Overtourism
What is Overtourism?
Overtourism describes a situation where a destination receives so many visitors that the quality of experience deteriorates — for both tourists and, more critically, for the local population and natural environment. The term gained mainstream traction around 2016-2017, when destinations like Venice, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Santorini, and Bali began actively pushing back against unsustainable visitor numbers.
The effects are wide-ranging: local residents are priced out of their housing markets as short-term rentals convert apartments to tourist accommodation; natural environments are degraded by foot traffic and waste; cultural sites are closed or damaged; and the authentic character of a place is replaced by a sanitised, commercialised version designed for visitor consumption rather than actual life.
Responses include entry fees, visitor caps, seasonal restrictions, daily limits, and campaigns actively discouraging peak-season visits to over-pressured areas.
Example of Overtourism
When Aiko arrived in Dubrovnik's old city in August, the narrow limestone streets were so packed that moving between the main sights felt like being swept along by a river of people. Residents told her that cruise ships brought up to 12,000 visitors a day into a city centre designed for a few thousand. Many locals had moved out of the old city entirely. Aiko spent two hours there, then spent the rest of her trip in smaller coastal towns the cruise ships didn't visit.