Articles tagged “overtourism”

Europe is so popular as a tourist destination that it doesn't really need any help growing numbers. A move to concentrate on value is a sensible approach and one that will hopefully see the benefits spread to lesser-known destinations.

Tour operators addressing overtourism have essentially gone mainstream in recent years as more travelers have demanded alternatives to crowded city centers. In 2019, we will likely see more companies step in to do the right thing.

New data show that the global wellness industry is on the rise: It’s now worth $4.2 trillion. Smart companies are innovating to stay ahead, exhibited by the Lululemon and Strava fitness-meets-digital partnership and Equinox’s move into luxury wellness tourism.

Given how attitudes over tourism have been boiling over across Europe's hotspots in recent years, some of the findings in this report, such as residents not wanting tourism numbers to be capped, are very surprising.

Words as a means to define problems and trigger solutions are important. The label overtourism crystalizes a problem and serves as a call to action. We'd agree that a lack of capacity management is a big part of the problem, but the latter characterization hardly spurs the urgency the issue requires.

While once seen as just cold weather destinations, certain mountain towns in the Alps, the United States, and beyond are evolving their cultures and economies into year-round destinations with no compromise on things to do. Can they handle the crowds?

We came up with “overtourism,” a simple portmanteau to appeal to people's baser instincts with an element of alarm and fear in it. That is the biggest reason why the term and its exploration by everyone has caught on.

UNESCO sites have to follow conservation and management criteria to maintain their designations, but many have slacked off over the years and put themselves at risk. Albeit, the organization doesn't view many of its most iconic sites most at risk from crowds as the most problematic.

The travel industry is still trying to figure out the best way to deal with overtourism — but just the fact that so many players are talking about the issue is a good thing.

Norwegian Air CEO Bjorn Kjos doesn't care that some in Barcelona would prefer that the tourists stop coming. He can fill Boeing 787s at decent fares with Americans and Europeans who want to visit Spain. He has a business to run. Can we blame him for trying to maximize profits?