Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Destination trouble: Can overtourism be
stopped in its tracks?
With rising middle class, increasing budget
airlines and massive cruise liners, and influencing travel websites and social
media, tourism has been flourishing for the last few years. In 2018, there were
1.4bn international tourist arrivals, according to the World Tourism
Organization (UNTWO), a rise of 6% over the previous year. Some of the popular
travel destinations are visited by more tourists than the local residents
daily. Although tourists bring and spend money that creates jobs and boosts the economy,
too many visitors could cause trouble to local communities. Indeed, overtourism
is becoming a major problem to popular tourist destinations, and they are trying
to find a way to balance tourist demand with the peace and life of the local
community. Some cities like Venice, Italy have started levying entrance fees to
day trippers who tend not to spend so much money. Such tourist tax varies by
season to reduce peak-season visitors and boost slower-season visitors. Others
like Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Reykjavik, Iceland are promoting other cities
in their countries to divert tourists. To maintain order, Rome, Italy now bans
bars to serve alcohol between 2 am and 7 am and fines people who drink in the
street after 10 pm.
Overtourism seems to be another case of imbalance
between the economy and the environment.
Enjoy reading and learn what this newly
created word “overtourism” means.
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