Overtourism, as outlined by Sustainable Journey Worldwide, happens when too many guests flock to a vacation spot, exceeding its skill to handle it sustainably and resulting in destructive impacts corresponding to overcrowding, environmental degradation, strained infrastructure, lowered high quality of life for residents, and a diminished customer expertise. Spain is among the many most impacted on the continent and cracked down on Airbnb and vacation leases final 12 months. On the identical time, locals in Barcelona took it upon themselves to soak guests with water weapons whereas chanting, “vacationers go residence”. In response to Fodor’s Journey, the Spanish metropolis is joined by Majorca, the Canary Islands, Venice, and Lisbon of their record of locations in Europe which can be “the place locals don’t desire you.”
Barcelona
Fodor’s Journey crew reported: “Barcelona at the moment has over 10,000 licensed trip leases on platforms like Airbnb, and the common residence now rents for 68% greater than a decade in the past.”
Whereas the native authorities there has pledged to take away all short-term rental licenses by 2028 and take a stand towards unlawful vacationer flats all through town, locals, together with a Barcelona activist group Meeting of Neighborhoods for Tourism Degrowth member, say it’s too little too late.
On Reddit, native residents have shared their ideas on town’s tourism drawback. One individual mentioned, “Barcelona has turn into an amusement park made for vacationers. All the pieces’s overpriced. Once you go to class or work, it’s a must to keep away from distracted vacationers who randomly cease to take an image at any time of the day, week, or 12 months.”
One other individual added: “Locals have been pushed out of their very own cities by vacationers. Native companies shut down as a result of vacationer companies are extra worthwhile.”
Barcelona’s historic Gothic Quarter is without doubt one of the worst affected areas, as many vacationer flats and sights are positioned there.
Majorca
The gorgeous Spanish vacation spot has been common amongst Europe’s inhabitants for many years and is a repeat offender on Fordor’s “No Record.” Beforehand listed in 2019, it’s nonetheless widespread to search out flights from UK airports for lower than £50 return and really reasonably priced bundle holidays, studies Accountable Journey.
Nonetheless, its growing customer numbers imply a few of its hottest seashores and cities have turn into “terribly overcrowded,” in line with Tripadvisor evaluations. One individual remarked: “Cala Deia is so overcrowded, police stand on the high of the street to control site visitors, not my thought of a quiet vacation. All the pieces is overpriced, and the seaside smells of sewage. Of us, preserve away. This isn’t the most effective worth for cash: stuffed with Instagramming airheads. What a disappointment.”
The Balearic authorities fought towards overtourism by introducing a tourism tax in 2016, which can improve in 2025 for June, July, and August. The tax additionally applies to Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Restrictions thought up by the the British embassy and the Balearic authorities additionally exist in some resorts, banning in a single day alcohol gross sales to fight the “tourism of extra”.
Canary Islands
Final summer season, tensions boiled over as protests erupted throughout Europe. Tens of hundreds of individuals gathered on seashores in Majorca and the Canary Islands, studies Fodors, holding indicators that learn: “Your luxurious, our distress,” and “The Canaries have a restrict.”
The journey specialists branded it “a jarring change” for vacationers, contemplating years of “aggressive advertising and marketing to guests for years” which have include apparent financial benefits. Within the Canary Islands, the tourism business makes up 35% of the GDP and generated €16.9 billion in 2023.
Nonetheless, British vacationers in Tenerife and Gran Canaria have been highlighted by locals who argue that the advantages of tourism aren’t trickling right down to the native inhabitants.
Nestor Marrero Rodríguez, secretary of the Tenerife Affiliation of Mates of Nature, beforehand instructed EuroNews: “British vacationers are undoubtedly the worst behaved and present dramatic reactions in individual and the media when their behaviour and rejection by the native inhabitants is uncovered.”
In the meantime, an area information in Gran Canaria emphasised the necessity for respectful tourism, noting that whereas many British vacationers are respectful, a major quantity come solely for the solar and low-cost alcohol, resulting in disruptive behaviour.
Lisbon
Locals in Lisbon, which lately has seen the variety of abroad arrivals soar, have voiced considerations that it’s going to turn into the following Venice.
With round 546,000 residents, Portugal’s capital welcomes 30,000 to 40,000 vacationers each day. A journalist and resident of the capital instructed the Telegraph in 2018: “In each Lisbon and Porto, the central downtown areas have turn into roughly just for vacationers. Lisbon’s Baixa district, for instance, which covers an space of 1.5 sq. kilometres, now has greater than 70 resorts, whereas tourist-oriented eating places, memento outlets and large worldwide manufacturers have displaced native companies.”
Fodor’s journey specialists mentioned that an estimated 60% of dwellings in Lisbon at the moment are trip lodging, decreasing the stock of long-term rental items and driving up prices. They mentioned: “The town, which lately ranked because the third least financially viable place to reside globally, has misplaced roughly 30% of its inhabitants since 2013.”
Venice
Famend for its canals, the Italian metropolis is a hub for historical past, artwork, and tradition. Nonetheless, its world fame as a romantic metropolis break vacation spot means it’s consistently busy with guests.
The truth is, in line with a current Holidu examine, the long-lasting metropolis hosts 21 vacationers for each resident. Venice has attracted consideration with its daytripper tax and a ban on cruise ships getting into its lagoon, however the Italian hotspot stays severely overcrowded—a lot in order that UNESCO has included it on its record of endangered cities.
The town reportedly plans to double its controversial vacationer tax as mass tourism and overcrowding stay vital issues. The €5 (£4.20) levy was launched in 2024 to crack down on day trippers however has now been upped to €10 (£8.30) for holidaymakers who ebook lower than 4 days prematurely.
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Publish date : 2025-03-04 03:07:00
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