“Overtourism” means the phenomenon whereby certain places of interest are visited by excessive numbers of tourists, causing undesirable effects for the places visited. The problems caused by overtourism has been coming up around the world. Some say that there is much more inconvenience for residents of tourist spots, compared to previous years before the pandemic. “Channel PNU” organized the measures against overtourism presented in popular tourist spots for readers who are planning to go on a trip this winter.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK), an index for the volume of air transportation, gradually increased and reached 97.5% of that in August 2019, before the pandemic. It shows increasing demand for traveling and aviation with less worries about COVID-19.

Amsterdam, the canal city in the Netherlands, implemented various policies to ensure the well-being of residents in tourist areas. According to CNN on July 21st, the Amsterdam city council passed a proposal to ban cruise ships. This was to limit the number of visitors and to protect the environment by reducing the carbon emissions from large vessels. Amsterdam initiated the “Stay Away” campaign because the residents suffered from the noise that tourists made in the red-light district. As reported by the NOS, the Dutch news organization, in November, 2022, the city is imposing restrictions on the operating hours of businesses in the red-light district according to the type of establishment. Bars and pubs are allowed to serve customers until 1am and should close by 2am, and window prostitution can operate until 3am.

At the Acropolis, the Greek ancient site, the number of visitors who are allowed to enter the Acropolis is limited by the hour. This prevents the reduction of tourism quality due to the concentration of tourists and helps protect the cultural heritage. About 23,000 tourists visit the Acropolis a day, and most of them are crowded in the morning, which can lead to long lines and safety accidents caused by the heat. According to CNN on September 4th, Greece limits the number of people entering the Acropolis to 20,000 per day from September 4th. In order to prevent bottlenecks, the number of people who can enter by time was set. Currently, it is being piloted by restricting visitors through Internet reservations and on-site ticketing, and will be officially implemented from April next year.

Korea is not a clean area for overtourism. In Busan, Saha-gu has established measures by communicating with residents to address issues of overtourism caused by the increased number of visitors to Gamcheon Cultural Village. Since the urban regeneration project, the number of visitors to the village has steadily increased, surpassing 3 million visitors in 2019. As the number of tourists increased, residents complained about invasion of privacy, noise disturbances, and transportation inconveniences. In response, Saha-gu formed a residents’ council, installed guide signs for promoting etiquette among tourists, and restricted store operating hours to resolve the residents’ inconveniences. They also carried out community benefit projects using the revenue generated from Gamcheon Cultural Village, constructing laundromats and bathhouses for the residents.

In Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul, there is a day off for the village and operating hours for the other days. Seoul announced that they limit sightseeing time between 10am and 5pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and close the village on Sundays. By restricting the passage of tourists during nighttime, the city intended to reduce noise experienced by residents.

To address problems resulting from overtourism and move towards sustainable tourism, improvements in tourists’ attitudes is necessary as well as adjustments through policies. In an interview by “Channel PNU,” Park Ju-Young (Director of Tourism Industry Research, Korea Culture and Tourism Institute) said, “The perception of sustainable tourism by tourists is crucial.” She suggested desirable behavior of tourists such as respecting local cultures, considering residents, and contributing to the local economy through their spending. Additionally, she added, “To avoid overcrowding in specific spots, it’s essential to find hidden attractions and maintain order, which encourages the dispersion of tourists.”

Reporter Lee Soo-Hyun

Translated by Lee Soo-Hyun