Overtourism - when boom turns to bane
The Cambridge dictionary describes bane “a cause of continuous trouble or unhappiness”. In lighter vein, we sometimes use it for those that aren’t bad, it just feels like it. That ‘feel bad’ illusion though is not the case for some tourist destinations that attract hordes of tourists. It’s very real; relentlessly increasing traffic has not only stretched resources but also led to anger and frustration among local residents.
The idiom “too much of a good thing” means that even something that is generally considered to be beneficial can be harmful or undesirable in excess. How true!
With the relaxation of pandemic restrictions, Bali experienced a rapid tourism recovery. According to Indonesia’s statistics bureau, 2.9 million foreign visitors arrived at Bali airport in the first half of 2024. Around 200,000 foreigners reside in Bali, and the increasing number of tourists, along with a rise in digital nomads, is contributing to unemployment and crime rates.
Anticipating imminent overtourism in Southern Bali, the Indonesian government has imposed a freeze on new hotel constructions in specific areas of the island. The ban, which covers new hotels, villas, and nightclubs, is part of a broader effort to halt overdevelopment, alleviate pressure on local services and manage the impact of tourism on Bali’s environment and infrastructure. The restriction could remain in place for up to a decade, though the exact duration is yet to be confirmed. Plans for a rail link between the airport and popular tourist areas are also in motion, aiming to ease congestion on Bali’s roads. Authorities have also responded by introducing a tourist tax of 150,000 rupiah (€8.15) to preserve the island’s culture.
Elsewhere
Juneau, Alaska a city of 32,000 people, received a record 1.65 million visitors last year. On some days, 20,000 cruise passengers arrive at the city. Battling ship pollution and excessive visitor traffic, Juneau residents who feel they have been pushed out of their city by overtourism, recently voted on whether to ban cruise ships on Saturdays. The proposal, dubbed “Ship-Free Saturdays,” was rejected, with 6,575 voting against the ban and 4,196 in favor. The rejection nevertheless highlights a growing tension between the environmental concerns and the economic lifeline that cruise ships represent. Striking a balance for now, the city and the cruise industry capped the number of large cruise ships docking each day during 2024, at five. Starting next year, the number of daily passengers will be capped at 16,000 from Sunday to Friday and 12,000 on Saturdays.
In 2023, the City of Amsterdam received 9.4 million visitors who spent 22.1 million nights in it. Just as the tourists are returning in large numbers, so are the problems, with overcrowding in the city centre. Faced with the fallout from overtourism, the Dutch tourism board has moved away from ‘destination promotion’ to ‘destination management’, pledging its intention to make sure every Dutch person benefits from tourism. Many Amsterdam residents consider the number of tourists - to be unsustainable, and the situation is stretching Amsterdam’s hospitality to its limits. With increasing tourist footfall and new shops and restaurants catering predominantly to visitors, the streets feel less lived in and even the tourists have started complaining that they only see other tourists. Overtourism is displacing local people – especially young families who are struggling to find affordable housing in the city - as more apartments are rented out full time to tourists. Fewer facilities from dwindling shops to medical practices make living in the city impractical.
We are all aware of what’s happening in Spain, where anti-tourism movements are multiplying in the world's second most visited country, prompting authorities to try and reconcile the interests of locals and the lucrative sector.
Venice in Italy, sadly, is another prime example. Some 20 million visitors flood in each year, where on a busy day, around 120,000 people visit this city – home to just 55,000 permanent residents. According to some demographers, by 2030, there could be no more fulltime residents in Venice. The Chairman of the ‘Venice in Peril’ movement reckons that if the population falls below 40,000, Venice will not be a viable living city any longer.
Ella – a victim of unsustainable tourism and overexploitation
Ella is a small town in the Badulla District of the Uva region - the second largest province in Sri Lanka and located on the south eastern part of the country, at an elevation of 1,041 metres above sea level. It is a tourist destination famous for its natural landmarks, forests, waterfalls, mountains and numerous points of interest including the historic Nine Arches Bridge. Currently, there are over 600 hotels and guest houses squeezed within an approximate 5.6 square kilometres. Haphazard construction has contributed to the depletion of the once pristine green hills and valleys with the streams been polluted by the massive construction taking place on vulnerable and unstable ground.
Verily, a disaster in the making as Ella may soon be pushed into the overtourism territory – unless the government acts now to prevent the situation before it becomes unmanageable. As it is, there is very little room to maneuver a sustainable recovery towards ensuring that Ella remains a desirable destination and before its natural and cultural resources are overwhelmed.
Shafeek Wahab - Editor, Hospitality Sri Lanka, Consultant, Customer Service Trainer and Ex-Hotelier
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