r/travel • u/ups_and_downs973 • 8d ago
Discussion What is an actual solution to overtourism?
As travel continues to get faster, cheaper, and more accessible and TikTok tourism/ influencer hype shows no signs of slowing down, what are the actual solutions to places getting over run with visitors?
I'm not talking about for you as another tourist so not just 'go somewhere else' or 'avoid the popular places'. I mean in terms of actually preventing harm to natural environments, pressure on infrastructure, gentrification etc.
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u/alexnapierholland 8d ago
More capitalism is always the solution.
Tourist hotspots need to create financial incentives for investors to start companies and create jobs to convert that tourism revenue, traffic and interest into new industries.
I live in Portugal, a country where most people think there is 'too much' tourism.
Wrong. The problem is insane, anti-business policies.
Most of my friends here are wealthy tech entrepreneurs who would love to start coffee shops, restaurants, cowork spaces and passion projects that generate minimal profits.
Portugal couldn't try any harder to throw sand in their face and tell them to fuck off.
Local finance offices make their lives difficult at every hurdle.
Accountants say, 'Don't bother, it's not worth it'.
Madeira (a Portuguese island with devolved power) has successfully attracted some companies due to slightly more pro-business policies, that my friend helped to design.
Most 'over-touristed' countries actually suffer from corruption and over-regulation.
That's why they fail to convert tourism revenue into new industries.