We are all other people's tourists, and yet the feeling of tourismophobia seems to be growing over time. This is because tourist flows are often poorly controlled, leading to surreal scenes of hundreds of visitors crammed into a single destination. This is particularly the case in France, where 80% of tourist activity is concentrated in 20% of the country. It's a phenomenon that attracts a lot of attention during the summer months every year, when major holidays are ideal for concentrated crowds. While initiatives to tackle the problem of overtourism are multiplying, more and more players are denouncing a "tourism bashing" that is damaging the image of their business.
Overheated tourist destinations
Many destinations are victims of their own success and find themselves swamped by thousands of tourists every year. Overtourism, although not a recent phenomenon, seems to have taken on much greater proportions in recent decades due to the ever-increasing number of travellers. And this phenomenon is not without consequences for the areas it affects, with rising prices, a shortage of accommodation and the 'folklorisation' of sites, with locals the first to suffer. What's more, overtourism harms the environment by "damaging local sites and environments", according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).
Another victim, often forgotten, is the tourist industry itself, whose image is tarnished by accusatory headlines in the press. While the increase in the number of tourists partly explains the rise of this phenomenon, the emergence of the internet is not innocent either. Social networks and influencers are often held responsible for overtourism and the obsession with photo shoots in specific locations. In their relentless search for 'hidden gems', they can be responsible for an influx of tourists to unprepared locations that lack the infrastructure to cater for such large numbers of visitors.
However, even destinations that are well-suited to welcoming hordes of tourists are suffering the ravages of overtourism. In Europe alone, many cities have recorded a large number of visitors in relation to the number of inhabitants, according to an infographic produced by Statista based on data from Holidu. Based on 2019 figures, the ranking puts the Croatian city of Dubrovnik in pole position, with 36 tourists per inhabitant, followed by Venice with 21 visitors per inhabitant, ex-aequo with Bruges and Rhodes.
Greece also has two cities in this ranking, with Heraklion in 7th place, while Paris is only in 12th place, with 9 tourists per inhabitant. The City of Light...
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