{"id":40239,"date":"2021-05-06T08:00:20","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T06:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=40239"},"modified":"2021-05-07T11:48:05","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T09:48:05","slug":"solutions-overtourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/solutions-overtourism\/","title":{"rendered":"Solutions to Overtourism: Towards New Strategies of Sustainable Tourism"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many destinations are struggling with Overtourism. From Gated Tourism to Deseasonalisation, find out the possible solutions to overtourism.<\/h2>\n

According to the World Tourism Organization, in 2030<\/strong> the international flow<\/strong> of tourists<\/a> will even exceed<\/strong> 2 billion. And even today<\/strong>, these flows are not<\/strong> equally distributed<\/strong>, as Overtourism<\/strong> affects only some specific places<\/strong> at specific times<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"overtourism
Photo by Tinuzeller via Flickr<\/div><\/div>\n

Millions<\/strong> of tourists overcrowd beaches<\/strong>, art cities<\/strong>, historical and cultural sites<\/strong>, and natural parks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This kind<\/strong> of tourists is almost always day-trippers<\/strong>. They do not<\/strong> usually stay overnight<\/strong>, as they only stroll<\/strong> around for some hours<\/strong>, according to a \u2018being there<\/strong>, done that<\/strong>‘ attitude for which they want to do<\/strong> and see<\/strong> as much<\/strong> as possible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

And it is this very quantity<\/strong> over quality<\/strong> approach that is damaging<\/strong> forever the most beautiful<\/strong> areas in the world<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"overtourism,
Photo by StockSnap via Pixabay<\/div><\/div>\n

According to Future100<\/a>, these destinations<\/strong> are sadly undergoing a process of \u2018Disneyfication<\/strong>\u2019. They are becoming a sort of playground<\/strong> or a theme park<\/strong>, in which \u2018Disneyland<\/strong>-size crowds\u2019 only take some selfies<\/strong>, and passively<\/strong> stroll around. They do not actively<\/strong> look for meaningful<\/strong> experiences and do not care about respecting<\/strong> other tourists<\/strong>, or the environment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Could tourists<\/strong> actually be too<\/strong> much<\/a> for a destination? Even if large tourist flows<\/strong> may bring large economic revenues<\/strong>, they also bring a strong<\/strong> negative impact<\/strong> on a destination.<\/p>\n

Why Should Everybody Care About Overtourism?<\/h2>\n

According to the World Tourism Organisation, Overtourism<\/strong> is the impact<\/strong> of tourism on a destination, that excessively<\/strong> influences in a negative<\/strong> way the quality<\/strong> of life of locals and the quality<\/strong> itself of the visitor’s experience<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

And it goes without saying that this adversely<\/strong> impacts the environment<\/strong> too.<\/p>\n

In fact, Overtourism<\/strong> translates into irreversible<\/strong>, negative<\/strong>, environmental<\/strong> effects, which may change forever the uniqueness<\/strong> of certain destinations.<\/p>\n

\"overcrowded
Photo via Wikimedia<\/div><\/div>\n

This will result in an inauthentic<\/strong>, shallow<\/strong> and too<\/strong> fast experience, which is harmful<\/strong> not only to locals<\/strong> and to the environment<\/strong>, but also for ourselves<\/strong> as visitors and for any other tourist<\/strong> who has decided to visit the same place at the same time.<\/p>\n

Overtourism in Alpine Region Areas<\/h2>\n

It is also clear that the issue of Overtoursim<\/strong> gets even worse<\/strong> in areas such as natural parks<\/strong> and mountain areas<\/strong>, such as the Alps<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

These areas are even protected<\/strong> ones, as they are housing\u00a0the majority of flora<\/strong> and fauna<\/strong> species in Europe.<\/p>\n

\"alps,<\/p>\n

In fact, these areas usually<\/strong> attract tourists<\/strong> who look for a slow<\/strong>, immersive<\/strong> and sustainable<\/strong> tourist experience.<\/p>\n

As they look for quiet and untouched natural<\/strong> areas, on the contrary<\/strong>, they most often end up finding themselves in a massive<\/strong> crowd of day-trippers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"lake
Photo by Preenasundersingh via Pixbay<\/div><\/div>\n

How<\/strong> can you help to contrast Overtourism<\/strong>? Today you can choose to be a responsible<\/strong> tourist in following the good<\/strong> practices of sustainable<\/strong> tourism<\/a>, as well as in supporting some innovative strategies<\/strong> which had been designed to end<\/strong> tourist overcrowding<\/strong> and provide more deep and meaningful experiences<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Sustainable Tourism and Solutions to Overtourism<\/h2>\n
\"mountains\"
Photo via Canva<\/div><\/div>\n

Luckily today even the supply and demand of sustainable<\/strong> tourism are increasing<\/a>. In fact, also due to the current Covid<\/strong> situation<\/a>, a growing<\/strong> number of tourists is looking for a type of holiday<\/strong> which allows social distancing<\/strong> and keeps the number of other visitors to a minimum<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It is all about holidays<\/strong> where tourists can stay outdoor<\/strong> while breathing fresh mountain air<\/strong> and listen to the soothing<\/strong> sounds of nature.<\/p>\n

This translates into a quest<\/strong> for a more sustainable<\/strong>, authentic<\/strong> and slower<\/strong> tourist experience, especially situated in green<\/strong> mountain areas, such as the Alpine<\/strong> region.<\/p>\n

And especially<\/strong> during last summer<\/strong>, there has been an incredible increase<\/strong> in the tourist demand towards these destinations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

How to Contrast Overtourism? Gated Tourism and Deseasonalisation<\/h2>\n

As solutions to\u00a0Overtourism<\/strong>, many destinations are testing new approaches<\/strong>, in order to create truly<\/strong> sustainable tourism from every<\/strong> point of view. This concerns precisely those areas which are generally<\/strong> subject to overcrowding<\/strong>, or which could shortly<\/strong> become so.<\/p>\n

\"person
Photo via Canva<\/div><\/div>\n

Two<\/strong> interesting strategies are Gated<\/strong> tourism<\/strong> and Deseasonalisation<\/strong>. These 2 strategies<\/strong> have already been adopted in such areas as Komodo National Park<\/a> in Indonesia<\/strong>, and the sacred Uluru Mountain<\/a> in Australia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It would be interesting to take into account these approaches in the Alpine<\/strong> Region too. They would allow to both protect<\/strong> the environment<\/strong> and inhabitants<\/strong>, while also allowing social distancing<\/strong> and a more authentic<\/strong> experience.<\/p>\n

1. Gated Tourism<\/h3>\n
\"gated
Photo by Josh Applegate via Unsplash<\/div><\/div>\n

One of the best solutions to overtourism, experimented by some natural areas, is\u00a0Gated Tourism<\/strong>. It’s a system that provides new regulations<\/strong> either limiting<\/strong> entries in a certain place<\/strong> or over a certain period<\/strong> of time.<\/p>\n

This could happen:<\/p>\n