STANDARDS

Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.6, RH.6-8.8, WHST.6-8.1, WHST.6-8.5, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.6, RI.6-8.8, RI.6-8.10, W.6-8.1, W.6-8.5, SL.6-8.1

NCSS: Culture • People, Places, and Environments • Individuals, Groups, and Institutions • Power, Authority, and Governance • Global Connections

DEBATE

Pick a Fix

What Should Be Done About Overtourism?

January 2024

By Lisa M. Herrington

In Athens, Greece, crowds pack in elbow to elbow to explore the ancient ruins of the Acropolis. In Paris, France, tens of thousands of people line up to glimpse the Mona Lisa, the world’s most famous painting. In Rome, Italy, masses of tourists jostle for selfies near the centuries-old Trevi Fountain.

And that’s just in one day. From 2021 to 2022, the number of visitors to Europe doubled. Nearly 90 million arrived in July 2023 alone, according to the World Tourism Organization. As a result, many treasured sites are suffering from overtourism.

Overtourism happens when too many people flock to a particular place, causing damage. Historical sites are especially at risk. Fragile ruins can wear away when too many people walk on them day after day, for example. Landmarks are also hurt by pollution, trash, and traffic that tourists bring with them.

“A lot of these places were not designed to handle the amount of people that they now see,” says Danielle Willkens, an architectural historian in Atlanta, Georgia. She studies how historical locations around the world are affected by tourists.

Still, while overtourism causes problems, tourism itself is good for cities and towns. Visitors stay in local hotels, eat at local restaurants, and shop at local stores. The money they spend helps local economies.

So what should be done to protect these sites without banning tourists entirely? Here are three approaches officials are taking. Decide which you think is best—and why.

In Athens, Greece, crowds pack in to explore the ancient ruins of the Acropolis. In Paris, France, tens of thousands of people line up to see the Mona Lisa, the world’s most famous painting. In Rome, Italy, masses of tourists push and shove to take selfies near the centuries-old Trevi Fountain.

That is just in one day. From 2021 to 2022, the number of visitors to Europe doubled. Nearly 90 million tourists arrived in July 2023. That is according to the World Tourism Organization. Many treasured sites are now suffering from overtourism.

Overtourism happens when too many people at once go to a particular place, causing damage. Historical sites are especially at risk. Fragile ruins can wear away when too many people walk on them day after day, for example. Landmarks are also hurt by pollution, trash, and traffic that tourists bring with them.

“A lot of these places were not designed to handle the amount of people that they now see,” says Danielle Willkens. She is an architectural historian in Atlanta, Georgia. She studies how historical places around the world are affected by tourists.

Overtourism causes problems. But tourism itself is good for cities and towns. Visitors stay in local hotels. They eat at local restaurants. They shop at local stores. And the money they spend helps local economies.

So what should be done to protect these sites without banning all tourists? Here are three approaches officials are taking. Decide which you think is best—and why.

FIX 1: Limit Visitors

Universal History Archive/Getty Images

In September, the Acropolis began capping visitors at 20,000 a day, with timed slots to even out crowds. Previously, up to 23,000 a day had been coming, with many arriving at the same time—in the morning, hoping to be first in line.

Other attractions are also using timed entries and visitor limits to manage overcrowding. The Louvre Museum in Paris, site of the Mona Lisa, now limits visitors to 30,000 a day. That’s 15,000 fewer than were coming on its busiest days.

Louvre officials say the change gives guests a more enjoyable experience and reduces wait times. But such limits can be frustrating for tourists—especially if they aren’t able to see the attractions they crossed an ocean to visit.

In September, the Acropolis began to limit visitors to 20,000 a day. Timed slots were used to even out crowds. Before, up to 23,000 a day had been coming. Many arrived at the same time—in the morning. They hoped to be first in line.

Other attractions are also using timed entries and visitor limits to manage overcrowding. The Louvre Museum in Paris is the site of the Mona Lisa. It now limits visitors to 30,000 a day. That is 15,000 fewer than were coming on the museum’s busiest days.

Louvre officials say the change gives guests a more enjoyable experience. It also reduces wait times. But such limits can be frustrating for tourists—especially if they are not able to see the attractions they crossed an ocean to visit.

FIX 2: Charge Extra Fees

Some local governments hope that charging additional fees or taxes will result in fewer tourists. Venice, Italy, is betting on that plan. Its beautiful canals draw about 30 million visitors each year. Starting this spring, city officials will charge daytime visitors ages 14 and up a fee to enter Venice on its busiest days.

In Spain, the city of Santiago de Compostela is adding a tourist tax for hotel guests starting next year. The popular destination, known for its ornate cathedral, has seen tourism soar over the past two years.

But some people say the fees go too far. After all, airfare and hotels are already pricey. “If we’re adding another cost, then are we saying only people with a lot of money can experience these places?” Willkens asks.

Some local governments hope that charging extra fees or taxes will result in fewer tourists. Venice, Italy, is betting on that plan. Its beautiful canals draw about 30 million visitors each year. Starting this spring, city officials will charge daytime visitors ages 14 and up a fee to enter Venice on its busiest days.

Santiago de Compostela is a city in Spain. Starting next year, it is adding a tourist tax for hotel guests. The popular destination has seen tourism soar over the past two years. The city is known for its ornate cathedral.

But some people say the fees go too far. Airfare and hotels are already pricey. “If we’re adding another cost, then are we saying only people with a lot of money can experience these places?” Willkens asks.

FIX 3: Educate Tourists

500px/Getty Images

Dubrovnik’s historical buildings and ocean views draw visitors.

Planning to visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris? Why not consider the Chantilly castle outside the city instead? France is using ads to push visitors toward lesser-known sites within its borders instead of to its heavily visited attractions.

One city in Croatia is promoting better behavior among tourists. Dubrovnik recently kicked off a campaign called “Respect the City.” Visitors arriving on planes and cruise ships are shown a video reminding them not to litter or use bikes or electric scooters in the city’s historical center.

Still, some people wonder if these campaigns really make a difference. Others caution that steering visitors to smaller sites could push overtourism to locations that are even less equipped to handle big crowds.

Planning to visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris? Why not consider the Chantilly castle outside the city instead? France is using ads to push visitors toward lesser-known sites in the country instead of attractions that get a lot of visitors.

One city in Croatia is promoting better behavior among tourists. Dubrovnik recently started a campaign called “Respect the City.” Visitors arriving on planes and cruise ships are shown a video. It reminds them not to litter or use bikes or electric scooters in the city’s historical center.

Still, some people wonder if these campaigns really make a difference. Others warn that steering visitors to smaller sites might be risky. It could push overtourism to locations that are even less able to handle big crowds.

YOUR TURN

Pick a Fix

Choose a historical site or landmark in the United States that experiences overtourism. Which of these three fixes do you think would be the best solution to protect it? Why? Write a paragraph explaining your answer.