Summer 2024 should be a time of celebration, with the Paris Olympics and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour bringing joy to many. However, for residents of popular tourist destinations, this summer is shaping up to be a season of protests against overtourism. Cities like Barcelona, Lake Como, Venice, and Amsterdam are facing the wrath of locals who feel overwhelmed by the influx of visitors. Barcelona Residents Erase Bus Route to Fight Overtourism Locals living in Barcelona’s La Salut neighborhood have long endured the overcrowded 116 bus route, which ferries tourists to Antoni Gaudí’s Park Güell, the city’s second most popular attraction. In a bold move, they petitioned the local council to request that Google and Apple maps remove the bus route from their systems. One resident joked that the next step would be to ask for the removal of the park itself. However, Bloomberg suggests that raising bus fares or increasing the frequency of buses to the park could be more effective solutions. Lake Como Considers Entrance Fee to Curb Overtourism Like Venice, Lake Como is grappling with the challenges of overtourism. The Italian lake, the third largest in the country, welcomes 1.4 million tourists annually, many of whom are day-trippers who contribute less to the local economy than long-term guests. Locals complain of overcrowding as non-residents increasingly purchase homes in the area and rent them out to tourists. Since 2016, the number of holiday homes and private rentals has surged by 673%. Como’s mayor, Alessandro Rapinese, is considering introducing an entrance fee similar to the one recently implemented in Venice. However, Venice residents have protested against the entrance fee, arguing that the city needs a new vision that prioritizes housing for residents rather than controlling tourist numbers. Canary Islands Locals Cry ‘My Misery; Your Paradise’ In the Canary Islands, locals are preparing for mass protests against the unchecked flow of tourists. In 2023, the archipelago saw a record-breaking 14.1 million visitors. Residents are particularly concerned about the construction of two new hotels and have taken to the streets with graffiti that reads ‘tourists, go home.’ Rising rental costs, similar to those in Lake Como, Venice, and Barcelona, have priced many locals out of the housing market. Amsterdam Shuts Door on New Hotels To combat overtourism, Amsterdam has announced a ban on new hotel openings. New hotels will only be permitted on a one-out, one-in basis, and only if they are considered to be more sustainable than the ones they replace. The city aims to maintain its livability for both residents and visitors. Amsterdam’s latest policy is part of a series of measures to promote sustainable tourism. The Dutch government has been encouraging tourists to venture beyond the popular hotspots and has launched campaigns targeting British tourists who often engage in disruptive behavior during party weekends. Amalfi Coast Braces for Ripley Effect The release of the Netflix series ‘Ripley,’ based on Patricia Highsmith’s novels, has raised concerns among locals on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. The show features the village of Atrani, which sits next to the popular tourist destination Amalfi. Airbnb reports a 93% increase in bookings to Atrani since the show aired. With only 800 residents and narrow roads that can become congested during the summer months, locals fear that an influx of tourists could become unmanageable. Overtourism and Climate Change Intersect As Europe experiences accelerated warming, the issue of overtourism takes on new dimensions. The continent witnessed its largest wildfire on record in 2023 and its costliest flood. In anticipation of water conflicts between residents and tourists, the northeast of Spain plans to restrict water usage for tourists if the current drought persists. Catalonia would limit hotel guests to 100 liters (26 gallons) of water per day, excluding water used for swimming pools.
Overtourism Heats Up
