{"id":3933,"date":"2024-04-03T10:13:52","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T02:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/?p=3933"},"modified":"2025-03-03T11:34:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T03:34:45","slug":"overtourism-and-what-you-can-do-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1000journey.my\/en\/overtourism-and-what-you-can-do-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Overtourism, and what YOU can do about it!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Afternoon crowds on a bridge in Venice, Italy. Photo by Levi van Leeuwen<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As revenge travel has taken off after the lockdown era, a new set of problems has emerged. Massive, borderline uncontrollable crowds descending upon overstretched cities, trash and human waste blighting forests and beaches, and local or traditional ways of life being disrupted or erased forever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These consequences of the era of rising incomes and cheap travel has been aptly summarized in one word\u2015overtourism<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Described by the UN Tourism as “the absence of good management and uncontrolled development<\/a>“, overtourism has been seen throughout the developed and developing world, particularly in places such as Venice, Kyoto, Boracay and Bali. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Efforts to combat this dark side of tourism have included governmental and systemic efforts, such as limiting crowds through tickets and visitor quotas, imposing a visitor tax to fund countermeasure initiatives, along with marketing and educational campaigns to dissuade visits to high-traffic areas and redirect them to lesser-known destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, as the responsible traveller, you have a part to play here as well, however small. From your itinerary to your budget and even your luggage, you can contribute to making tourism a force for good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seek the Road Less Travelled<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A geisha entering a building in the Higashichaya geisha district of Kanazawa, Japan. Photo by Ilse Driessen<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The most obvious steps you can take as a traveller to combat overtourism starts with the very first step of your itinerary\u2015where you travel to!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, first world countries like Japan and Italy are full of romantic destinations that are hard to resist, but that\u2019s precisely why they\u2019re suffering from the effects of overtourism!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Big crowds at the Kinkakuji pavilion in Kyotom Japan. Photo by Martijn Baudoin<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Japan, cities such as Kyoto have had overwhelmed bus systems squeezing out locals and their iconic geisha being harassed by bad apple tourists. Meanwhile, in the Italian cities of Rome and Venice, tourists clog up both \u201cbucket list\u201d UNESCO World Heritage Sites and trash cans everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does that mean no holidays ever? Of course not! You simply have to adjust your itinerary a little!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The grand fa\u00e7ade of Urbino\u2019s Ducal Palace, Italy. Photo by Marian Luzi<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rather than squeezing yourself inside of a bus just to see the tired Gion geishas of Kyoto, how about a change of plans to Kanazawa instead, where seasonal events and private sessions allow you to experience the full artistic skills of this ancient profession. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or if you\u2019re feeling a Renaissance vibe, seek out the heritage hiding in the hills of Urbino which includes classical squares, manors and monuments.<\/p>\n\n\n

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A view of Himeji Castle in Himeji, Japan. Photo by Ricky LK<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Or better yet, why not both? The Second City practice encourages tourists to visit a second, less-travelled city in addition <\/em>to the big-ticket destinations. Not only do you get do cross off your bucket list, you\u2019ll also spread your tourist spending and burden more evenly across your host country. For example, you could enjoy the famous streets of Osaka and <\/em>the grand old castle of nearby Himeji! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end, the point isn\u2019t to deprive yourself of the joys of travelling, it\u2019s simply being considerate of the people actually living in your holiday destinations, all while giving yourself a more comfortable vacation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid Peak Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A packed Venice Beach in Los Angeles, US. Photo by Aldric RIVAT<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another way to combat overtourism and give yourself a unique itinerary is to simply pick a different date!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lots of destinations, particularly in temperate countries, are extremely popular during the spring or summer months. These peak seasons inevitably attract millions of tourists who pummel the local infrastructure and facilities for a short period while leaving them deserted or at least poorly visited for the rest of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visitors basking next to the Eiffel Tower under the Paris sun, France. Photo by Yaopey Yong<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This poses a conundrum to local authorities, who may not be willing to invest and maintain in facilities which are only going to be used for a few months out of the year. The result is hordes of tourists putting stress on limited facilities such as narrow streets that were only really meant to serve locals, leading to a poor experience for all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An example of this can be in Paris, which attracts a surge of tourists during the spring and summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Place Charles de Gaulle in winter. Photo by Jean-Baptiste D.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One way to tackle this is to treat destinations as year-round by visiting during the off-season!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of jostling for good selfies spots at the Eiffel Tower during the peak season, why not visit during the off-periods in autumn and winter (besides the Christimas period)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only do you get way less people fighting over great vantage points and public transport, you also get to enjoy way more favorable hotel rates, making this a great option for budget travellers! And that\u2019s not even mentioning the chance to see a side of a country that not many even bother to explore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snap some fairytale shots of the snow-covered Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es or even some romantic scenes of the Seine River\u2019s autumn coat, the sky\u2019s the limit with off-season travel!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go Local<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Chain hotels can have downsides for local businesses and culture. Photo by Waranont (Joe)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

So now you\u2019ve got a time and place, where are you going to stay?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest and most luxurious hotels or maybe even an Airbnb, I hear you say. Sure, but is that really a win-win situation for the people living there?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the era of globalization, large, multinational hotel chains usually occupy the top end of luxury accommodation. In most of these establishments, locals are rarely in charge while profits are diverted overseas, leaving local communities all the more poorer.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Squatter residents of Rigaer Strasse 94 protesting against the removal of nearby squatters in Berlin, Germany. Photo by Mark K\u00f6nig<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Besides hotels, short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb drive up rental and houses prices thanks to more houses being used for rentals, pricing out and gentrifying locals away from their very own neighbourhoods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And finally, more and more surrounding shops and restaurants start catering to international travellers, diluting what makes a place special in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A tatami room in the Arai Ryokan inn, Shuzenji, Japan. Photo by Susann Schuster<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To counter these aspects of overtourism, you, the conscious traveller, can make sure to prioritize accommodation and businesses that empower local communities, lifestyles and even ecosystems. In other words, that means staying local, shopping local and travelling local! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That could mean staying in a family-run guesthouse, having a meal where locals hang out or just shopping at the small business that\u2019s served the locals for generations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basically, going local means giving back to your hosts and their communities while immersing yourself in authentic culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel Light<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Crowds looking out from the deck of a cruise ship in Venice, Italy. Photo by Leonardo Yip<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another consequence of overtourism that\u2019s frequently overlooked is how big and heavy you\u2019re travelling!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, no need to lose weight, travelling light means travelling in smaller groups with lighter luggage and an even lighter footprint. Overall, this is meant to reduce the resources, waste and carbon footprint expended during your vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A couple of overflowing trash cans in Kerkstraat, Amsterdam. Photo by Milan De Clercq<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With large groups such as massive tour groups or even cruises, establishments usually have a harder time dedicating the required resources to accommodate them comfortably, such as with food, water and waste disposal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, rooms are messier, food quality suffers and, in some extreme cases such as in Spain, water rationing has become a fact of life thanks to global-warming induced drought.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Bringing a reusable bottle can help cut down on plastic waste from plastic bottles. Photo by Bluewater Sweden<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On the bright side, travelling with smaller groups or even solo allows you to enjoy your destination without overburdening your hosts and their place of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can even bring reusable bottles plus cutlery, cut down on plastic use or even use showers instead of baths to further lower your impact on your hosts\u2019 environment! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelling light can even mean bringing along less bulky luggage, which can take up time and space inside of packed public transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelling in smaller groups can also bring some unexpected benefits, such as limiting your time spent inside a bubble of your compatriots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you have less familiar people to fall back on, you\u2019ll tend to embrace more opportunities to speak with locals, further immersing yourself in your hosts\u2019 culture and expanding your horizons!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slow Down<\/h2>\n\n\n
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You don\u2019t need to see everything to have a satisfying vacation. Photo by LOGAN WEAVER<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Last but not least, your next weapon in the fight against overtourism is\u2015slowing down!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nowadays, whirlwind tours where you stop by an attraction briefly, check off a generic bucket list and move on to the next have become popular. Sadly, this doesn\u2019t just do a disservice to the destination, but yourself as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look to cruise ships for an infamous example of this practice, which dumps hundreds of visitors into towns and cities for an afternoon, particularly in European and Caribbean locales such as Marseille and Aruba.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Souvenir stores selling tourist-centric items frequently mushroom up around mass tourism hotspots. Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

And that\u2019s not even the worst bit. Since cruise vacationers typically stick close to their ship, they spend a painfully limited amount of time exploring their destinations. This in turn means lost revenues for hotels, restaurants and stores who would otherwise have benefited from longer-term stays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t even mentioning the loss of cultural contact and rise in businesses solely catering to day trippers, which can be seen in souvenir stores bursting with fridge magents and tacky t-shirts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, fast tourism doesn\u2019t cater to or benefit the locals who actually bear most of the cost.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Sometimes all you need is to stop and smell the roses. Photo by Tiplada M<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

So, to reduce the harms of fast tourism\u201d, why not take your foot off the pedal and smell the roses a little with slow travel?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slow travel generally means travel with an emphasis on sustainability and the environment, but it can also mean simply taking your time with a select few destinations to soak in the region\u2019s beauty and charms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exploring the nooks and crannies of a town or city can sometimes be more worthwhile than simply stopping at major attractions. Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Instead of itineraries spanning multiple cities and countries, try narrowing down and going in depth on one or two areas that you\u2019re curious about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By spending just a few extra days at a place or even just a few more hours, you can immensely raise the educational and cultural quality of your holiday experience. This can include taking the time to appreciate the exhibits of Beijing\u2019s National Museum of China, exploring the quieter beaches of Phuket or simply hanging out at a random caf\u00e9 or bar for an afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slow travelling can even extend to transportation, such as sleeper trains and road trips that afford more opportunities to really soak in the views and landscapes of your destination.<\/p>\n\n\n

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A busy day at the Mona Lisa exhibit in the Louvre, Paris. Photo by Chris Johnson<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

So, those are just a few ways you can contribute to reducing the harms of overtourism. Mass and government-level action is still the best in affecting change though, so why not share and discuss this with the people around you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who knows, you might be a part of making tourism a force of good for the decades to come!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As revenge travel has taken off after the lockdown era, a new set of problems has emerged. 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