#overtourism

#overtourism

I spent a month in Malta to see if I'd want to retire there one day and make it my forever home. The weather was sunny, and the views were beautiful, but I craved more green spaces. It's a nice place to visit, but I can't see myself living in the small country permanently. The best way to find out, though, is to give different countries a try.

Yeah, I'd say it's just them being physically in the way a lot. Especially in Tokyo, where things work because everyone is moving smoothly along. Then you have tourists getting confused standing in front of ticket gates, or in front of doors, walking slowly side by side, stopping suddenly in a smoothly moving group of people to take photos, or dragging large luggage onto rush hour trains. Honestly, a lot of it is unavoidable, and I don't really blame them for it. But it's hard not to think I'd have a smoother time getting to and from if they weren't there. Especially since I lived here during COVID, when they weren't here, and I know it to be true.

The Aloha State easily entices with beaches of every hue, lush verdant scenery, and a welcoming culture, but finding the best island to visit in Hawaii can be a daunting decision. From bustling urban metropolises to surf towns where lazy days melt away, fine dining establishments to coffee farms, otherworldly volcanic formations to rainforests, Hawaii offers so many different experiences, sites, and activities on offer like no other state.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground.

When my husband and I were deciding where to go on our minimoon, we thought the Cotswolds would be perfect. The rural area to the west of England is known for its quintessential countryside charm: brown stone cottages, cosy pubs, and rolling hills. We'd both visited a few times and enjoyed it. But when we found ourselves struggling to move for tourists with selfie sticks (apparently still a thing) and paying £16 ($22) for a coffee and a very disappointing grilled cheese, we realized the area might have become a victim of its own success.

"We know that 80 percent of travelers visit just 10 percent of the world's tourism destinations and we recognize that we have a role to play in influencing that. The selection criteria for our Not Hot List reflects an approach to tourism that we've long championed," Erica Kritikides, the general manager of experiences at Intrepid Travel, said in a statement shared with T+L.

With life's unpredictabilities, planning a trip a year in advance may seem like too much. However, one could argue that it's precisely because of these uncertainties that a good plan, and buffers against any last-minute hiccups, are needed. Getting a head start on an itinerary, and having enough time for preparation, research, and contingencies are absolutely necessary-especially when you're embarking on some of the most remarkable (often, once-in-a-lifetime) travel experiences that the world has to offer. There's no time to be wasted.

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

Last summer, Spain's Balearic Islands launched one of Europe's toughest crackdowns on alcohol-fuelled party tourism. In popular resorts such as Magaluf in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza, tourists spilled out of bars at dawn, clutched cheap bottles from late-night shops, and treated entire neighbourhoods as giant open-air nightclubs. Local people were fed up. Noise complaints, violent brawls and clashes between residents and intoxicated tourists became routine.

When Olivier Baroin moved into an apartment in Montmartre about 15 years ago, it felt like he was living in a village in the heart of Paris. Not anymore.Stores for residents are disappearing, along with the friendly atmosphere, he says. In their place are hordes of people taking selfies, shops selling tourist trinkets, and cafés whose seating spills into the narrow, cobbled streets as overtourism takes its toll.

Overtourism has become an increasing concern for popular vacation destinations in the post-pandemic years, as an overwhelming influx of visitors to Instagrammable hot spots puts pressure on local infrastructure and communities.

The judge in Madrid ordered the closure of 10 tourist flats, citing illicit activities that inflicted psychological damage on a neighboring family and violated their privacy rights.

Spain has become a victim of its own success, with the golden visa program ending and locals concerned about housing affordability due to an influx of expats.

“We end up getting a lot of the blame, especially in city centres but the reality is overtourism is really driven by hotels,” said Theo Yedinsky, Airbnb's VP.

Travelers to Europe, mark your calendars. On June 15, activists across southern Europe will protest against tourism, highlighting its negative impacts such as overtourism.