The tourism industry is booming, with many hot spot destinations seeing more travel than ever before. More than 1.6 billion crossed the border for leisure travel in 2016 and the numbers rise. Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? The answer is yes, and booming cities like Barcelona, Venice and Reykjavik pay the price.
The increase in tourism causes what is now known as overtourism — when newly popular destinations cannot handle the number of tourists flooding their system. This creates a number of issues, including overcrowding, transportation delays, increased pollution, destruction of protected areas and even rising anti-traveler sentiments.
In Reykjavik there is a massive shortage of housing and hotels and the country is considering steps including hiking hotel prices and a tourist tax, forcing bus companies and tour operators to buy a special license.
Travelers may see a rise in prices in popular destinations and a decrease in accessibility in response to rapidly inflating numbers.
Destinations may be forced to take on new restrictions similar to those employed by the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu and Palau who limited tourism growth with detailed and stringent restrictions on access and development.
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