The Pros and Cons of Overtourism: A Global Perspective

As the world celebrates United Nations Tourism Week on the theme of peace, the growing issue of overtourism in global destinations demands urgent attention. Overtourism has emerged as a critical challenge for iconic locations like Mount Fuji, Venice, and New York City. While tourism undoubtedly brings significant economic benefits, the pressures associated with large numbers of visitors often threaten the very environments, cultures, and communities that attract tourists in the first place. UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlights the importance of sustainable tourism, emphasizing how responsible travel can foster peace, economic inclusion, and cultural understanding.

Mount Fuji, a sacred symbol of Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage site, draws millions of climbers annually. However, the mountain faces the growing threat of overtourism. In 2023, peak season saw an overwhelming number of visitors, leading to overcrowded trails, littering, environmental degradation, and increased medical emergencies among unprepared climbers. To combat these issues, local authorities are considering measures like admission fees and visitor caps to preserve the beauty and sanctity of the mountain.

Despite these challenges, Mount Fuji’s tourism industry remains a vital economic lifeline for surrounding communities. Small businesses, including guesthouses, restaurants, and shops, thrive on the influx of visitors. Tourism also generates jobs in hospitality, transportation, and retail, especially in remote areas that lack other economic opportunities.

Venice, with its world-renowned canals and architectural wonders, has long struggled with mass tourism. In 2023, the city welcomed over 12 million tourists—an astonishing number compared to its resident population of just 50,000. The economic rewards are substantial, with tourism contributing billions in revenue and creating thousands of jobs in hospitality and services. For Venice, tourism sustains the maintenance of its priceless cultural heritage and historical landmarks.

Yet, overtourism has strained Venice’s infrastructure, resulting in overcrowded streets, damage to historical sites, and environmental degradation. In response, the city has implemented a tourist tax and is considering further measures to manage visitor numbers. Guterres underscores the need for sustainable tourism practices to protect cultural heritage while ensuring that future generations can experience these treasures without compromising their integrity.

New York City remains a top global destination, attracting 61.8 million visitors in 2023. The tourism industry generated a staggering $74 billion in economic impact and supported over 380,000 jobs. The benefits of tourism for New York are clear, fueling the local economy and funding essential public services while providing income to small businesses, hotels, restaurants, and tour operators.

However, overtourism has placed considerable strain on the city’s infrastructure, from congested public transportation to rising living costs for local residents. Crowded landmarks and public spaces have become routine, prompting concerns from New Yorkers about quality of life. Despite these drawbacks, tourism fosters cultural exchange and funds community development projects through visitor spending, making it a valuable yet complex force for the city’s economy.

Tourism, when managed responsibly, can offer numerous benefits to local communities:

*Economic Growth and Job Creation: Tourism directly creates jobs in hospitality, transportation, and entertainment sectors. It also indirectly supports local suppliers, artisans, and small businesses catering to tourists.

*Cultural Preservation: Revenue from tourism can be reinvested in preserving cultural heritage sites, museums, and historical landmarks, ensuring their maintenance for future generations.

*Infrastructure Development: Tourism can drive improvements in public infrastructure—roads, airports, and public transport—that benefit both locals and visitors.

*Community Empowerment: Tourism can empower local communities by allowing them to share their culture, traditions, and crafts, fostering economic independence and reducing poverty.

*Cross-Cultural Understanding: Tourism fosters cultural exchange, breaking down prejudices and building stronger relationships between different communities through mutual respect and understanding.

Beyond Mount Fuji, Venice, and New York, destinations such as Barcelona, Bali, and the Galápagos Islands also grapple with the consequences of overtourism. António Guterres’ World Tourism Day message serves as a reminder of tourism’s potential as a powerful tool for peace. Tourism can encourage cooperation and mutual respect between nations if managed responsibly.

In response to the growing crisis of overtourism, many destinations are implementing policies to control visitor numbers, encourage off-season travel, and promote eco-friendly practices. Such strategies aim to balance the benefits of tourism with the need to preserve local cultures, environments, and infrastructure. Guterres’ emphasis on responsible travel highlights how tourism, when properly managed, can bridge cultures, promote mutual respect, and contribute to global peace and prosperity.

Overtourism is not only a challenge for global landmarks; it also affects cultural tourism in regions like Kenya. The Maasai villages located on the fringes of the Maasai Mara, for example, have become popular attractions where traditional dances, ceremonies, and cultural practices are performed for tourists rather than during their authentic seasons or periods. This commodification of culture often dilutes the integrity of these traditions, reducing them to mere spectacles for profit rather than the sacred or significant cultural expressions they once were.

This re-enactment of cultural practices reflects a broader concern: tourism’s ability to erode the very cultural authenticity it seeks to promote. The delicate balance between preserving cultural heritage and catering to tourist demands requires thoughtful, sustainable approaches to ensure that local communities can maintain ownership and authenticity over their traditions.

As tourism continues to serve as a key driver of the global economy, balancing its economic benefits with sustainable practices is more urgent than ever. Iconic destinations like Mount Fuji, Venice, and New York City have taken steps to protect their natural and cultural assets, but more needs to be done. By promoting responsible tourism, including managing visitor numbers, encouraging off-peak travel, and respecting local cultures, we can ensure that future generations can enjoy these sites without compromising their integrity.

As António Guterres noted, responsible tourism has the potential to build bridges between cultures, foster mutual respect, and contribute to peace and prosperity across the globe. By adopting sustainable travel practices, both tourists and destinations can play their part in preserving our world’s most cherished sites while promoting cross-cultural understanding.