communities in a destination. The phenomenon is further fueled by the tourism supply chain that stimulates demand, which does not consider the negative effects on the well-being of local communities.
As the Morning Consult report shows, resorts are trying to address the problem by restricting access to public spaces, instituting resort fees or even launching anti-tourism campaigns. The data show that there is not only an awareness of the issue, as “The phenomenon in fact, is also affecting travel behavior.”
