Forum: ‘Overtourism’ is a word of the times

“Overtourism” has entered the lexicon. It means the lives of locals are disturbed, the local environment is damaged, and the heritage of a particular place, the initial attraction, is degraded. Consequently, tourists often fail to enjoy their experience in an overcrowded site and return home suffering from fatigue, frustration and a poor understanding of the nature and history of their destination. Defined as “the phenomenon of a popular destination or sight becoming overrun with tourists in an unsustainable way,” it became a 2018 word of the year in the Oxford Dictionary.