Overtourism

When Travel Becomes Too Much of a Good Thing

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For many people, travel is celebrated and cherished as a pathway to cultural enrichment, personal growth, and economic opportunity.

Journeys to distant lands can bring new perspectives, spur the joy of new discoveries, and promote economic prosperity for local peoples. Yet, in recent decades, a more unpleasant side to global tourism has emerged. “Overtourism” is the term coined to describe the negative consequences of excessive tourist numbers. It refers to the phenomenon where the influx of tourists disrupts or harms the destinations they visit, often with visitor numbers far exceeding the local population and causing a strain on local infrastructure. Over the years, overtourism has transformed once idyllic destinations into overcrowded, overburdened, and often resentful communities.

Modern developments have made wanderlust more accessible and widespread than ever before. Affordable air travel, the rise of low-cost carriers, and the sheer reach of social media have made it possible for millions to flock to places once known only to a handful of adventurous souls. But when the tide of visitors swells beyond what a destination can comfortably sustain - socially, environmentally, and infrastructurally - the charm that drew people there in the first place begins to erode.

THE MAKING OF A GLOBAL TREND

Overtourism is a product of several intersecting trends in modern travel. This issue has grown since the mid-20th century, driven by population growth, increased disposable income, the rise in global mobility, and the rise of social media.