Overrun and Overwhelmed: Over-tourism

In an age where travel has become more affordable and accessible than ever before, tourism is booming.

- 

From the ancient alleys of Venice to the beaches of Bali, the world’s most popular destinations are experiencing a record influx of visitors. But behind the glossy travel brochures and Instagram-perfect snapshots lies a growing crisis: over-tourism.

Over-tourism refers to a situation where the number of tourists visiting a destination exceeds the capacity of the environment, infrastructure, and local communities to handle them sustainably. What was once a boon for local economies has, in many places, become a burden-causing environmental degradation, cultural erosion, and serious quality-of-life issues for residents.

The consequences of over-tourism are far-reaching and multifaceted. While they vary from place to place, a few patterns emerge across the globe.

Many tourist hotspots are natural wonders—pristine beaches, fragile ecosystems, and scenic mountain trails. An excessive number of tourists can overwhelm these environments. In Thailand, the famed Maya Bay was closed indefinitely in 2018 after mass tourism led to irreparable coral damage. In Iceland, once-isolated landscapes now suffer from footpath erosion, littering, and habitat disruption.

Cities built for thousands are now trying to accommodate millions. Public transport systems buckle under pressure, water resources get depleted, and waste disposal becomes unmanageable. In Barcelona, Spain, water usage by tourists is putting additional stress on a region already grappling with drought.

The demand for short-term rentals has driven up property prices in cities like Amsterdam, Lisbon, and Dubrovnik, making it harder for locals to afford housing. In Venice, thousands of permanent residents have been driven out, replaced by a revolving door of tourists and holiday apartments.