My family and I just spent two weeks of vacation in Spain—Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastian, Toledo, and Segovia. I had read about recent overtourism protests in Spain—with some squirt gun-wielding residents targeting tourists. We did not witness that but did come across some “tourists go home” graffiti in numerous locations.
Overtourism has become a major problem in places like Barcelona where overcrowding, rising rents and displacement of residents have alarmed locals. Under pressure from citizens, Barcelona authorities announced a complete ban on short-term tourist rentals starting in 2028. This measure will cancel 10,000 tourist apartment licenses. It is one of the most aggressive anti-tourism policies in Europe.
Too much tourism puts enormous stress on local land use, and can lead to soil erosion, increased pollution, natural habitat loss, more pressure on endangered species, and the degradation of local infrastructure.
Unchecked Tourism Can Be Overwhelming
According to Sustainable Travel International (STI), when tourism development is poorly managed, unchecked growth can overwhelm destinations, and detrimentally impact the environment, local communities, and visitor experience.
How many visitors are too many? STI says each place has a different threshold. A destination’s capacity to handle visitors is influenced by factors like infrastructure, natural resource availability, environmental resilience, physical space, and community perceptions. “The tipping point occurs when the negative impacts of tourism outweigh its benefits, signaling the need for better management strategies,” STI says.
“Strategic planning and proactive management are necessary to prevent overtourism,” STI adds. “A sustainable destination balances economic growth with resource management, conservation, visitor enjoyment, and resident satisfaction.”
More Demand Than Supply
As visitor numbers increase, demand for water, waste management, and energy can outstrip available resources.
In cruise ship destinations especially, thousands of tourists can descend on a location in a short period of time.
Tourism growth, unchecked, is irresponsible. “The absence of proper planning and regulations can lead to destinations welcoming more visitors than they can adequately support,” STI says. This results in overloaded waste management systems, gridlocked roads, and locals not reaping the economic benefits of tourism. “To combat overtourism, destinations must implement comprehensive tourism management plans that balance economic benefits with environmental sustainability, visitor experience, and community well-being,” STI emphasizes.
The Importance of Sustainable Investment
Overtourism is on the radar screens of many stakeholders in our industry and has been addressed numerous times on Green Lodging News. In an April 2025 article, PhocusWire said, “Travel providers such as Accor, Booking.com, and Wyndham Resorts and Hotels are aware of their crucial role in tackling overtourism. These companies understand that their choice of destinations to offer can directly contribute to overcrowding in popular spots. As Philip Halanen, Head of Sourcing and Sustainability for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) for Wyndham Resorts and Hotels, puts it, “If they are only focused on high-demand destinations, then they are directly contributing to the problem.”
The fight against overtourism is a collective responsibility that requires the collaboration of travel companies, local governments, and the global travel community. Overtourism must be part of every hotel/resort and destination development conversation.
Where I live in Tampa, Fla., overcrowding is often an issue at nearby beaches and theme parks. When driving to Orlando from Tampa, traffic on I-4 can easily turn a 90-minute ride into one stretching more than three hours. Travelers stuck in traffic jams may think twice before returning to a destination.
There are many answers to overtourism—from limiting short-term rentals to putting in place traffic restrictions to incentivizing off-peak season travel.
What steps has your business or community taken to ensure a much more sustainable travel experience for all? I would love to hear from you at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in our Green Supplier Spotlights!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes the Wednesday Green Supplier Spotlight and Thursday Green Suppliers Spotlight. Green Supplier Spotlight features just one vendor and Green Suppliers Spotlight features multiple vendors. Click here for a Green Supplier Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Both e-blasts that reach 19,500 subscribers have been built to generate quick leads. A report is sent a week after each e-blast that includes the number of e-mails sent, number of opens, and number of click-throughs. Contact Glenn Hasek at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com for more information.
Planning Advertising for 2025?
In addition to the Spotlight ads described above, Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for other advertising spots for 2025. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. The Green Lodging News website just set a traffic record last month with 69,823 different visitors and 299,000 page views. Interested in receiving a 2025 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlights currently stands at 19,500. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,681 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has more than 1,300 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
