These Are the European Destinations Leading the Overtourism Ranking
Overtourism has become a hot topic in recent months due to its harmful effects on many destinations, increasingly frequent protests from local residents, and the deterioration of ecosystems caused by overexposure. This has led several cities and countries to take radical measures, such as imposing taxes or visitor quotas. For instance, Greece has announced a new tax for cruise passengers disembarking in Mykonos and Santorini, two islands at the center of the overtourism debate.
In Spain, the country welcomes around 78 million tourists annually, contributing 9% of its GDP (according to 2019 data). There are four international tourists per resident and 156 tourists per square kilometer, a considerable volume. Furthermore, 41% of visitors choose to visit Spain in the summer, resulting in an excessively high level of seasonal concentration. Spain's sustainability maturity falls significantly below the standard, scoring 2 out of 5, according to the Overtourism Index, the latest study conducted by sustainable travel platform Evaneos.
This analysis focuses on 70 of the world’s most frequented vacation destinations, assessing their level of exposure to visitors. The goal is to provide the tourism sector with a tool to help alleviate tourism pressure. "Rather than pointing fingers at the most affected destinations, this index is about reflecting on the most suitable solutions and implementing them," explains Aurélie Sandler, co-CEO of Evaneos, in a statement obtained by this publication.
Tourism Evaluation Criteria
To measure the degree of exposure to overtourism, each destination is rated from 1 to 5 based on four objective criteria: tourist density per resident, tourist density per square kilometer, seasonality, and the sustainability maturity of the host country. This last criterion considers factors such as the social impact of tourism, the state of tourism infrastructure, and the development of transportation systems.
Among the destinations studied, overtourism is divided into three main categories: coastal tourism, large European summer destinations, and urban tourism.
Coastal Overtourism
Coastal destinations are the most exposed to overtourism, with an average rating of 4 out of 5. This is due to the high tourist arrival rate (3.2 to 9.9 tourists per resident) in relatively small and fragile host areas (1,600 to 8,000 tourists per square kilometer). Countries most affected include Cyprus (4.4), Mauritius (4.2), Greece (4), and Croatia (3.8).
Summer Overtourism in Major European Destinations
Although large European destinations can accommodate a high density of tourists, they experience a particularly heavy influx during the summer across much of their territory, with up to 43% of visitor arrivals concentrated in the third quarter. Spain, with a score of 3.6 out of 5, leads the ranking of overtourism in European destinations alongside Italy, France, and Portugal, making it one of the most exposed countries during June, July, and August.
"These destinations need to implement measures to de-seasonalize arrivals, promoting travel in spring or fall, which would allow for a better distribution of tourists over time," explains Sandler. She suggests promoting offers that attract tourists during less crowded times of the year. "It is perfectly possible to visit Spain in April or September and enjoy a more pleasant climate and a more comfortable trip with less tourist pressure," she concludes.
