Just because you want to go to abroad for your holiday, doesn’t mean the locals are happy to have you.
Us Brits may love Spain, for example, not everyone in the sunny European country returns such warm feelings when it comes to visitors (from the UK or otherwise).
So far in July, Barcelona – one of Spain’s most frequented cities, adored for its city and beach life – became something of a no-go zone for holidaymakers, after demonstrators sprayed tourists with water guns.
Chants of ‘go home’ and ‘Barcelona is not for sale’ echoed through the streets during the protest, which saw thousands marching to take a stand against the increased cost of living believed to be caused by high levels of tourism.
Other Spanish spots have followed suit, with Mallorcans blocking popular beaches to highlight the negative impacts of overtourism.
According to IATA, a record-breaking 4.7 billion people will travel across the globe this year – leading to unprecedented numbers of tourists flooding into cities.
While some may see this is as a boon for the economy, it can, in fact, cause huge problems among local communities; pollution, gentrification and a rise in housing prices to name a few.
To avoid getting caught up in the crossfire on your next break, it may be best to exercise caution before booking to go to one of these summer spots where residents are less than welcoming to holidaymakers.
Thousands of people protested on July 21 in Mallorca against the negative effects of overtourism. Demonstrators say that the uncontrolled number of visitors are causing a drop in wages, loss of quality of life, noise and an increase in the price of housing – both to rent and for prospective homeowners.
One of the groups spearheading the movement, ‘Menys Turisme Més Vida’ (Less Tourism, More Life), uses the slogan: ‘Let’s change direction, let’s place limits on tourism.’
During another other protest, Mallorcans ‘occupied’ the Calo des Moro beach and held signs reading ‘foreigners out’ and ‘SOS Residents.’
Amsterdam has long been a popular city break spot, but not always for the right reasons. In 2023, the city launched a campaign aimed at young Brits who typically visit to get drunk.
Addressing disorderly behaviour, the advert read: ‘Coming to Amsterdam for a messy night + getting trashed = €140 fine + criminal record = fewer prospects.
‘So, coming to Amsterdam for a messy night? Stay away.’
Protests have also been held this year.
Hawaii is another victim of overcrowding, with residents having long said that tourists have a negative effect on the local environment and contribute to the cultural appropriation of Native Hawaiians.
Earlier in 2024, senator Brenton Awa also introduced a bill preventing foreigners from buying land on the island state, in an effort to tackle the current housing crisis.
Speaking about how retirees purchasing holiday homes has caused property prices to skyrocket, he said: ‘When they’re coming in with cash and our salaries over here are less than those of the people who are ready to retire, we can’t compete.’
Venice has introduced a new fee for visitors to help lessen the impact of tourism, whereby the Italian city has more beds for tourists than its own residents.
All day-trippers over the age of 14 must pay up, while those staying overnight in accommodation in Venice can evade the cost but will have to register to visit the city via a new booking platform online.
While the mayor of Venice stresses the fee is to allow everyone to enjoy the city, without it being overrun, locals aren’t too happy – saying it likens the city to an amusement park. Many also fail to see the good the fee will do, as tourists will just pay it.
Home to just 700 people, tourism has had a major impact on the small town of Hallstatt, Austria. With up to 10,000 visitors per day, according to the BBC, holidaymakers flock to this idyllic lakeside village for the picturesque mountain views.
However, the main draw of Hallstatt is its peace and quiet – and overcrowding and noise pollution make both of these selling points redundant.
Locals appear to be taking matters into their own hands, with residents erecting a wall to block a popular photo spot in summer 2023. The town’s mayor is also working to reduce bus services into the village, to alleviate the strain of overtourism.
The main complaint about tourism in these cities is the housing crisis posed as a consequence – and Málaga in Spain is no different.
Yet again, demonstrations are a common theme in this Spanish city, with protesters chanting: ‘Málaga is for living, not surviving’.
According to Curro Machuca, a member of the Málaga tenants’ union, locals who work in the tourism industry cannot afford rent in their own city.
Speaking to The Guardian, he added that it is the union’s belief that ‘basing the economy of Málaga on the monoculture of tourism is unsustainable and has to change.’
Mexico has become a hotspot for tourists, particularly Oaxaca – thanks to its recognition as a gastronomic capital.
Since the pandemic, the city has seen a 77% rise in tourism and residents actually demonstrated against visitors in January. Not only is there a case of gentrification changing the landscape, but the cost of living has also risen as a result..
Andre Be.Arruti, an activist, told Bloomberg: ‘We aren’t against travel, but we are against tourism as a capitalist economic system that is based on a colonial model of extractivism of peoples’ resources, knowledge, ways of living and culture, where they are not the people that are befitting from this model.’
A little further afield, Machu Picchu remains a bucket list destination for many.
However, the 15th century Incan citadel is facing a dilemma when it comes to overcrowding. Unfortunately, despite it being protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, tourists visit in such vast numbers that they have managed to damage the historic city.
UNESCO has asked the Peruvian government to implement stricter rules to save what is left of the historic spot, according to the ICHRIE, but given the mass revenue stream Machu Picchu provides the Peruvian government, officials have looked to balance restrictions with maintaining footfall.
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2024-07-23T16:14:20Z dg43tfdfdgfd