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what is Overtourism?

Tourism that has moved beyond the limits of acceptable change in a destination due to quantity of visitors, resulting in degradation of the environment and infrastructure, diminished travel experience, wear and tear on built heritage, and/or negative impacts on residents

- Center for Responsible Travel (CREST)

NEws & Resources

"20 Adventure Travel Trends to Watch in 2018." Adventure Travel Trade Association highlights the successes and challenges of tourism growth, including the threats to fragile environments and cultures.
July 3, 2018: "Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism ." Responsible Travel's documentary on overtourism focuses on destinations such as Venice, Barcelona, and Gili Trawangan and highlights the conflict between tourists and residents.
June 15, 2018: "Has Dubrovnik solved the problem of overcrowding from cruise ships? " The Telegraph's article focuses on the resounding success which the Mayor of Dubrovnik has had in his decision to stagger cruise arrivals, resulting in visitation being more evenly spaced throughout the week. The article also includes a comprehensive overtourism timeline.
June 6, 2018: "Greece visitor numbers set to break European records this summer." The Independent discusses issues of overcrowding, water and energy consumption, and traffic jams, caused by increasing numbers of visitors to Greece.
May 22, 2018: "Biggest threat to future holidays is THIS worrying problem, say travel experts." Express.co.uk show that as holidays become more affordable, issues of site overcrowding, transport congestion, and a deteriorating quality of life for local residents is becoming more and more evident.
May 22, 2018: "Anger Over Tourists Swarming Vacation Hot Spots Sparks Global Backlash." The Wall Street Journal illustrates how issues of ‘overtouristing’ are straining local infrastructure, contributing to waste, and sparking anti-tourism demonstrations in popular European destinations.
April 24, 2018: "Spain's Palma to ban holiday rentals after residents' complaints." BBC News identifies Majorca as the first place in Spain to ban private rental accommodation due to resident complaints regarding rising rent prices.
April 22, 2018: "IBIZA PROTEST: furious residents hit out at drunken holidaymakers ‘destroying island’." Express.co.uk highlights the effects that drunken tourists have on the local community on the island of Ibiza.
March 7, 2018: "Europe's beauty spots plot escape from the too-many-tourists trap." The Guardian discusses solutions to overtourism, specifically, how businesses can work with local people to achieve a balance between the economy, environment, and residents.
January 24 – February 27, 2018: "Overtourism Monitor." Smart Destination Management's profiles are devoted to overtourism and sustainable destination management. The reports, including Thailand, Machu Picchu, and Rwanda, call for a shift from destination marketing to destination management.
October 31, 2017: "Most Welcoming Cities." In this study, Netherlands-based travel expert network TravelBird examines the world's most welcoming cities, using criteria related to overtourism.
August 1, 2017: " Barcelona and the Trials of 21st Century Overtourism." Skift's short documentary highlighting the impacts of overtourism in the densely populated coastal city of Barcelona.
June, 2016: "Iceland and the Trials of 21st Century Tourism ." Skift conducts a "deep-dive" into the social, cultural, and environmental impacts of dramatic increases in tourism visitation in Iceland.
July 15, 2015: "Jammed: Overcrowding at the world’s most popular tourism sites." Travel Weekly discusses how to balance a surging global traveling population with the finite capacity that tourist hot spots can sustain, and the issues which occur when overcrowding spills into public spaces and cities.
"Resident Sentiment Index." TCI Research provides a UNWTO-awarded measurement index for residents' attitudes and support towards tourism.

the case for responsible travel: trends & statistics 2018

CREST’s 2018 annual meta-analysis will be structured around four themes: the business case, the consumer case, and the destination case for responsible tourism, as well as trends and statistics related to overtourism. The report will highlight the drawbacks and successes of destinations in dealing with overcrowding and environmental degradation, so that these examples can be utilized across the globe.

The report is being prepared in collaboration with 30 leading tourism organizations and institutions: Aalborg University; Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA); Boston University School of Hospitality; California State University, Monterey Bay; Caribbean Tourism Organization; Colorado State University; Destination Stewardship Center; East Carolina University; EcoClub.com; Gender Responsible Tourism; Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC); Global Wellness Institute; Impact Travel Alliance; International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN);Kind Traveler; Michigan State University; National Tour Association (NTA); The Ocean Foundation; Purdue University; Rainforest Alliance; Skäl International; Technological Institute of Cancun; Tourism Cares; The Travel Foundation; Universidad Tecmilenio; Universidad de Occidente; UN Environment Programme; Virginia Tech; Western Sydney University; World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC); and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Read the 2017 edition here.

Overtourism: seeking solutions (in progress)

This volume, co-edited by CREST Executive Director Martha Honey, will pull together relevant case studies on overtourism and the innovative solutions that have been proposed and implemented. The book will be structured to reflect the format of the World Tourism Day forum, including chapters on 1) historic cities; 2) national parks and protected areas; 3) World Heritage Sites; 4) coastal and beach communities; 5) national and regional destinations.

Por el Mar de las Antillas: 50 Anos de Turismo de Cruceros en el Caribe

This CREST study of “lessons learned” from 50 years of large-scale cruise tourism was officially released April 27, 2018, during an event in Havana, Cuba. Ediciones Temas, one of Cuba’s leading publishing houses, released the Spanish edition as an e-book entitled, Por el Mar de las Antillas: 50 años de turismo de cruceros en el Caribe. The study is co-authored by CREST executive director Martha Honey, CREST consultant Jannelle Wilkins, and two Cuban academics, Rafael Betancourt and Jose Luis Perello. Research for the study began in September 2016 and involved more than a dozen researchers in various countries. The study was financed with grants from the Ford and Christopher Reynolds foundations. CREST plans to release an English language version of the cruise study later in 2018. Download in Spanish here.

Climate change and coastal & marine tourism in the carribean: four volumes

In 2017, CREST released two volumes entitled Coastal Tourism, Sustainability, and Climate Change in the Caribbean. Volume I is focused on Hotels and Beaches and Volume II on Supporting Activities, including Golf, Sustainable Food Sourcing, and Airlines & Airports. The volumes contain essays and case studies by 33 different experts that look at how various tourism sectors both contribute to and are impacted by climate change. The twin volumes also highlight innovative tourism businesses that are providing solutions to addressing climate change. Two additional companion volumes, titled Marine Tourism, Climate Change, and Resilience in the Caribbean, round out the series. Volume I is focused on Ocean Health, Fisheries, and Marine Protected Areas and Volume II on Recreation, Yachts, and Cruise Ships. Edited by CREST Academic Affiliate Dr. Kreg Ettenger of the University of Maine, with assistance from CREST's Samantha Hogenson Bray, the books features essays and case studies from thirty different authors.These four volumes grew out of the 2015 Think Tank on Climate Change and Coastal & Marine Tourism, which CREST and the Grupo Puntacana Foundation hosted in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Available for purchase here.

CREST Films

Caribbean Green Travel: Your Choice Makes a Difference

The newest CREST documentary shows that the Caribbean is more than traditional large resort and cruise tourism. Through the power of the good example, this 45-minute film includes portraits of tourism businesses in Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Aruba, and Grenada that are practicing environmental stewardship and generating social and economic benefits for the destinations.

The Goose with the Golden Eggs: Tourism on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast

This educational documentary examines the impacts of large-scale resort and vacation home developments along Costa Rica's Pacific Coast, as well as cruise ship arrivals in the port city of Puntarenas. Through interviews with community members, government and park officials, tourism guides and hoteliers, activists and experts, the film portrays the challenges coastal communities are facing over water, beach access, land ownership, protection of mangroves, and other issues.

Travelers' Philanthropy: Giving Time, Talent, & Treasure

This CREST produced film examines for the first time "Travelers' Philanthropy" – the growing global movement by responsible tourism companies and travelers to support social service, environmental, micro enterprise, and other types of projects in the host communities where tourism takes place.

All films available for purchase through our website.