Founder's Note | Alternatives for Over-Tourism Without Resorting To A Complete Ban

Getty Images

In the last month alone, we've heard about Kyoto banning tourists from Gion, Amsterdam banning new hotels, and Milan even banning pizza and ice creams. While part of it is fake news, the need to curb mass, over-tourism is real. It goes without saying, that tourism brings huge amounts of revenue to a local community, but it also brings with it its own set of problems. While in Japan we see it clashing with their decades-old culture, in Amsterdam it’s pricing locals out of the city, and in Venice causing the city itself to sink under the weight of cruise ships. 

But besides heavy-handed bans, which benefit nobody really, what are the solutions? Simple out-of-the-box thinking can lead policymakers to prevent over-tourism while benefiting local communities. Here are some alternatives policymakers must consider before resorting to a total shutdown:

1.⁠ ⁠Develop Smaller Destinations

Part of creating a viable tourism economy is ensuring the benefits get spread across regions. Creating tourist infrastructure such as attractions, luxury hotels and transit hubs is the first step to doing this. If even 10% of the tourists who visit Amsterdam felt compelled to visit Den Haag or Rotterdam instead, it would solve a lot of problems for Amsterdam. This approach not only eases the burden on heavily visited areas but also opens up new opportunities for local economies and cultural experiences.

2.⁠ ⁠Encourage Lower Volume Higher Value Travel

Venice’s day-tripper tax is the perfect example that encourages high-value travel and is expected to keep non-overnight visitors at bay. Massive cruise ships disgorge thousands of tourists daily, straining the city's fragile infrastructure while contributing little to the local economy. This unsustainable form of mass tourism exacerbates Venice's literal sinking. A focus on lower volume, higher value travel is a sustainable way to preserve cultural and environmental treasures like Venice.

3.⁠ ⁠Draw The Right Kind of Tourist

This approach goes beyond regulations and taxes; it encompasses education, cultural awareness, and community engagement. By promoting understanding and respect for local customs, traditions, and environment, destinations can foster meaningful interactions between tourists and locals. Japan has time and again faced challenges with tourists not understanding and adhering to their cultural norms and showing disregard for local customs. Efforts to educate tourists about Japanese etiquette and traditions can lead to more respectful and mutually beneficial interactions.