From Disneyland to Barcelona, the never ending growth in the number of people going on holiday is putting increasing pressure on the places they visit. As a result, destinations and attractions are beginning to explore how to ensure that the volume of tourists doesn’t irreparably damage the places they are coming to see. “Overcrowding is becoming a major issue at many global touristic destinations,” Randy Durband, president of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, told Tourism Weekly. “All tourism destinations need meaningful destination-management plans and management structures that ensure sustainability in a very broad sense, and that includes [addressing the issue of] overcrowding.”
In Brief
- In 2014, the number of international tourists reached 1.14 billion, 51 million more than in 2013, according to the World Tourism Organisation, making it the fifth consecutive year of above-average growth in global tourism since the 2009 economic crisis.
- Nearly 2 billion people are expected to travel internationally by 2030.
- The Palace of Versailles now has a “crowded days” calendar on its website asking visitors to simply stay away during those times.
In Depth
- Read the full original article at Travel Weekly
- Connect to Conscious Travel, which works for a new form of tourism not based on endless growth.
- Explore the issues further with the article: “What happens when tourism reaches the limits to its growth?“
