Overtourism: Lessons for a Better Future

Abstract

This important and timely book presents a total of 28 essays neatly divided into seven chapters and subchapters. Many were written before the COVID pandemic, which temporarily solved many problems illuminated throughout but created others including economic hardship for the millions globally who depend to various degrees on tourism. It’s a huge industry and, until COVID, was the fastest growing globally. As of 2022, tourism is again growing. Chapter 1 stands alone and well outlines the scope and magnitude of issues brought about by tourism from causes to consequences. It gives a good overview of what’s to come, but Chapter 2 (‘‘Historic Cities’’) is where details emerge. It’s divided into four subchapters that cover places as disparate as Charleston, South Carolina; Barcelona, Spain; and Edinburgh, Scotland. Specifics vary, but generalities are similar; most urban destinations are seasonally visited, so crowding during that period greatly increases travel costs, traffic, rents, overcrowding, etc. Such periods also bring a greater need for everything from garbage collection to police presence. Some of the most egregious cases are cities affected by the cruise industry (e.g., Venice, Italy), which brings huge numbers of people for short visits from which collecting revenues becomes difficult, yet their presence causes huge direct costs. While the entire volume is relevant for readers of the Natural Areas Journal, the next three chapters may prove the most important. Chapter 3 (‘‘National Parks and Protected Areas’’) consists of four subchapters discussing issues throughout the American and Brazilian park systems, with additional entries on Banff (Canada) and the Serengeti (Tanzania). While myriad crises are outlined throughout, glimmers of hope are provided by attempts in all cases to solve problems via proactive mechanisms. Increasing entry fees, encouraging visits during other times of year, and making other potential destinations known to tourists all have been tried to varying degrees, but one can’t help but wonder whether it’s too little, too late in some cases. When several dozen vehicles, each packed with six or eight people, are all staring at one lone cheetah, when is enough too much? Much of the wealth of tourism in too many places is trickle down, yet community-based approaches incorporating multiple incentives to local residents are now in place in many countries, creating more glimmers of hope. The World Heritage Sites, both natural and cultural, discussed in Chapter 4 are perhaps the most important given that they instill pride in citizens and act as magnets for mass tourism because of their fame. Some, such as Mt. Everest (Nepal) and Machu Picchu (Peru), are also high in elevation and fragile from several standpoints. That their governments have greatly raised fees shows their importance but even with greater revenues, the Nepalese authorities have difficult times removing all the garbage, human waste and, yes, human bodies from the highest slopes. Chapter 5 takes a broad look at beaches and coastlines with particular foci on the Galapagos, Hawaii, and Big Sur. Of course, in these cases it is not just mass tourism that detracts from their natural values, but issues well outside the purview of managers: sea level rise, plastic pollution, and invasive species. In the case of Hawaii and the Galapagos, increases in the numbers of residents have compounded problems. In the case of Big Sur, multiple issues involving campfires, garbage, traffic, noise, etc., all come into play. The authors of these chapters have done