The summer travel season is ended.
But is overtourism over?
I think the first thing we have to all ask
ourselves is whether or not this summer was a legitimate protest, or just a fad run
amok? Sorry, but as a journalist we are ingrained with a healthy amount of
skepticism.
During the spring and the summer across
Europe, notably
Barcelona, there was a backlash against tourism. Laws were passed and
restrictions were enacted all in the name of trying to limit the number of
visitors.
But did it serve its purpose? It certainly
drew attention to the concerns of residents, who are frustrated by the rising
costs, especially in housing.
However, do the protesters realize the
ramifications of such actions? Do they realize that in many of their cities,
that tourism fuels the economy? Do they realize that this can affect even the
mom-and-pop souvenir store? More importantly, do local lawmakers and
politicians realize that? Or are they just trying to make a name for
themselves?
It's an interesting dichotomy and it made
for an interesting summer.
But will it continue through the famous
European holiday market season, or just die a slow death? Is there a happy
medium in all of this?
Perhaps tourism can be controlled, but it
can’t be stopped. And despite what many believe, it is not the cause of rising
rents no matter what people think and no matter what tourists are willing to
shell out to stay in Barcelona or Florence or Prague. Such is the financial
aspect of supply and demand.
Summer is a popular time for tourism. But
so are the winter holidays and somebody’s birthday. Tourism knows no boundaries
or limitations.
Let’s face it, there’s only one Big Ben.
There’s only one Acropolis. There’s only one Las Ramblas. It satisfies our
sense of wonder. It’s why we travel. Opponents of mass tourism are going to
have to accept that. It’s like living in Florida; the price of living in
paradise is the yearly fear of hurricanes.
Whether mass tourism continues to be a ‘thing’ beyond the summer time remains to be seen.
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