Exploring the negative impacts of mass tourism on popular destinations and local communities, this chapter delves into the concept of overtourism using examples like Venice and national parks in the US. It discusses the factors driving overtourism, from the influence of popular movies to the rise of social media-driven travel trends, and advocates for responsible tourism practices that prioritize authentic experiences and local engagement. The chapter also touches on strategies for managing the challenges of growing tourism, including resident involvement in decision-making and destination-specific limits on visitor numbers.
Venice is drowning in tourists. A new fee for day-trippers is the latest tool aimed at keeping overtourism at bay.
This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Rob Byers, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.
Transcript at https://www.vox.com/today-explained-podcast
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