Surging travel in Europe spikes concerns over tourism’s drawbacks

Suman Naishadham, MDT/AP

Suitcases rattle against cobblestones. Selfie-snappers jostle for the same shot. Ice cream shops are everywhere. Europe has been called the world’s museum, but its record numbers of visitors have also made it ground zero for concerns about overtourism.

Last year, 747 million international travelers visited the continent, far outnumbering any other region, according to the U.N.’s World Tourism Barometer. Southern and Western Europe welcomed more than 70% of them.

As the growing tide of travelers strains housing, water and the most Instagrammable hotspots in the region, protests and measures to lessen the effects of overtourism have proliferated.

Among the drivers: cheap flights, social media, AI-based travel planning and what U.N. officials call a strong economic outlook in wealthy countries that send tourists despite geopolitical tensions.

Citizens of the U.S., Japan, China and the U.K. generate the most international trips, especially to destinations like Barcelona and Venice. Seasonal waves create uneven demand for housing and resources like water.

Despite backlash, some tourism officials say the issue can be managed with better infrastructure. Italy’s Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè believes crowded sites like Florence’s Uffizi Galleries could be better managed with AI, letting tourists book tickets well in advance to avoid surges.

She rejects the idea that Italy – which welcomed more visitors in 2024 than its population – suffers from too many tourists, noting that most visits are within just 4% of the country’s territory.

“It’s a phenomenon that can absolutely be managed,” Santanchè told The Associated Press. “Tourism must be an opportunity, not a threat – even for local communities. That’s why we are focusing on organizing flows.”

Mediterranean countries are especially affected. France received 100 million international visitors last year, while Spain saw almost 94 million – nearly double its population.

Protests have erupted across Spain over the past two years. In Barcelona, anti-tourism demonstrators have spritzed tourists with water guns while carrying signs reading: “One more tourist, one less resident!”

Spain’s Canary and Balearic Islands, with fewer than 5 million residents combined, each hosted more than 15 million visitors last year. In Italy, places like Venice, Rome and the Amalfi Coast struggle with peak-season overcrowding. In summer, Uber offers private helicopters and boats to navigate past road congestion.

Greece, which welcomed nearly four times as many tourists as its population last year, has struggled with pressure on water, housing and energy – especially on islands such as Santorini and Mykonos.

Overtourism is blamed for rising housing costs and the transformation of neighborhoods. In Barcelona, activists say local shops are being replaced by souvenir stands and global chains. In Greece, tourism has coincided with worsening drought. In France, the Louvre shut down this week after staff strikes over surging crowds.

Authorities are responding. Spain ordered Airbnb to remove nearly 66,000 illegal listings and Barcelona plans to phase out all short-term rental apartments by 2028. Greece will impose a cruise tax from July and encourages visitors to explore lesser-known areas. Islands use water tankers and desalination to ease shortages. Venice reintroduced a peak-season entry fee of 5 to 10 euros.

Across Europe, cities continue to walk a tightrope – balancing the economic gains of tourism with the well-being of residents and long-term sustainability.

[Abridged]