A large part of Europe lately has been really disconcerted and worried about the ‘overtourism’ and the growing chorus that blames technologies like Airbnb, Uber and another internet.
It is already well known that every summer, the most popular European destinations are filled with tourists. Likewise, around the world, thanks in part to the growing affluence, travel is becoming a more shared hobby. In fact, international travel increased by 6 percent in the first half of the year. That being the case, I exceed the forecasts of the experts, according to the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations.
It would be considered as good news without ambiguities. While, on the other hand, advocates of stopping tourism say that too many visitors are altering the character of historic cities. In the same way, they consider that the trips are also terrible.
According to the executive director of Responsible Travel, a company that organizes “sustainable” trips for clients, Justin Francis “It’s a level of tourism that is degrading the enjoyment that residents have, but it is also degrading the tourist experience, because the tourist is queuing behind the backpacks of hundreds of other tourists is not discovering the real or authentic place”.
Added to that, he also expressed, “You cannot talk about overtourism without mentioning Instagram and Facebook, I think they are the main drivers of this trend” he said. “Seventy-five years ago, tourism was about looking for experience. Now it’s about using photography and social networks to build a personal brand. In a sense, for many people, the photos you take on a trip become more important than the experience”.
It is necessary to highlight some factors that have helped to increase the number of tourists. In recent decades, innovations in aviation significantly reduced the cost of flying. While larger cruise ships, capable of accommodating thousands of passengers, now take floating cities to coastal ports. And what you cannot forget is the internet and everything that facilitates. As well as online reservations, local reviews, smartphone maps and carpooling.
Likewise, it should be noted that the Airbnb crisis has been pointed out by legislators from all over Europe as the main driver of ‘overtourism’. In fact, in Amsterdam, the authorities are taking measures to reduce the number of nights that residents can rent their homes from 30 to 60. Some other cities, including London and Barcelona, Spain, have also established strict rules for sharing a home.
Source: Farhad Manjoo | The New York Times
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