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Overtourism: Blessing or Burden?

Year 2021, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 309 - 319, 15.06.2021

Abstract

Overtourism is relatively new concept and/or phenomenon in tourism literature and getting more importance as tourism is growing in especially traditional tourism destinations such as Amsterdam (Netherlands), Paris (France), Antalya (Turkey), Venice (Italy), London (UK) etc. The most obvious outcomes of overtourism are dramatically rising prices, decreases in service quality, longer queues, heavy pressure on carrying capacity, congestion, intensive traffic jam and so forth. Due to these undesired consequences of overtourism, most public authorities are trying to find solutions for their destinations including limiting the number of visitor or even prohibiting the visits for a while. Therefore, in order to find effective solutions, this phenomenon and potential reasons should be better understood by all the parties involved. For this reason, in this study, it has been tried to determine how the concept of overtourism is perceived by different layers of the society. In order to do this, a qualitative research was designed and a semi-structured interview was conducted as the data collection instrument consisting of 13 open-ended questions. The target groups were identified as previously selected from different occupations or professions. Interviews were conducted with a total of 54 people through face to face appointments or filling internet based questionnaires. A content analysis of the statements on the questionnaires was performed and the data were transformed into the codes. The major findings of the research revealed that there is a great consensus about what overtourism is and how important it is specifically in terms of its negative impacts on the society and environment. It is expected that this consensus among the participants will eventually contribute to public authorities to find effective solutions for overtourism.

References

  • Adie, B.A.; Falk, M. & Savioli, M. (2019). Overtourism as a Perceived Threat to Cultural Heritage in Europe, Current Issues in Tourism, 1-5.
  • Buckley, J. (2017, 10 August). Florence Launches Campaign Telling Tourists How to Behave. Retrieved from https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/florence-launches-campaign-telling-tourists-143729773.html (Access date: 19.01.2020).
  • Cheung, K.S. & Li, L.H. (2019). Understanding Visitor–Resident Relations in Overtourism: Developing Resilience for Sustainable Tourism, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(8), 1197-1216.
  • Coldwell, W. (2017). First Venice and Barcelona: Now Anti-Tourism Marches Spread across Europe. The Guardian, August, 10, 7.
  • Croes, R.; Rivera, M.A., Semrad, K. & Khalizadeh, J. (2017). Happiness and Tourism: Evidence from Aruba, Unpublished Manuscript, The Dick Pope Sr. Institute for Tourism Studies. Orlando, Florida.
  • Diaz-Parra, I. & Jover, J. (2020). Overtourism, Place Alienation and the Right to the City: Insights from the Historic Centre of Seville, Spain, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 1-18.
  • Dredge, D. & Gyimóthy, S. (Eds.) (2017). Collaborative Economy and Tourism: Perspectives, Politics, Policies and Prospects, Springer, Berlin.
  • Gonzalez, V.M., Coromina, L. & Galí, N. (2018). Overtourism: Residents’ Perceptions of Tourism Impact as an Indicator of Resident Social Carrying Capacity-Case Study of a Spanish Heritage Town, Tourism Review, 73(3), 277-296.
  • Goodwin, H. (2017, 5 June). The Challenge of Overtourism. Responsible Tourism Partnership, (Working Paper 4). Retrieved from https://haroldgoodwin.info/pubs/RTP'WP4 Overtourism01'2017.pdf. (Access date: 17.01.2020)
  • Harrison, D. (2008). Pro-Poor Tourism: A Critique, Third World Quarterly, 29(5), 851-868.
  • Jacobsen, J.K.S.; Iversen, N.M. & Hem, L.E. (2019). Hotspot Crowding and Over-Tourism: Antecedents of Destination Attractiveness, Annals of Tourism Research, 76, 53-66.
  • Leadbeater, C. (2017 2 August). Anti-Tourism Protesters in Barcelona Slash Tyres on Sightseeing Buses and Rental Bikes, Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/bus-attack-in-barcelona-adds-to-fears-as-tourism-protests-grow/ (Access date: 23.01.2020).
  • Markusen, A. (2007). A Consumption Base Theory of Development: An Application to the Rural Cultural Economy, Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 36(1), 9-23.
  • Milano, C., Cheer, J.M. & Novelli, M. (2018). Overtourism: A Growing Global Problem, The Conversation, 18, 1-5.
  • Milano, C., Novelli, M. and Cheer, J.M. (2019). Overtourism and Degrowth: A Social Movements Perspective, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(12), 1857-1875.
  • Milano, C., Novelli, M. & Cheer, J.M. (2019). Overtourism and Tourismphobia: A Journey through Four Decades of Tourism Development, Planning and Local Concerns, Tourism Planning and Development, 16(4), 353-357.
  • Nepal, R. & Nepal, S.K., (2019). Managing Overtourism through Economic Taxation: Policy Lessons from Five Countries, Tourism Geographies, 1-22.
  • Oklevik, O., Gössling, S., Hall, C.M., Steen Jacobsen, J.K.; Grøtte, I.P. & Mccabe, S., (2019). Overtourism, Optimisation, and Destination Performance Indicators: A Case Study of Activities in Fjord Norway, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(12), 1804-1824.
  • Panayiotopoulos, A. & Pisano, C., (2019). Overtourism Dystopias and Socialist Utopias: Towards an Urban Armature for Dubrovnik, Tourism Planning and Development, 16(4), 393-410.
  • Paris, N., (2017, August 8). Tourists Have Turned Oxford Into ‘Hell’ Local Claim. Retrieved from : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/oxford-tourist-hell-overcrowding-residents-locals-complain/ (Access date: 24.01.2020).
  • Routledge, P. (2001). ‘Selling the Rain’, Resisting the Sale: Resistant Identities and the Conflict over Tourism in Goa, Social and Cultural Geography, 2(2), 221–240.
  • Saarinen, T. and Nikula, T. (2013). Implicit Policy, Invisible Language: Policies and Practices of International Degree Programmes in Finnish Higher Education, in English-Medium Instruction at Universities: Global Challenges, A. Doiz, D. Lasagabaster and J.M. Sierra (Eds.), Multilingual Matters, 131-150, Bristol.
  • Scheyvens, R. (2009). Pro-Poor Tourism: Is There Value Beyond the Rhetoric?, Tourism Recreation Research, 34(2), 191-196.
  • Seraphin, H., Ivanov, S., Dosquet, F. & Bourliataux-Lajoinie, S., (2019). Archetypes of Locals in Destinations Victim of Overtourism, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 1-6.
  • Smith, M. K., Sziva, I. P. & Olt, G. (2019). Overtourism and Resident Resistance in Budapest, Tourism Planning and Development, 16(4): 376-392.
  • Tapper, J. (2017, 29 July). As touting for Punt Trips Becomes a Crime, is Tourism Overwhelming Britain’s Cities, Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/29/cambridge-tourist-boom-ruins-city (Access date: 23.01.2020).
  • UNWTO (2017). UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2016 Edition. Madrid. World Economic Forum (2017). The Global Gender Gap Report, Genebra: World Economic Forum.
Year 2021, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 309 - 319, 15.06.2021

Abstract

References

  • Adie, B.A.; Falk, M. & Savioli, M. (2019). Overtourism as a Perceived Threat to Cultural Heritage in Europe, Current Issues in Tourism, 1-5.
  • Buckley, J. (2017, 10 August). Florence Launches Campaign Telling Tourists How to Behave. Retrieved from https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/florence-launches-campaign-telling-tourists-143729773.html (Access date: 19.01.2020).
  • Cheung, K.S. & Li, L.H. (2019). Understanding Visitor–Resident Relations in Overtourism: Developing Resilience for Sustainable Tourism, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(8), 1197-1216.
  • Coldwell, W. (2017). First Venice and Barcelona: Now Anti-Tourism Marches Spread across Europe. The Guardian, August, 10, 7.
  • Croes, R.; Rivera, M.A., Semrad, K. & Khalizadeh, J. (2017). Happiness and Tourism: Evidence from Aruba, Unpublished Manuscript, The Dick Pope Sr. Institute for Tourism Studies. Orlando, Florida.
  • Diaz-Parra, I. & Jover, J. (2020). Overtourism, Place Alienation and the Right to the City: Insights from the Historic Centre of Seville, Spain, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 1-18.
  • Dredge, D. & Gyimóthy, S. (Eds.) (2017). Collaborative Economy and Tourism: Perspectives, Politics, Policies and Prospects, Springer, Berlin.
  • Gonzalez, V.M., Coromina, L. & Galí, N. (2018). Overtourism: Residents’ Perceptions of Tourism Impact as an Indicator of Resident Social Carrying Capacity-Case Study of a Spanish Heritage Town, Tourism Review, 73(3), 277-296.
  • Goodwin, H. (2017, 5 June). The Challenge of Overtourism. Responsible Tourism Partnership, (Working Paper 4). Retrieved from https://haroldgoodwin.info/pubs/RTP'WP4 Overtourism01'2017.pdf. (Access date: 17.01.2020)
  • Harrison, D. (2008). Pro-Poor Tourism: A Critique, Third World Quarterly, 29(5), 851-868.
  • Jacobsen, J.K.S.; Iversen, N.M. & Hem, L.E. (2019). Hotspot Crowding and Over-Tourism: Antecedents of Destination Attractiveness, Annals of Tourism Research, 76, 53-66.
  • Leadbeater, C. (2017 2 August). Anti-Tourism Protesters in Barcelona Slash Tyres on Sightseeing Buses and Rental Bikes, Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/bus-attack-in-barcelona-adds-to-fears-as-tourism-protests-grow/ (Access date: 23.01.2020).
  • Markusen, A. (2007). A Consumption Base Theory of Development: An Application to the Rural Cultural Economy, Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 36(1), 9-23.
  • Milano, C., Cheer, J.M. & Novelli, M. (2018). Overtourism: A Growing Global Problem, The Conversation, 18, 1-5.
  • Milano, C., Novelli, M. and Cheer, J.M. (2019). Overtourism and Degrowth: A Social Movements Perspective, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(12), 1857-1875.
  • Milano, C., Novelli, M. & Cheer, J.M. (2019). Overtourism and Tourismphobia: A Journey through Four Decades of Tourism Development, Planning and Local Concerns, Tourism Planning and Development, 16(4), 353-357.
  • Nepal, R. & Nepal, S.K., (2019). Managing Overtourism through Economic Taxation: Policy Lessons from Five Countries, Tourism Geographies, 1-22.
  • Oklevik, O., Gössling, S., Hall, C.M., Steen Jacobsen, J.K.; Grøtte, I.P. & Mccabe, S., (2019). Overtourism, Optimisation, and Destination Performance Indicators: A Case Study of Activities in Fjord Norway, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(12), 1804-1824.
  • Panayiotopoulos, A. & Pisano, C., (2019). Overtourism Dystopias and Socialist Utopias: Towards an Urban Armature for Dubrovnik, Tourism Planning and Development, 16(4), 393-410.
  • Paris, N., (2017, August 8). Tourists Have Turned Oxford Into ‘Hell’ Local Claim. Retrieved from : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/oxford-tourist-hell-overcrowding-residents-locals-complain/ (Access date: 24.01.2020).
  • Routledge, P. (2001). ‘Selling the Rain’, Resisting the Sale: Resistant Identities and the Conflict over Tourism in Goa, Social and Cultural Geography, 2(2), 221–240.
  • Saarinen, T. and Nikula, T. (2013). Implicit Policy, Invisible Language: Policies and Practices of International Degree Programmes in Finnish Higher Education, in English-Medium Instruction at Universities: Global Challenges, A. Doiz, D. Lasagabaster and J.M. Sierra (Eds.), Multilingual Matters, 131-150, Bristol.
  • Scheyvens, R. (2009). Pro-Poor Tourism: Is There Value Beyond the Rhetoric?, Tourism Recreation Research, 34(2), 191-196.
  • Seraphin, H., Ivanov, S., Dosquet, F. & Bourliataux-Lajoinie, S., (2019). Archetypes of Locals in Destinations Victim of Overtourism, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 1-6.
  • Smith, M. K., Sziva, I. P. & Olt, G. (2019). Overtourism and Resident Resistance in Budapest, Tourism Planning and Development, 16(4): 376-392.
  • Tapper, J. (2017, 29 July). As touting for Punt Trips Becomes a Crime, is Tourism Overwhelming Britain’s Cities, Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/29/cambridge-tourist-boom-ruins-city (Access date: 23.01.2020).
  • UNWTO (2017). UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2016 Edition. Madrid. World Economic Forum (2017). The Global Gender Gap Report, Genebra: World Economic Forum.
There are 27 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Tourism (Other)
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Yiğit Sebahattin Bozkurt 0000-0003-2387-9815

Onur İçöz 0000-0002-0775-1451

Publication Date June 15, 2021
Submission Date January 29, 2021
Acceptance Date May 25, 2021
Published in Issue Year 2021 Volume: 8 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Bozkurt, Y. S., & İçöz, O. (2021). Overtourism: Blessing or Burden?. Turizm Akademik Dergisi, 8(1), 309-319.
AMA Bozkurt YS, İçöz O. Overtourism: Blessing or Burden?. Turizm Akademik Dergisi. June 2021;8(1):309-319.
Chicago Bozkurt, Yiğit Sebahattin, and Onur İçöz. “Overtourism: Blessing or Burden?”. Turizm Akademik Dergisi 8, no. 1 (June 2021): 309-19.
EndNote Bozkurt YS, İçöz O (June 1, 2021) Overtourism: Blessing or Burden?. Turizm Akademik Dergisi 8 1 309–319.
IEEE Y. S. Bozkurt and O. İçöz, “Overtourism: Blessing or Burden?”, Turizm Akademik Dergisi, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 309–319, 2021.
ISNAD Bozkurt, Yiğit Sebahattin - İçöz, Onur. “Overtourism: Blessing or Burden?”. Turizm Akademik Dergisi 8/1 (June 2021), 309-319.
JAMA Bozkurt YS, İçöz O. Overtourism: Blessing or Burden?. Turizm Akademik Dergisi. 2021;8:309–319.
MLA Bozkurt, Yiğit Sebahattin and Onur İçöz. “Overtourism: Blessing or Burden?”. Turizm Akademik Dergisi, vol. 8, no. 1, 2021, pp. 309-1.
Vancouver Bozkurt YS, İçöz O. Overtourism: Blessing or Burden?. Turizm Akademik Dergisi. 2021;8(1):309-1.