Here’s What You Need to Know About Overtourism in Europe

Recently, protests and walkouts have praised some of the most famous cities in Europe.

Employees at the Louver Museum in Paris were withdrawn, causing it to be closed. Demonstrators gathered the mess in Barcelona, ​​giving joy and holding that it was said that “widespread tourism kills the city” and things like running water guns – these images became equivalent to a movement against overturism. In Lisbon, people showed a “eviction” from the church to highlight the dramatically increasing cost of life due to a short -term rental market that spreads to the popular tourist destinations.

For those travelers who are waiting for their European summer holidays, savings and eagerly, the demonstrations seem to be contrary to the welcome, and they may feel the holidays like moral confusion. Although this framework, local vs tourist, is nothing new. That is why some people try to make a difference between being a “tourist” and “passenger”. Reaching these demonstrations, and the feelings behind them are important – tourists, locals and the center of conversation for cities.

Here you need to know about overturism.

What is Overrism?

“Orturism is almost like a very good thing,” said Katie Nastro, a travel expert. Travel + leisure. “We forget as passengers that the incredible places we like to go are the locals who live there daily. The communities have been cement here long before the popularity of these places.”

Once a location becomes a “remembrance” destination, it can be difficult to prepare for its meaning. “In terms of these famous cities and places, unfortunately, they were not set up to handle the type of traffic after centuries ago,” Nassro said.

The negative effects of being popular for a city are not as clear as it is in a natural environment, where you can see trash or destructive wildlife signs. Although beaches and forests may be clearly lacking in proper protection, it can be difficult to find tensions that many visitors can produce in cities. A sustainable journey and a renewed tourist expert Helen Magghage says that when locals first feel the effects, they will affect everyone – including tourists.

“In major cities, the effects of maximum tourism are not necessarily clear for the coming, besides the crowd and the crowd,” said Meglaj. “However, for the locals, the massive increase in the number of visitors can cause cheaper housing shortages and normal prices, for example, local restaurants.”

In addition to the rising costs and the reduction of locals’ ability to enjoy their cities, the overturrum puts an additional burden on public infrastructure, which usually provides financial support through taxes. Therefore, locals eliminate the bill to take care of a place that they cannot fully enjoy because it is very expensive and the crowd is very crowded to do so.

However, locals often message that tourism is good for the local economy, so they should be thankful in a way. Megalog explains that this is not naturally true – Quotan Times, multinational corporations are the main advantage of tourism costs.

“In today’s global economy, many tourism and hospitality businesses are with the multinationals,” he said. “The majority of people do not benefit directly from the increase in the number of viewers. However, the increase in spending in the local economy as a result of tourism means that the so -called ‘multiplication’ effect can benefit indirect tourism.”

None of this means that tourism is naturally bad. A member of the “Tourism Digout” group, who helped organize some protests in San Sebastian, Spain, said Jesus Basarto. Benefactor In an June 2025 article that tourists are not enemies.

“Those who go somewhere on vacation are not our enemies, nor are they the target of our actions,” Basorto said in the article. “Let me make it clear: Our enemies are the ones who make speculation about housing, who exploit the workers, and those who are beautiful from tourism in our cities.”

Tourists are not bad men.

Maggus believes that tourism can actually have a powerful, positive impact on local communities. “I am a great tour of tourism as a good force,” he said.

But she also thinks that responsible tourism cannot completely rest on the individual shoulders of visitors.

“It must be an effective destination administrative organization that represents the interests of the locals as well as major national stakeholders,” says Magogage. “The local government should be part of the national government as well as the national government, which has an important role in creating a positive and beneficial tourism policy and strategic framework.”

There are examples of such efforts, even in Spain, where there are the biggest protests of anti -overturns.

“In our most visited cities and resorts today, we need steps in a statement to the Spanish Tourism Office, Director of the Spanish Tourism Office in London, so that we can maintain a balanced tourism, a positive way to keep a positive tours,” Manuel Butler said in a statement. I told “Privately reflects on tourist apartments, proposed legislation like Barcelona’s clamps down and … adjustments to tourist taxes outside the winter months, ongoing efforts to build a responsible and sustainable tourism model in Spain.”

Nassro agrees with this and says tourism “an excellent balance of supporting the local economy, (and) the locals need to be able to work in their local economy.”

That is what passengers should know about overturism.

Not only does a deliberate choice of a passenger benefit the locals – which also means that you are less likely to spend your journey in a sweaty crowd and long lines. Here are the points for holidays for holidays by thinking of Maggus and Nassero, which may not be destroyed (or in overturry).

Be free from protests and demonstrations.

“Stay away from any protests and demonstrations so that the situation cannot be promoted.”

Watch the dizzy and see the less popular attractions.

“Generally, take a walk or circle, and have the opportunity to find less well -known areas of any destination on which you go,” said Meglaj. “The most memorable experiences are the least planned and unexpected.”

Work responsibly.

It is a very self -explanatory, but as a polite and respect for local culture and customs, can make a long journey to improve the experience of both tourists and locals.

Be aware.

The best way to be surprised by protests is to keep the news of the news you are taking in these places.

“First and most importantly, if the city you are traveling is planned or has recently been a protest,” Nastro said. “… follow local news organizations to stay the latest on when and where they can be.

Who should contact if you are in trouble?

If matters go wrong in your journey, it is always a good idea to have an emergency contact – and it is never a bad idea to know where the local American embassy is.

Avoid traveling in a high season.

Both Nastro and Megalog recommend planning visits to your destination in the “off season”. “Traveling in shoulder season, or even better, in the off -season, can be a great way to reduce the chances of experiencing long lines in the most famous places in the world.”

Plan a journey to popular attractions.

If you are planning to visit a famous attraction, try to meet at a less busy time. Or, if you want to visit a famous tourist destination, Nastro recommends living in the nearby city and traveling to the city day to visit.

Buy local

Perhaps a direct and most effective way you can become a “good” traveler is deliberately about where you spend your money. Nassero recommends living in locally owned and running hotels, buying from small shopkeepers and craftsmen, and going out of busy city centers to a more rural, defeated way to the destination.