Ask Skift: How Are Destinations Combatting Overtourism?

Skift Take

Overtourism has become a pressing issue, and several destinations have unveiled strategies they believe will better help them manage visitor numbers.

Rashaad Jorden

Dozens of destinations worldwide have struggled to manage a surge in visitor numbers in recent years and a growing number of communities are expressing frustration with mass tourism.

So how are destinations combatting overtourism?

We posed the question to our recently upgraded answer engine Ask Skift 2.0. The AI chatbot used information appearing in our past news coverage, and we also did further reporting.

What Ask Skift said:

Overtourism has become a significant challenge for many popular destinations worldwide, leading to efforts to mitigate its impacts on local communities, environments, and infrastructure. Here are some of the measures being implemented to combat overtourism: 

Reservation Systems and Tourist Fees

Regulation of Short-Term Rentals

Infrastructure and Behavior Management

Public Awareness and Local Engagement

These measures are part of a broader effort by cities to ensure that tourism growth is balanced with the need to maintain the quality of life for residents and preserve the cultural and environmental heritage of the destinations. 

What Else You Need to Know

Spain: The Cíes Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Galicia, has had a daily cap on visitor numbers since 2017. The islands see at most 1,800 visitors each day from May 15 to September 15, after which the cap drops to 450 daily. Each visitor needs to obtain a QR code from the website of Galicia’s government and then pay $28 (25 euros) for the ferry ride to the Cíes Islands and back.

“There were just too many people before,” said José Antonio Fernández Bouzas, the director of Galicia’s Atlantic Islands national park. “But now people understand the need for the cap and they respect and appreciate it. We need the access controls to protect the area, but they also mean that people can enjoy their visits.”

Officials in Barcelona announced this June that the city would ban all short-term rentals by 2029, as well as cease renewing existing short-term rental licenses. In addition, Barcelona’s tourism board said in July it would replace its 15-year-old slogan “Visit Barcelona” with “This Is Barcelona” as part of its strategy to shift away from mass tourism and target tourists genuinely interested in the city’s history and culture.

Japan: The Yamanashi Prefecture government started charging a roughly $12 fee (2,000 yen) in July to climb Mount Fuji on its popular trail. Revenue would go towards trail management, maintenance and safety measures, among other services.

Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam wrote the fee may not deter ovetourism on that route to Mount Fuji as much as a daily cap of 4,000 hikers a day that Japanese authorities implemented, which aimed to reduce tourism on peak days. Indeed, the number of climbers at Mount Fuji between early July and early September dropped 14%, according to the country’s Ministry of the Environment.

And Kyoto officials announced that starting in April, tourists would be barred from entering some parts of the city’s geisha district of Gion. A council of Gion residents had called on the city’s government to take action against what they viewed as unruly tourists.

“We don’t want to do this, but we’re desperate,” said council member Isokazu Ota, adding the city would install signs to warn visitors to stay off private roads.

Indonesia: An Indonesian official announced in September that the government has agreed to set a moratorium on the construction of hotels, villas and nightclubs on Bali. Senior minister Luhut Pandjaitan said the moratorium could stretch up to 10 years.

Indonesian Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno expressed concerns in August that South Bali in particular was running the risk of suffering from overtourism.

“A 10% increase could push us into that territory. We must avoid a situation like Barcelona, where tourists became public enemies,” Uno said.

India: Skift reported in May the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh could introduce a tourist registration system for its reglious sites as part of its strategy to tackle overtourism at the state’s most famous tourist desinations. India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan wrote Madhya Pradesh’s proposed registration system is in line with Uttarakhand’s mandatory registration for pilgrimages to several temples.