Barcelona, Venice and Amsterdam are among Europe’s favourite travel destinations and benefit greatly from tourism. However, the massive influx of visitors places a considerable burden on the cities and their inhabitants.

To counteract the negative effects of overtourism, these cities are taking decisive action. Following public protests, no new hotels may be built in Venice and cruise ships will have to use other moorings in future. Amsterdam has banned guided tours of its famous red light district in order to protect local residents. Paris is planning to ban coaches from the city centre in order to improve the quality of life. Other overcrowded cities are also trying to control the situation through various methods.

Do you think that overtourism is a serious problem in Europe?

Sources: National Statistics Offices, Statista, Le Monde, Forbes

  • @niktemadurEnglish
    6•2 months ago

    It was an early December when I visited Venice, locals say it snows one day a year and I just happened to be there!

    During peak summer season, I imagine by the turn of August any and all locals have had it up to HERE with the dense throngs of tourists and the logistics/infrastructure overload it all involves.

    But during the low season, you get to see the local inhabitants come out with their guard down, relaxed and welcoming. Then somehow or other, I ended up at a party of university students from nearby Padua, they had rented a party hall behind a bar. They made me feel like an ambassador from another corner of the world, but also like one of their own.

    Plus since the water is as cold as it gets in the year, it doesn’t smell, like they say it does when it’s hot and humid.