Barcelona, Venice and Amsterdam are among Europe’s favourite travel destinations and benefit greatly from tourism. However, the massive influx of visitors places a considerable burden on the cities and their inhabitants.

To counteract the negative effects of overtourism, these cities are taking decisive action. Following public protests, no new hotels may be built in Venice and cruise ships will have to use other moorings in future. Amsterdam has banned guided tours of its famous red light district in order to protect local residents. Paris is planning to ban coaches from the city centre in order to improve the quality of life. Other overcrowded cities are also trying to control the situation through various methods.

Do you think that overtourism is a serious problem in Europe?

Sources: National Statistics Offices, Statista, Le Monde, Forbes

6 points
*

I wonder how the numbers for US cities compare.

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38 points

It’s a problem at least in Barcelona and in their near cities. Youth people and most of the working class can’t pay the price to get a home there. A lot of housing has moved as a tourist service (airbnb… ) missing their social use.

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8 points

Barcelona is fixing that. They have banned all Airbnbs as of 2028. So if anything there will be a glut of housing available.

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12 points

Would we even be able to see the dot for Vatican City compared to the visitors?

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9 points

I can’t see the dot of Hallstadt 🇦🇹

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4 points

And just try to get an airbnb in the Vatican, it’s like they don’t want you to visit.

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57 points

I live in one of the cities depicted here, and I’d say tourism isn’t such a big problem here. Airbnb and the holiday apartment “industry” are a big issue though, since they inflate the housing bubble.

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10 points

It probably depends a lot in with of the cities you live. Berlin has a much more favourable ratio than Barcelona.

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8 points

I lived in the heart of Bruges for a few years, didn’t really mind the tourism. Had great conversations with some, and overall everyone was really friendly. I always noticed people looking like they were in Disneyworld (it’s a fairlytale fucking city isn’t it?), you can spot a tourist from a mile away.

Worst manners I’ve seen is walking into a local store to take pictures and walking out without buying anything. And not to add to stereotypes but the American accent is so loud, could hear them 2 blocks away in my apartment lmao

When you visit Bruges, go out at dusk or after midnight. Tourists disappear into their hotels like ants when the sun goes down, stunning views and almost no-one around.

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12 points

Are those total visitors for 1 year, or total visitors at any one time?

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9 points

Yeah. Are we really supposed to believe that at any given time London is 2/3 tourists? Maybe at The Tower of London…

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7 points

Which makes the whole thing really silly then… My house would have a similar big bubble/little bubble by just hosting a few social events over a year

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3 points

Considering Venice I think you have to assume it’s one year

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