Spain, along with Italy, France, and Portugal, has been identified as one of the top European destinations grappling with the issue of overtourism during the summer months. This alarming trend is highlighted in a new study, the ‘Overtourism Index,’ which evaluates 70 popular vacation spots worldwide. The study, which assigns a score from 1 to 5 based on factors like tourist density, seasonality, and sustainability maturity, reveals that coastal tourism, particularly prevalent in European destinations during summer, is bearing the brunt of the overtourism burden.
The index indicates that Spain, with a score of 3.6 out of 5, experiences a significant influx of tourists during June, July, and August, making it one of the most impacted destinations. In fact, Spain welcomes approximately 78 million tourists annually, contributing around 9% to its GDP. The country faces pressure with 4 international tourists per inhabitant and 156 tourists per square kilometer. This pressure is further amplified by the fact that 41% of tourists visit Spain during the summer, resulting in a high level of seasonal concentration. Adding to the concerns, Spain’s sustainability maturity is rated low, scoring only 2 out of 5 in the study.
This growing concern about overtourism has prompted Evaneos, a travel agency, to take a bold step. Starting in 2025, they will no longer offer trips to Mykonos and Santorini, two of their best-selling destinations. This decision was made in collaboration with local agencies who have firsthand knowledge of the strain tourism places on these islands’ ecosystems and resources, particularly water, during the peak summer months of July and August. The goal is to distribute visitor traffic more evenly throughout the year, particularly to June and September, to alleviate the pressure on these fragile destinations.
The study also highlights other destinations heavily impacted by overtourism, including Greece, which has been categorized as highly overexposed. Cyprus, Mauritius, and Croatia are also facing significant tourist influxes, with tourist densities ranging from 3.2 to 9.9 tourists per resident and 1,600 to 8,000 tourists per square kilometer. While major European destinations can handle large numbers of tourists, the summer months witness a surge, with 43% of visitors arriving in the third quarter.
Beyond coastal destinations, urban overtourism is primarily affecting European capitals. Although these cities are more advanced in terms of sustainability and less dependent on tourism, they still experience a significant influx of visitors in the third quarter. The top three urban destinations facing overtourism are Copenhagen (Denmark), Amsterdam (Netherlands), and Dublin (Ireland), with scores of 3.8, 3.7, and 3.4, respectively.
The growing issue of overtourism requires attention and action. It is essential for destinations to prioritize sustainable tourism practices, implement strategies to spread tourist arrivals throughout the year, and manage the impact of large tourist numbers to ensure the long-term well-being of communities and environments.
