Ask Skift: How Are Destinations Combatting Overtourism?

01.10.2024 - 21:39 / skift.com / Rashaad Jorden

Dozens of destinations worldwide have struggled to manage a surge in visitor numbers in recent years and a growing number of communities are expressing frustration with mass tourism.

So how are destinations combatting overtourism?

We posed the question to our recently upgraded answer engine Ask Skift 2.0. The AI chatbot used information appearing in our past news coverage, and we also did further reporting.

Overtourism has become a significant challenge for many popular destinations worldwide, leading to efforts to mitigate its impacts on local communities, environments, and infrastructure. Here are some of the measures being implemented to combat overtourism: 

Reservation Systems and Tourist Fees

Regulation of Short-Term Rentals

Infrastructure and Behavior Management

Public Awareness and Local Engagement

These measures are part of a broader effort by cities to ensure that tourism growth is balanced with the need to maintain the quality of life for residents and preserve the cultural and environmental heritage of the destinations. 

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Spain: The Cíes Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Galicia, has had a daily cap on visitor numbers since 2017. The islands see at most 1,800 visitors each day from May 15 to September 15, after which the cap drops to 450 daily. Each visitor needs to obtain a QR code from the website of Galicia’s government and then pay $28 (25 euros) for the ferry ride to the Cíes Islands and back.

“There were just too many people before,” said José Antonio Fernández Bouzas, the director of Galicia’s Atlantic Islands national park. “But now people understand the need for the cap and they respect and appreciate it. We need the access controls to protect the area, but they also mean that people can enjoy their visits.”

Officials in Barcelona announced this June that the city would ban all short-term rentals by 2029, as well as cease renewing existing short-term rental licenses. In addition, Barcelona’s tourism board said in July it would replace its 15-year-old slogan “Visit Barcelona” with “This Is Barcelona” as part of its strategy to shift away from mass tourism and target tourists genuinely interested in the city’s history and culture.

Japan: The Yamanashi Prefecture government started charging a roughly $12 fee (2,000 yen) in July to climb Mount Fuji on its popular trail. Revenue would go towards trail management, maintenance and safety measures, among other services.

Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam wrote the fee may not deter ovetourism on that route to Mount Fuji as much as a daily cap of 4,000 hikers a day that Japanese authorities implemented, which aimed to reduce tourism on peak days.