Growing up we heard about magical locations, with rich history, ancient mysteries and exotic beaches. Our goal was to visit them one day. When we did, we realized that like us, millions of people around the world do the same thing every year… And that number is growing year by year! Hypertourism is evolving into one of the most important problems in the travel industry. The lower fares, compared to the past, the higher salaries, but also the ads on social media, have resulted in more and more travelers visiting specific places, which, however, can not cope with the needs that are created. In 2018, the Oxford English Dictionary included the word “hypertourism” in the words of the year, defining it as “a huge number of visitors to popular destinations, which destroy the environment and have a direct impact on the lives of residents.” Is it possible to stop this phenomenon?
Unprepared
According to data, 1.4 billion trips were made in 2018, with 36% of them to one of the most popular destinations on the planet. In fact, analysts estimate that this percentage will continue to increase over time, emphasizing the need for regulation and proper management. According to the data, within the next decade, cities such as Delhi, Cairo, Manila, Bangkok and Moscow are expected to be added to the list of most popular destinations, noting that local authorities are unprepared to increase the number of travelers. The good news is that many destinations, governments and travel agents are already addressing the issue. With good will, those at the forefront of the problem can find a way to balance tourism demand with the needs of local communities. In fact, some cities have already begun to take action to address the problem.
Machu Picchu
It is perhaps the most important attraction in Peru, with 4,300 tourists visiting it daily. For this reason the local authorities decided as now to issue tickets of limited duration, four hours, without the right for a second visit. In fact, they encourage tourists to visit Machu Picchu in the afternoon, which are not so popular.
Venice
Venice is at the forefront of tackling hypertourism and this is clear from the protests of the locals. In fact, concerns are being raised that day-to-day visitors are not leaving money for local businesses. The city introduced a “hat” of 3 euros to daily travelers, while by 2020, this fee will range from 3 to 10 euros, depending on the time of year and the amount of visitors to the area. Also, officials of the monuments in Venice, set a limit on the number of visitors they receive daily.
Dubrovnik
The city of Croatia saw the number of its tourists increase rapidly, as the shooting of the famous series “Game of Thrones” took place in the city. The city council is launching a campaign with the slogan “Respect the city” aiming at sustainable and responsible tourism development. At the same time, it set a limit on the number of ships that will receive in the port of the city, while limiting the number of groups of visitors to just eight people.
Santorini
According to the data, the number of tourists in Santorini increased by 66% from 2012 to 2017, with 5.5 million tourists per year. The European Parliament has strongly criticized local authorities for not limiting the number of visitors. The mayor of Santorini decided to set a limit on the number of tourists who visit the island daily.
Rome
One of the “all time classic” destinations in Europe, which due to hypertourism was forced to adopt drastic measures. In particular, tourists are not allowed to swim in the city's fountains, while it is illegal to carry suitcases on the famous Spanish Steps.
Barcelona
The region of Spain, according to the data, receives about 9.6 million tourists a year. Taking advantage of this number, the city council decided to impose a tax on all overnight stays, with the proceeds being used to upgrade Barcelona's monuments.
Edinburgh
Wanting to tackle over-tourism, the Scottish capital has voted in favor of a φό 2 daily tourist tax. The money will then be spent to cover the cost of hosting up to 4 million visitors a year.
