How digital strategy increases overtourism the case of Barcelona

Abstract

The term ‘overtourism’ made the headlines in 2017 to denote the antithesis of a fair, well-planned form of tourism. An overtourism destination is a destination perceived as the victim of uncontrolled flows of tourists. Some authors have contributed to analysing the first stages of this perception. Boissevain (1996) published ‘Coping with tourists: European reactions to mass tourism’, in which he analysed how a massive flow of tourists in Malta generated negative side effects and a total dependence on touristic economy. Tyler et al. (1998) offered one of the first analyses of ways to control tourism flow from a sustainable point of view. Bosselman et al. (1999) published a pioneering analysis on the relationships between hosts and tourists. The paper discusses the risks and benefits of growth in tourism and the need for long-term management to avoid overexploitation of tourist destinations. These research projects laid the foundations for reflection on sustainable tourism and were the starting point for studying the risks of overtourism. Fyall and Garrod (1998) discussed the impacts of overtourism on heritage sites. On the one hand, the phenomenon contributes to a short-term economic boost; on the other hand, it impacts negatively on the way of life of local communities.

Revenge tourism in Banyumas Regency: Examining the interrelationship among social media, overtourism, and post-COVID-19 impacts

“…The phenomenon of overtourism, which refers to the excessive influx of tourists resulting in congestion, strain on infrastructure, and environmental degradation, has been extensively studied in several international locations including Venice, Barcelona, and Santorini [28] . In the aforementioned areas, the arrival of tourists, frequently motivated by cost-effective transportation options and assertive promotional efforts, surpassed the maximum sustainable limit, resulting in socio-cultural and environmental disturbances [29,30] . These case studies highlight the potential hazards linked to unregulated expansion of tourism, particularly in areas that are sensitive and hold historical significance.…”