The influence of tourist information materials on the emergence of overtourism

Abstract

Tourist information materials, such as leaflets, brochures, maps, guides and web presentations, significantly influence people's decisions about the form of their future or current vacation. Unfortunately, often the very form of passing on information about potential tourist destinations in the region encourages the tourist to visit especially the most famous tourist destinations, which can then suffer from the negative effects of mass tourism. On the contrary, lesser-known tourist destinations, which would welcome an increase in attendance, are often presented in these materials as of secondary importance. How is this possible when many localities are currently struggling with the negative effects of overtourism and at the same time most Czech rural regions live in long-term undertourism? The article presents the results of experimental research, in which the perception of tourist information materials was analyzed. The results of the research point out the main mistakes that the creators of these materials commonly make and thus support the uneven tourist development of the area. Furthermore, examples of good practice that act as a prevention of overtourism and potentially develop the whole region and not only selected highlights are presented.