Upshots Of Overtourism

There are countries so desperate for foreign currency that they stand ready to do everything in their power to welcome foreign tourists. But there are also others grappling with the problems of overtourism. Spain’s Barcelona, Italy’s Venice, France’s Paris, Indonesia’s Bali, and several cities in Japan, among others, fall under the latter category. Internet-enabled conveniences that made accommodation affordable and travelling accessible, the rise of budget airlines and middle class worldwide have been the key factors pushing many people to travel across the world. But in recent years, one more factor has emerged: pent-up demand. As the COVID-19 pandemic locked millions of people in their homes for years, more and more people are now venturing out to make up for the loss in those years. But with it comes problems. 

One news that made frequent headlines in 2024 was the backlash against overtourism. Take Japan, for example. With Yen significantly depreciating in that year, Japan suddenly became affordable even to budget travellers. Taking advantage of this, tourists started pouring in in such overwhelming numbers that some tourist hotspots became increasingly unmanageable. Some Japanese started complaining of being priced out of hotel rooms and crowded out of buses and restaurants. This reminds one of dramatic logjam on Mt. Everest in early 2019.

Others say tourists sometimes disrespect local customs through behaviour considered rude there. The issue became so severe that in some areas of Tokyo drinking alcohol outdoors at night was banned as part of the effort to limit unruly behaviour of mostly young tourists. To cater to visiting tourists, many local businesses had been driven out by souvenir and coffee shops, making local products and services disappear from the neighbourhood, and sparking concerns about loss of identity.   

It also prompted some officials, including the then Japanese prime minister, to raise concerns about overtourism. Indeed, a town mustn’t be solely for visitors, but also for its long-time residents. Tourists are even seen milling around key religious spots in revealing clothes, offending the native population by not upholding the sanctity of the religious sites.  When visitors lack basic decency, backlash is bound to happen.

Similarly, Venice, a city with less than a million population witnessed nearly 6 million tourists. The surge was so huge that officials had to take measures, some dramatic including raising tourist taxes, to lower their number. Surely, the number is enough to overwhelm the infrastructure and reduce the quality of life there. Likewise, Barcelona had to resort to capping the number of visitors and restrict the construction of new hotels. As residential housings were turned into tourist rentals, a dire shortage of affordable housing had emerged. The problem had become so rampant that even longtime residents were finding themselves unable to buy properties in their own neighbourhood.

With the rise of personal branding through social media, many tourists descend on foreign land merely to see the place through the lens of smartphone’s camera, to post everything on Facebook, YouTube or TikTok. They seem ready to do anything for views and likes, even if that means disregarding local culture. Travel is a quest to see, to learn, to understand and to appreciate exotic things. This entails respect and curiosity for the culture and people they are witnessing. A willingness to adjust to different customs while on vacation must be within the abilities of a tourist. Travelling is a rewarding experience after all!