Three European capitals continue to suffer from overtourism: what are they and how many people visit them

Europe's tourist destinations attract millions of travelers every year, but overtourism is becoming an increasingly serious problem. Cities have to continue to adapt to the growing tourist flow while maintaining their uniqueness and comfort.

A new study conducted by eco-travel platform Evaneos and consulting company Roland Berger has revealed which cities are affected by overcrowding the most. Analysts analyzed 70 popular tourist destinations, creating the first "Overtourism Index".

Three leaders in terms of the number of tourists:

• Copenhagen (Denmark),
• Amsterdam (Netherlands)
• Dublin (Ireland).

These three cities have become leaders among European capitals in terms of the number of tourists. In 2023, more than 20.3 million passengers passed through Copenhagen Airport. The scores for excessive tourism for these cities were 3.8, 3.7, and 3.4 points out of 5, respectively.

Why tourists choose these cities

These capitals attract tourists with their cultural attractions, convenient transportation, and developed tourist infrastructure. However, the growing flow of travelers overloads urban resources and creates discomfort for local residents.

How they fight against excessive tourism

Copenhagen has implemented innovative measures, including an experiment with artificial intelligence to promote less busy tourist routes. Amsterdam has restricted the construction of new hotels and reduced the number of cruise ships allowed to enter the city's port.

Other problem areas

The study also highlighted the difficulties of coastal tourism in countries such as Greece, Croatia, Cyprus and Mauritius. During the popular summer months, tourists overwhelm Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese resorts, which receive up to 43% of visitors in the third quarter.

The most vulnerable areas

Spain received 3.6 points out of 5 for its susceptibility to excessive tourism. Experts emphasize that to reduce the pressure, it is necessary to promote travel in the off-season - in spring and autumn - as well as to introduce ecological models of tourism.

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