Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
This ranking puts in perspective how crowded some destinations get come summertime
Every summer season, many European cities face an increasingly uncomfortable dilemma – stay popular and attractive to tourists, but not too much. The trend of increasing crowds of tourists flocking to popular destinations has been on the rise for decades now, spurred on by things like boosted standards of living, budget airlines, availability of information and promotion through social media, or just a general fear of missing out (or FOMO).
That, however, has also brought along an undesirable effect known as ‘overtourism’, which despite its economic benefits carries connotations and marks of environmental degradation, destruction of local sense of community and culture and exploitation of scarce resources. Plus, it overall makes some cities feel more like theme parks than actual functioning communities.
The German online holiday rental company Holidu has done some research and compiled a list of the European cities that are most overloaded by tourists. Their ranking seeks to bring attention to a need to diversify and spread out tourism flows outside of the high-season framework, as a way to lessen the burden on these popular spots.
Word of advice, the ranking was done using 2019 statistical data of yearly tourist visits to a city compared to its permanent population. Thus, it reflects the height of the pre-COVID era and with recent trends showing full recovery from the pandemic pause, it is only natural to expect that things might be even worse.
Here we have the top five European cities, where the tourists/locals ratio gets very extreme:
You can check out the rest of the ranking, which consists of 35 cities here.
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
The tool helps identify undeclared swimming pools and garden sheds
It will serve as a virtual companion to the municipal network of libraries in the country
In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution
The city thinks that it’s time to update pet-related street cleanliness rules for the 21st century
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
The benefit will last until the Dutch parliament adopts the transgender law
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team