Three hours ago, Rajan Datar, Presenter of The Tourist Trap, shared a message that was scrawled on a makeshift wooden placard in block capitals. The message read: “Everywhere you look everyone is foreign.” This message was seen during a march of 10,000 people in Palma, Majorca, at the start of the summer holiday season. The marchers were expressing their frustration with the impact of tourism on their local communities.
The rise in tourism post-pandemic has led to increased demand for accommodation in popular tourist destinations like the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. This has resulted in rising rents, making it difficult for locals to afford to live in their own towns. The environmental impact of tourism is also a concern, with areas like Venice struggling to maintain a balance between tourism and the well-being of the local population.
Efforts are being made to address overcrowding in popular destinations, such as regulating visitor numbers at peak times and promoting alternative, less busy destinations. The concept of “high value, low volume” tourism is being encouraged to ensure that tourists contribute positively to the local economy.
In places like Hallstatt, Austria, where daily visitors outnumber residents, locals are feeling overwhelmed by the influx of tourists. Residents are frustrated by the lack of public space and the disrespectful behavior of some tourists, such as taking selfies in the churchyard.
Overall, the issue of overtourism is complex and requires a balanced approach to ensure that both tourists and locals can coexist harmoniously in popular destinations.