Eureka! Institutional Repository

In recent years, the phenomenon of over tourism seems to be a major concern in some regions of our country and other countries across all over the world as well. The concept of over tourism has a negative connotation and does not go along with the sustainable development of a place, as the mass influx of tourists creates pressures on the local community and the natural environment. Public and private agencies working to promote the tourism product of a destination should not only focus on economic performance, but should take in consideration the particularities of a place and the sustainable development of the area. The main issues that must be paid attention are the following a) respect for the everyday life of the place b) the preservation of biodiversity and respect for c) the preservation of identity which acts as a competitive advantage especially in the past few years where the model of the three s (sea , sun and sex) tends to change and be replaced by more qualitative and alternative model of tourism. The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate and analyze the phenomenon of over-tourism and primarily the causes that create it. Examples of cities that have been affected by the phenomenon of over-tourism will follow the recording of the problems that arise and then solutions that can be given in order to face the phenomenon, so as to achieve a positive symbiosis between the local community and the visitor with the less impact on the natural environment. We are coining a new term, “Overtourism”, as a new construct to look at potential hazards to popular destinations worldwide, as the dynamic forces that power tourism often inflict unavoidable negative consequences if not managed well. In some countries, this can lead to a decline in tourism as a sustainable framework is never put into place for coping with the economic, environmental, and sociocultural effects of tourism. The impact on local residents cannot be understated either. As the world moves towards two billion travelers worldwide in the next few years, are countries and their infrastructure ready for the deluge? Are the people and their cultures resilient enough to with stand the flood of overtourism?” (Rafat Ali, Skift, 2018)