Surging Travel in Europe Sparks Concerns Over Tourism's Drawbacks
The world's museum faces record numbers of visitors, leading to protests and measures against overtourism.
Europe has been called the world's museum, attracting 747 million international travelers last year alone.
However, these record numbers have also led to concerns about the drawbacks of tourism, including overcrowding in popular destinations like Barcelona and Venice.
The strain on housing, water supply, and infrastructure has sparked protests and measures aimed at managing tourist flows across Southern and Western Europe.
Among the factors driving this surge are cheap flights, social media, and the ease of travel planning using artificial intelligence.
Citizens from countries such as the US, Japan, China, and the UK generate a significant portion of these international trips.
Despite popular backlash against crowds, some tourism officials believe that overtourism can be managed with appropriate infrastructure.
In Italy, for instance, Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè suggested that AI could help manage tourist flows at crowded sites like Florence's Uffizi Galleries.
She emphasized that most visits are concentrated within a small portion of the country, which she believes can be organized effectively to prevent surges.
Countries along the Mediterranean, particularly Spain and France, bear the brunt of overtourism.
In 2024, Spain alone received nearly 94 million international visitors, double its population.
Protests have erupted in Barcelona over the past two years against tourism's impact on local communities.
The pressure on infrastructure has been particularly acute on the Canary and Balearic Islands.
In popular Italian destinations such as Venice, Rome, Capri, and Verona, overcrowding has led to concerns about water scarcity and housing availability, especially during peak summer months.
In Greece, tourism has contributed to water shortages in popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos due to drought conditions.
To cope with the challenges posed by overtourism, various measures have been implemented across Europe.
Spain's government is addressing its housing crunch by regulating short-term rentals, such as those on platforms like Airbnb.
Authorities in Barcelona plan to phase out all 10,000 apartments licensed for short-term rental by 2028.
Greece will impose a cruise tax starting July 1, charging visitors at popular destinations like Mykonos 20 euros ($23) compared to 5 euros ($5.70) for less-visited islands.
Water tankers and desalination technology are being used to alleviate water problems on parched islands.
In Venice, an entry fee has been reintroduced this year to manage the flow of day-trippers during peak seasons.
These measures reflect the ongoing debate about how to balance tourism with preserving local communities and resources.
However, these record numbers have also led to concerns about the drawbacks of tourism, including overcrowding in popular destinations like Barcelona and Venice.
The strain on housing, water supply, and infrastructure has sparked protests and measures aimed at managing tourist flows across Southern and Western Europe.
Among the factors driving this surge are cheap flights, social media, and the ease of travel planning using artificial intelligence.
Citizens from countries such as the US, Japan, China, and the UK generate a significant portion of these international trips.
Despite popular backlash against crowds, some tourism officials believe that overtourism can be managed with appropriate infrastructure.
In Italy, for instance, Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè suggested that AI could help manage tourist flows at crowded sites like Florence's Uffizi Galleries.
She emphasized that most visits are concentrated within a small portion of the country, which she believes can be organized effectively to prevent surges.
Countries along the Mediterranean, particularly Spain and France, bear the brunt of overtourism.
In 2024, Spain alone received nearly 94 million international visitors, double its population.
Protests have erupted in Barcelona over the past two years against tourism's impact on local communities.
The pressure on infrastructure has been particularly acute on the Canary and Balearic Islands.
In popular Italian destinations such as Venice, Rome, Capri, and Verona, overcrowding has led to concerns about water scarcity and housing availability, especially during peak summer months.
In Greece, tourism has contributed to water shortages in popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos due to drought conditions.
To cope with the challenges posed by overtourism, various measures have been implemented across Europe.
Spain's government is addressing its housing crunch by regulating short-term rentals, such as those on platforms like Airbnb.
Authorities in Barcelona plan to phase out all 10,000 apartments licensed for short-term rental by 2028.
Greece will impose a cruise tax starting July 1, charging visitors at popular destinations like Mykonos 20 euros ($23) compared to 5 euros ($5.70) for less-visited islands.
Water tankers and desalination technology are being used to alleviate water problems on parched islands.
In Venice, an entry fee has been reintroduced this year to manage the flow of day-trippers during peak seasons.
These measures reflect the ongoing debate about how to balance tourism with preserving local communities and resources.
