World’s great cities fight back against ‘overtourism’

WITH their medieval streets and romantic restaurants, Venice, Barcelona and Dubrovnik have no trouble luring tourists.

But it seems they have become victims of their own success, with cheap flights and huge cruise ships leaving popular destinations desperately overcrowded.

Many now suffer from ‘ overtourism’ – the struggle to manage the daily influx of visitors.

Nine per cent of travellers said overcrowding affected the quality of their trip last year, according to a survey.

The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said security fears over Egypt and Turkey and a rise in cheap flights had helped international arrivals to countries such as Spain and Croatia grow by more than 10 per cent within a few years.

The booming cruise industry presents a particular challenge for some cities, with huge ships disgorging thousands of daytrippers at a time.

Cities are now looking for new ways to cope with tourist numbers, which upset locals as well as other visitors.

Experts say Dubrovnik in Croatia is particularly badly hit, with the narrow streets of its compact, medieval old town crammed with passengers from several cruise ships each day.

It has begun staggering the arrival of the ships, and is developing a smartphone app to tell users when the old town is too crowded, suggesting alterna- tive sights beyond the city. Mayor Mato Frankovic said: ‘There is a thin line between success and failure.’

Barcelona is working on a marketing plan with the neighbouring region to get tourists to venture beyond the city’s most famous sites such as the Sagrada Familia church or the Las Ramblas boulevard.

Venice is forcing cruise ships to avoid passing St Mark’s Square, instead taking a less glamorous route to the industrial port of Marghera.

New York is encouraging tourists to explore the boroughs beyond Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.

UNWTO chief Zurab Pololikashvili said: ‘You need balance between growth, sustainability and promotion of destinations.’