Overcoming overtourism: a review of failure

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and review attempts at mitigation and prevention of overtourism and to outline reasons for the failure to date of such efforts. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a perspective paper and draws on an examination of relevant literature on the subject through the lens of a conceptual framework. It outlines the changing roles of tourism development and marketing organisations and the failure of public sector agencies to control and manage tourism. The varying methods of limiting tourist numbers are examined, and their weaknesses are presented. Findings Conclusions reveal that there are a series of global trends that are contributing to the appearance and continuation of overtourism and which, to date, are proving immune to mitigation and resolution for specific reasons. These include a lack of willingness to accept the problem of tourist numbers and to reduce or effectively manage these at all levels, from local to international. Research limitations/implications Present approaches to mitigation need to be revisited and better integrated with management and control of all aspects of development and framed to achieve and retain political support at all levels. Originality/value There has been little attempt before to analyse the reasons for the failure to effectively mitigate or prevent overtourism, and this paper makes an original contribution in this area in that it is an evaluation of what is known and a summary of shortcomings within the industry and academia.

Island Tourism: Vulnerable or Resistant to Overtourism?

“…There has been a plethora of articles and books in the past few years on overtourism, discussing related issues globally [2][3][4]31,32]. The term overtourism can be defined as "the acceleration and growth of tourism supply and demand, the use of tourism destinations' natural ecological goods, the destruction of their cultural attractions, and negative impacts on their social and economic environments" [33].…”

“…Islands are often also heavily subject to external controls, both economic and political, thus suggesting that islands could be considered more vulnerable than most tourist destinations to experience excessive development and tourist numbers far beyond their capacity to control and manage. Overtourism is one form of unsustainable tourism that has been recorded on islands in a variety of forms for many years including excessive numbers of tourists and resident unrest over recent years [2][3][4], suggesting that islands are particularly vulnerable to problems relating to unsustainable levels and forms of tourism.…”

The Conceptual Grounding of Overtourism and Overtourism-Driven Change: Olympos Case

“…The tourism-based pressure on the environment and social milieu of tourism destinations has become a more visible and significant problem to be overcome by local and/or central managing bodies and stakeholders. In other words, the negative effects of tourism growth have come on the stage with a new term "overtourism" and global and domestic policy factors (Peterson & DiPietro, 2021) or inaction to prevent overtourism through effective policies (Butler & Dodds, 2022) are frequently found a voice as critics in tourism literature.…”

Study on the coupling and coordination degree between urban tourism development and habitat environment in the Yangtze River Delta in China

“…On the one hand, the development of the tourism industry can provide a solid economic and material basis for the improvement of urban habitat environment, which is conducive to urban infrastructure construction, ecological environmental protection, harmonious development of people and society, and the improvement of transportation facilities. On the other hand, excessive and unrestricted tourism development can also bring local problems of traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and cultural shock, which may result in a negative impact on the carrying capacity of the urban habitat environment and disrupt the local socio-economic functioning (Filimonau et al 2014 ; Peterson 2020 ; Butler and Dodds 2022 ). Figueroa and Rotarou ( 2016 ) noted uncontrolled tourism development had brought negative environmental impacts on Easter Island.…”