#overtourism

#overtourism

Last summer, Spain's Balearic Islands launched one of Europe's toughest crackdowns on alcohol-fuelled party tourism. In popular resorts such as Magaluf in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza, tourists spilled out of bars at dawn, clutched cheap bottles from late-night shops, and treated entire neighbourhoods as giant open-air nightclubs. Local people were fed up. Noise complaints, violent brawls and clashes between residents and intoxicated tourists became routine.

When Olivier Baroin moved into an apartment in Montmartre about 15 years ago, it felt like he was living in a village in the heart of Paris. Not anymore.Stores for residents are disappearing, along with the friendly atmosphere, he says. In their place are hordes of people taking selfies, shops selling tourist trinkets, and cafés whose seating spills into the narrow, cobbled streets as overtourism takes its toll.

Overtourism has become an increasing concern for popular vacation destinations in the post-pandemic years, as an overwhelming influx of visitors to Instagrammable hot spots puts pressure on local infrastructure and communities.

The judge in Madrid ordered the closure of 10 tourist flats, citing illicit activities that inflicted psychological damage on a neighboring family and violated their privacy rights.

Spain has become a victim of its own success, with the golden visa program ending and locals concerned about housing affordability due to an influx of expats.

“We end up getting a lot of the blame, especially in city centres but the reality is overtourism is really driven by hotels,” said Theo Yedinsky, Airbnb's VP.

"Girona is not just a culinary hub; it's where the region's agricultural bounty – from apple orchards to coastal fish markets – thrives in a beautiful landscape."

Travelers to Europe, mark your calendars. On June 15, activists across southern Europe will protest against tourism, highlighting its negative impacts such as overtourism.