We should reschedule our trips to avoid the challenges of overtourism

Arab News

13 hours ago

Outbound tourism from Saudi Arabia typically peaks between June and August each year. Since 2017, a phenomenon known as 'overtourism' has emerged around the world, and especially in European destinations that remain a consistent choice every summer for many tourists from Saudi Arabia, the wider Gulf region and other places. Some opt for other destinations, including the US or Southeast Asia.
According to specialists, summer travel preferences among Gulf nationals, and the people from other countries who live in Gulf nations, began shifting in 2024 toward new destinations such as the Caucasus region, particularly Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as Eastern European countries. Between 2023 and 2024, Japan similarly experienced a noticeable increase in tourism from the Gulf, and Thailand has experienced a revival in Saudi tourism.
However, these destinations that are growing in popularity are not immune to the challenges of overtourism. According to data from the UN World Tourism Organization, in 1950 there were 25 million international tourists. By 2030, that number is projected to reach 1.8 billion.
What is particularly striking is that 95 percent of global tourists flock to just 5 percent of the world's regions. This concentration leads to severe and destructive environmental impacts, including increased accumulation of waste, pollution and noise. It also harms local communities in tourist destinations by driving up housing rental costs, disrupting daily life, and overwhelming the often unprepared urban infrastructure.
This phenomenon contributes to the displacement of low-income residents from their own cities, and explains the recurring protests in some places that coincide with the peak summer tourism season.
The situation is incredibly complex and, in some cases, alarming. In 2023, for example, the Canary Islands faced a critical shortage of drinking water after receiving more than 14 million tourists, seven times the number of its resident population, according to a report by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.
Similarly, residents of Venice, Italy, grapple with extreme congestion as their city receives 20 million visitors each year; its resident population is a mere 50,000. Structurally unprepared for such immense visitor numbers, in 2023 the city introduced a €5 ($6) per tourist fee for day trippers during daylight hours.
Authorities in Japan, too, are taking steps; they now require that individuals who wish to ascend the iconic Mount Fuji pay a $13 fee, and the number of tourists who can do so each day is limited to 4,000.
In addition to wider international tourism trends, there has also been a boom in so-called 'day-trip tourism' in which people visit neighboring countries, the growing influence of social media stars, and the spread of what is known as the 'experience economy.'
All of this is enabling more tourists, including those with more limited financial means, to travel to famous destinations, resulting in serious problems for many popular cities.
One of the most prominent examples of this is Amsterdam in the Netherlands, which has been negatively affected by people eating in the streets, the sale of legal drugs to tourists in cafes, and young European men urinating in public, open spaces. Authorities are taking this issue of public urination very seriously and have introduced a €140 fine for those caught in the act, in an effort to protect the city's reputation and cultural image.
In response to the demands of residents in Malaga, Spain, the building of new tourist apartments has been banned in 43 neighborhoods. Rome has reduced the number of tourists allowed to gather in front of the famous Trevi Fountain, setting a limit of 400 people at any one time.
There are alternative tourist destinations available around the world that resemble more famous cities in terms of the experiences they offer, but are cheaper and much less crowded. Artificial intelligence tools have shown an astonishing ability to help draw attention to these alternatives, offering the potential to help plan smart trips tailored to each tourist's budget, needs, timing and personal tastes.
In the Middle East, nearly 1.1 billion tourists traveled to destinations within the region, and beyond, during the first nine months of 2024. Global tourism revenues during that same year were estimated at about $9.5 trillion, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
While the importance of the tourism sector is undisputed, the current circumstances dictate the setting of priorities, particularly in relation to outbound tourism. Currently, more-suitable tourism models include cruise and luxury yacht travel and train journeys, and favor options that avoid overcrowding and enclosed spaces. At the very least, the adjustment of travel plans to times outside of peak summer periods is advisable, though this presents a challenge for families tied to school holidays.
Building on this, efforts to boost tourism revenues in destinations affected by overtourism require a smart strategy. This includes targeting the right types of tourist, the effective use of promotional platforms, and the use of marketing campaigns at optimal times. The goal should be to attract fewer tourists who will spend more money, thus ensuring sustainable and high-quality tourism for tourists and host communities alike.
When choosing travel destinations this summer, careful consideration of the options is crucial to help ensure that Saudi and other Gulf tourists avoid uncomfortable situations in which they might find themselves unwelcome or even asked to leave a city because they are perceived as a burden.
Meanwhile, cities concerned about overtourism might find suitable potential solutions in Saudi Arabia's exceptional experiences, in particular its professional management of Hajj crowds each year.
• Dr. Bader bin Saud is a columnist for Al-Riyadh newspaper, a media and knowledge management researcher, an expert and university professor in crowd management and strategic planning, and the former deputy commander of the special forces for Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia. X: @BaderbinSaud.