The Attitude of Tourist Destination Residents towards the Effects of Overtourism—Kraków Case Study

Abstract

Scientific research into the effect of tourist traffic in a tourist area have shown that the excessive concentration of tourist traffic leads to overcrowding in attractive locations, over-advertising, and aggressive commercialization, which lower the aesthetic quality of tourists’ experiences and result in the degradation of natural and cultural resources. The effect of excessive tourist numbers is an increase in the price of services, rental fees, and real estate. In historical cities, it causes the gentrification of historical districts. One of the social effects of an increase in tourist numbers is a change in attitude amongst residents towards tourists. This change is dependent on how residents perceive the positive and negative effects of tourism. The appearance of a negative attitude among residents towards tourists is a result of exceeding the social carrying capacity limits, that is, the ability to accept changes as they take place. This article assesses the attitudes of residents and tourist service providers in Kraków with regard to increasing tourist traffic and the ongoing process of change in the cityscape leading to the gentrification of districts most often visited by tourists. On the basis of a study of 518 respondents, including 371 city residents and 147 representatives of the tourist industry (hotel owners, restaurateurs, and tourist service providers), an assessment is made of their attitudes towards the specific problems of tourism development in Kraków. The research results indicate a variety of attitudes among interested parties, thus confirming the research hypothesis that actors display varied approaches with regard to the further development of tourism in Kraków. The conclusions drawn could prove useful in shaping the city’s policy on tourism according to the idea of sustainable development, by taking into consideration the current and future needs of all interested parties.

Living as Residents in a Tourist Destination: A Phenomenological Approach

“…Intermittently meeting with tourists could affect the character formation of residents according to the longitudinal question. The residents' positions on tourists are subjective and difficult to measure [22], and a valid theory is needed to better understand the perceptions of tourists [63]. This study, prior to using a theoretical approach, observed, understood, and expanded the foundation of the views of the relationships that are formed among residents.…”

“…Nevertheless, with repeated and intermittent encounters with various targets, residents become accustomed to their relationship with tourists. A large number of tourists visiting an area strengthens the pride of the residents because it means that their destination is superior [22]. Thus, due to the interest of tourists, residents may preserve the valuable natural environment and traditional culture in the destination [21].…”

“…In particular, the crime, trash, and traffic congestion caused by the actions of tourists have adverse social and cultural impacts on residents [25,26]. Recently, research has been conducted on tourism development that exceeds the capacity of the destination using overtourism and gentrification theories [22]. Previous studies have shown that the relationship between residents and tourists is sometimes understood as an interaction between hosts and guests, and SET has been applied to study the balance between these parties [18,27].…”

How Overtourism Threatens Large Urban Areas: A Case Study of the City of Wrocław, Poland

“…The attitude towards overtourism among Wrocław inhabitants who are not directly involved in tourism and people who do not draw income from this economic sector has not been covered in this study and remains a problem for further research. The attitudes of residents and tourist business community representatives towards excessive concentration of tourist traffic have been interestingly depicted by Szromek et al [55] and Kowalczyk-Anioł and Zmyślony [56] in the example of Krakow agglomeration. Analyses of opinions of various types of tourist traffic stakeholders towards the phenomenon of overtourism (including those pointing to a conflict of interests among tourist stakeholders) were also conducted in relation to other Polish cities of high tourist attractiveness, among others, Zakopane and Kazimierz Dolny [57].…”

“…Besides, it is necessary to emphasize the creation of modern and well-designed public spaces (expansion of tourism beyond the city centre), which would improve the quality of the tourist offer and would effectively address the dangers of excessive concentration of tourist traffic and gentrification phenomena in the city centre. Szromek et al [55] postulate tourist traffic management that would allow for quick and effective responses to changes, by implementing the concept of agile tourism, defined as adjusting organizational culture and quickly responding to market changes [61]. 7.…”