Over-tourism

Not a New Problem

  • The issue of overtourism has existed for quite some time

  • Historically, overtourism has been found in large, urban centers. Why?

  • Many of these areas contain popular, well-known attractions

  • Hard to dissuade tourism from these attractions as they are considered must see

What Exactly Is Tourism

  • At it’s most basic, overtourism occurs when degrades both the lives of:

    • Locals

    • Tourist experience

  • With a name like overtourism, the solution must be simple…undertourism

  • Well….that’s not the case. Why?

Why Do People Go To Famous Destinations?

It’s About the Character

  • Famous destinations often sell you on their character

  • What is the character/experience you would expect from:

    • Amsterdam

    • Barcelona

    • New York

    • Yellowstone national park

Over tourism does not just degrade the local experience. But it also sibtracts from the character of a destination. And that is what we sell people a lot is that destination and the experience that comes with the destination.

Degrades the Character of a Destination

  • Overtourism has been found to remove the charm and character of a destination

  • Ultimately commodifies the experience of a destination

    • Instead of having local stores, many converts into stores selling tourist stuff

  • The sharing economy issue

    • Landlord convert apartments into Airbnb properties, instead of long term rentals; locals cannot afford steep increases in rent

What is Causing Overtourism?

  • World population is increasing, thus more tourists are being produced

  • Travel is becoming easier - both financially and logistically

  • The ease of disseminating information

  • Supply controls - who is in charge

    • Often exists outside the control of the destination

    • Not all stakeholders want to stem the flow

Further Causes

  • Within destination, most tourism/hospitality policy is created by private entities, not public

  • Private entities are more focused on profits, thus continued growth is an important outcome

  • Unwillingness by many public entities to acknowledge this is a problem

Role of Media and Outside Forces

  • Much of the blame is placed on DMOs.

  • While there is some blame to be placed, how is the media and other outside forces responsible?

  • Media and airlines (for example) often highlight destinations consistently, driving tourists to these attractions and destinations

Impacts

  • Impacts of overtourism are felt differently depending on destination. Why?

  • Larger cities, such as New York, have built in advantafes

    • Larger, able to handle high of tourists for example

    • Attractions are limited to certain areas, keeping tourists away from more residential areas

    • Tokyo has similar advantages

  • Smaller destinations lack these advantages

Overtourism in Japan

  • As the videos show, overtourism is becoming a major issue in Japan

  • Overcrowding of public transportation, long lines at attractions, and poor behavior

  • The country is attempting to manage overtourism. What are some of the strategies that are being used?

Japan Strategies

  • Incorporates a visitor’s fee/usage fee. Anyone know what popular destination will be using this strategy in Japan?

    • Mt Fuji - 2000 yen fee; will also limit number of climbers per day

  • Increases to transportation

    • Niseko region in Hokkaido adding more taxis

  • Outright bans

    • Areas of Gian =Geisha alley) in Kyoto are off limits to tourists

National and Local Solutions

  • Institute Reservation Systems

    • Arcadia National Park (Maine)

  • Require visitors to use shuttle system - reduces car congestion

    • Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

  • Lottery System

    • Angel’s landing, Zion National Park (Utah)

Issues to Solving Overtourism

  • Some challenges to combating overtourism

    • Tourism (economically) is good for a lot of destinations

    • Sometimes it is the only economic driver available

    • Powerful interests are invested in tourism

  • Overtourism found to be related to issues of localism

    • Dispersal strategies. Tourists do not like this, locals do (as long as it is not in their neighborhood)

    • Societal issues also at play….not just tourists crowding places

Amsterdam and the Netherlands

  • Tourism numbers expected to jump from 19 million to 40 million over the next ten years.

    • Areas of the country no longer livable for locals….and even for tourists

  • Amsterdam and Netherlands have a novel approach

    • Stop promoting the city and country

    • A focus now on destination management, and not promotion

Venice

  • At the forefront of the overtourism issue is Venice

  • Venice sees over twenty million tourists a year

  • More extreme strategies being used to combat overtourism

    • Not allowed to sit in certain areas - you can be fined?

    • Limit areas to access the city

    • Tourism tax on those coming for the day

Potential Solutions

  • Limit access to destination

  • Increase tourist tax

  • Divert tourists to other areas - Amsterdam

  • Fine people for sitting popular areas - Venice

  • Setup check points to limit tourists - Venice

  • Protest and get violent - Bercelona