THE RISE OF ‘SECOND CITY’ TRAVEL
Help fight over-tourism by visiting a lesser-known destination in 2020
Many of us grew up listening to our parents’ travel stories and dreaming of the day we could admire Paris from the Eiffel Tower or the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur and cruise through the canals of Venice ourselves.
With travel more accessible than ever due to low-cost flights and higher incomes, there are now a billion tourists travelling internationally every year.
As a result, we’re sharing these bucket list moments with hundreds or even thousands of others at any one time and some of world’s most iconic destinations are struggling to cope with their own popularity.
Over-tourism has become such an issue, places like Rome, Venice, Paris and Amsterdam have introduced strict measures in a bid to curb visitor numbers and reduce the strain on infrastructure and the threat to the cities’ culture and heritage. “There’s been an explosion of awareness around over-tourism because there are more destinations where it’s become an issue,” says Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
While operators and governments work to address the issue, modern travellers, fortunately, have a growing sense of responsibility.
In its travel trends report for 2020, booking.com revealed more than half of Aussie travellers want to play a part in reducing over-tourism.
The report showed more than 51 per cent of travellers were interested in swapping popular destinations for lesser-known but similar alternatives to help protect the environment.
Travel expert Phil Sylvester, head of content at World Nomads, told WHO that 80 per cent of millennial travellers are now demanding sustainable travel experiences, and want a deeper connection to the destinations they visit.
“People are understanding the impact of over-tourism on communities,” he said. “And no-one enjoys visiting a destination with thousands of others there, too.
“By opting for a ‘second city’ travellers are able to have a more unique, immersive experience and make genuine connections with the local people, learn new skills and give back to the local community at the same time.
“There are more than 26 trekking routes in Nepal but everyone seems to go to the three most famous ones when there are so many other options to explore.”
Here are some second city options to consider this year.