As 2024 draws to a close, many are already plotting their next getaway. Yet, it appears that each year, the same few places become the must-see destinations for travellers worldwide.
This surge in popularity often results in overcrowding and has led to a significant issue for many tourist hotspots in 2024. Fodors, the esteemed travel guide publisher, annually aims to “shine a light” on these over-visited areas in a bid to and raise awareness on overtourism – and one Scottish spot has made the list.
“These places are popular for good reason – they’re beautiful, fascinating, and culturally significant. But some of these sought-after tourist spots are buckling under the weight of their own fame,” Fodors cautions. The publisher stops short of advocating for travel boycotts, which can damage local economies and fail to effect real change.
“But we do believe that acknowledging the problem is the first step towards solving it. The No List serves to highlight those destinations where tourism is putting unsustainable pressure on the environment and local communities. These issues need to be addressed. That way, the world’s favourite destinations can remain so for future generations.”
Listed as a destination that is beginning to suffer, Scotland’s North Coast 500 (NC 500) is known for its stunning coastal loop around the country. However, Fodors has flagged the “nuisance” that visitors cause to local communities, as well as threatening its natural environment.
Among the issues cited include congested traffic that is contributing to rises in road accidents. An increase in motorhomes with less adequate facilities, such as toilets and waste facilities, has resulted in an increase in “wild camping”, with locals complaining of scorch marks from campfires, litter and even human faeces being left behind.
Looking further afield, Bali has found itself at the top of the “perennial no list” due to its struggles with overtourism, leading to what Fodors calls a “plastic apocalypse”. The Indonesian island experienced a jump to 5.3 million international visitors in 2023, but this boom has resulted in Balinese beaches being inundated with an estimated 303,000 tons of plastic waste, far exceeding the capabilities of local waste management systems, reports the Mirror.
Southeast Asia sustainable travel expert Kristin Winkaffe has sounded the alarm on Bali’s environmental and cultural crises, stating: “Bali’s waste management is barely keeping up with the volume of trash, and that’s an understatement.”
She further highlighted the cultural impact, noting: “Overtourism affects the very core of Balinese life. Traditional practices like the subak irrigation system, which has supported rice paddies for centuries, are now under strain as water is diverted to tourist areas.”
Winkaffe issued a stark warning: “Without change, we’re risking more than just beautiful scenery – we’re at risk of losing cultural identity itself.”
Meanwhile, several Spanish cities have been listed as “European destinations where locals don’t want you” after tourism protests this summer, including Barcelona. In a notable incident in July, tourists were taken aback when they became targets of water pistol-wielding protesters in central Barcelona, as locals voiced their discontent and demanded tourists go home.
Despite these tensions, Barcelona recorded tourists spending an eye-watering €9.6 billion (£7.9 billion) in 2023, a substantial 26.1 percent increase from the previous year. The city is currently dealing with over 10,000 licensed holiday properties on platforms such as Airbnb, which has led to a 68 percent surge in average home rentals compared to a decade ago.
City authorities are taking a stand, pledging to revoke all short-term rental licenses by 2028 and cracking down on illegal tourist apartments scattered throughout Barcelona.
Daniel Pardo Rivacoba from the Assembly of Neighbourhoods for Tourism Degrowth has expressed his doubts, stating: “The problem is now, [and has been ongoing for] at least 15 years. Nothing proves they will do that. Once again it is much more about pretending to do than about doing.”
Meanwhile, in Majorca, part of the Balearic Islands, tensions have escalated this year with large-scale protests erupting. Thousands gathered on the beaches, waving signs that declared “Your luxury, our misery” to express their discontent.
A sobering report in September by the Economic and Social Council (CES) disclosed that a mere one-third of all property purchases in 2023 were made by locals, while Palma is witnessing an alarming rise in homelessness as rental prices soar out of reach for many of Majorca’s workers. The Canary Islands are also feeling the pressure from tourism.
There, protesters raised banners saying: “The Canaries have a limit”. These islands, where tourism contributes to 35 percent of the GDP, generated a massive €16.9 billion (£14 billion) in 2023.
Despite local opposition to further development of holiday accommodations, the archipelago is poised to conclude 2024 with unprecedented tourist figures. An astonishing 77 percent increase in UK visitors is anticipated in the first nine months of 2025, following a 10 percent rise last year which brought over 2.5 million tourists to the islands.
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