Let’s face it: Tourism, when managed properly, is undeniably beneficial. It’s been woven into the fabric of human history, from medieval pilgrims to today’s all-inclusive getaways. As a result, conventional wisdom tells us locals should love tourists because of all the jobs and revenue they generate for popular destinations.
And that’s often the case. But what happens when an area becomes too popular for its own good?
Cailian Savage, in her Medium.com article Overtourism Is Bringing Europe To The Point Of Revolution sheds some light on the pitfalls of living in popular tourist destinations.
It’s truly concerning to see how excessive tourism is taking its toll on so many beloved European destinations. The skyrocketing prices are making it hard for locals and visitors alike, and the constant congestion is just overwhelming. It’s heartbreaking to think that people can’t even find a place to stay anymore. And what about the essential services? They’re stretched so thin, it’s frightening.
The way these places are turning into theme park versions of themselves is just… unsettling. And the rise in crime? That’s absolutely terrifying. What’s even more alarming is how difficult it seems to be to replace this with a sustainable, real economy. I can’t help but fear for the future of these once-charming destinations and the people who call them home.
These aren’t just minor inconveniences – They’re becoming serious issues in places like Spain.
How bad is it?
“F*ck you, tourists”
“Tourists go home!”.
“We’ll never be able to afford houses because of you, tourist scum.”
According to Savage, that’s what some tourists hear when visiting Barcelona these days.
“Some tourists have been shocked that tens of thousands have taken to the streets to un-welcome them, but the mass protests in Spain over the past year (in the Canary Islands, Barcelona, Málaga, Majorca and Menorca) were utterly predictable to anyone paying attention over the past few years,” Savage wrote.
Let’s be real here – The line between tourist accommodations and local living spaces has pretty much vanished. Back in the day, you’d have tourists crashing in hotels and B&Bs, while locals had their own pads. But now? With Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo popping up left and right, and even hotels jumping on the apartment bandwagon, that distinction’s gone out the window. It’s a free-for-all out there, and you can’t tell who’s who anymore. The whole scene’s been turned on its head, and there’s no going back.
“A local grocery shop selling milk for €1.14/liter simply can’t compete with a souvenir shop selling an “I 🧡 Florence” T-shirt (Made in Bangladesh) for €20, so the tourists get their T-shirts, and the locals get a 25-minute walk to buy milk,” stated Savage.
And because tourists will pay top dollar while on vacation, the cost of goods and services in those popular destinations surge, making it unaffordable for the residents. For instance, a couple on vacation would gladly pay $250/night for a one-week stay at a decent hotel. Overall, it’s just $1,750 for lodging. Now, at the same price, imagine how much a local’s rent would be for that space.
$7,500 per month. Ouch!
And sure, tourists might shell out $35 apiece for lunch without batting an eye because they’ve set aside cash for overpriced vacation meals.
To most tourists, what’s $175 for a week’s worth of lunch? They’re having fun on vacation. Now, think about the poor locals. They’re not on vacation. They’re just trying to grab lunch during their workday. If they eat at similar spots in the same area, they’re looking at dropping over $700/month just on lunch. That’s a lot of cash for the average Joe just trying to get through the workweek.
Those things stated, can you blame businesses for wanting to earn as much revenue as possible?
And the locals would be jobless without their area’s booming tourism industry, right?
Not quite.
Savage explains while tourism plays a significant role in the economies of many European cities, places like Florence and Amsterdam had thriving local economies before the rise of budget airlines like Ryanair and accommodation platforms such as Airbnb,
Currently, approximately 6% of the European Union’s workforce is employed in the tourism sector, with this figure increasing to 10-12% in popular tourist destinations like Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Prague. However, the influx of tourists has also brought challenges such as increased pickpocketing, higher prices for goods and services, and overcrowded public transportation systems.
Savage contends that some residents and policymakers in popular European destinations are now weighing the economic benefits of tourism against these quality-of-life issues. They argue that the potential loss of tourism-related jobs might be an acceptable trade-off for a more livable city environment.
I think one of two things will happen. 1) Certain popular destinations will become strictly touristy, ala the Las Vegas Strip and Disney World or 2) They will eventually lose their luster because they are too touristy, thereby turning off potential guests who want to experience the authentic flavor of their place of destination.
If you’re a resident of a popular destination, has your area experienced the issues explained in Savage’s article? And as a recent guest in a popular destination, have you been shunned by angry locals?
