‘ Overtourism ’: Fact, Fiction, or Food for Thought? Tourism Consultants’ Network Conference Manchester 22 nd Nov 2018 “The Challenge of Destination Management: Balancing Growth and Sustainability” Tom Buncle, Managing Director, Yellow Railroad Ltd.
Tom Buncle • Managing Director, Yellow Railroad • Writer & lecturer: - Hon. Prof. Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh - destination branding & marketing - travel trends & crisis recovery • CEO, Visit Scotland • Visit Britain: USA, Scandinavia, Southeast Asia
Consultancy Projects Caribbean Bosnia Norway Nice, France Jordan England Tunisia Cameroon Mozambique Wales Malta Kenya Rwanda Southern Africa Scotland Barbados Namibia Gabon
‘ Overtourism ’ • The Issues • The Reality • Solutions
‘ Overtourism ’ What are the Issues?
Overtourism: The Issues When is enough • Too many people in one place at one time enough? • Visitor experience devalued • Residents’ quality of life disrupted • Residents’ tolerance stretched • Natural and historic environment threatened • Reputation risk • Destination decline
Overtourism: The Issues ‘ Overtourism Residents Visitors Ratio Poster 2016 Visitors: Children’ Residents 55,000 28 million 509:1 Venice (80k p day @ Euros 3 av) Amsterdam 850,000 17 million 20:1 1.6 million 32 million 20:1 Barcelona (only 8m in hotels!) 332,000 1.7 million 5 :1 Iceland Isle of Skye 10,000 60,000 6:1
Overtourism: Visitor Experience Expectation vs. Reality Photo credit:s Brightside.me
‘ Overtourism ’ What’s the Reality?
Overtourism: The Reality UNWTO: ‘4 Myths’ • Not about numbers It’s about managing capacity • Not ubiquitous Localised issue – popular ‘hotspots’ • Not a ‘tourism - only’ problem Residents use services and infrastructure too • Technology/smart solutions alone won’t solve congestion Need integrated plan UNWTO ‘ Overtourism ’? Understanding and Managing Urban Tourism Growth beyond Percep tions (Sept 2018)
Overtourism : Residents’ Tolerance Residents are voters, visitors aren’t
Overtourism : Residents’ Tolerance Source: TCI Research France, Newsletter - Sept 2017 (survey of 800+ residents in Barcelona, Amsterdam & Paris)
‘ Overtourism ’ Is There a Solution?
Overtourism: Solution UNWTO: Solution • Governance: “Re - think current practices”:……. • Close cooperation among tourism and non-tourism administrations • Measures cannot focus only on altering visitor numbers and tourist behaviour • Focus also on local stakeholders • Need to understand residents’ attitudes towards tourism and engage local communities UNWTO ‘ Overtourism ’? Understanding and Managing Urban Tourism Growth beyond Percep tions (Sept 2018)
Overtourism: Solution Control Mechanisms: Quotas / limits • Rome: tour bus ban/restrictions • Bhutan: c. 140,000 visitors p.a. • Galapagos: no. of ships, 4 nts p.ship • Dubrovnik: 2 ships p. day • Antarctica: ship size (400 pax) & 100 pax max on land • Lord Howe Island, Australia: 400 max at one time • West Coast Trail British Columbia: 6,000 visitors p.a. • Bermuda: 10,000 beds cap; Ibiza, Majorca • Forbidden City, Beijing: 80,000 pax p. day • Sistine Chapel, Rome: 6 million visitors p.a. • Hobbiton, New Zealand: 550,000 visitors p.a.
Overtourism: Solution Control Mechanisms (cont.) • Closure: Boracay, Philippines (6 mths); Maya Beach, Thailand (indefinitely) • Access Management: - segregation of visitors & residents: Venice turnstiles - advance tickets only/car park pre-booking: Muir Woods, CA. Zion ++ may too • Regulations – licensing: - party size: Temple Bar, Dublin; Bhutan – no independent travellers; - water source (Mozambique) Pricing: e.g. user/entrance fee; bed/tourist tax: - NZ $35 tourist tax; city tax: Rome 3-7 euros; Amsterdam 6%; Edinburgh? - Bhutan $200-250 min. spend p. day; - timed differential pricing (e.g. Uffizi); - wildebeest migration $200 p. vehicle (Masai Mara, Aug 2018: c.100,000 visitors & 300 vehicles in 1 spot) • Investment freeze: Barcelona, Seychelles?
Overtourism: Solution Restrictions on whole property rental : 60-120 days San Francisco, Paris, London, New York, Reykjavik et al
Overtourism: Solution Control Mechanisms (cont.) • Traffic flows e.g. car ban – shuttle buses – pedestrian zones: Zermatt, Angkor Wat • Advance booking / timed ticketing e.g. Machu Picchu, Cinque Terre, exhibitions, attractions – Shard, London Eye, Yoho National Park, British Columbia; • Focus on iconic nodes e.g. Katla Geopark & Snaefellsnes, Iceland • Replica attractions e.g. Tutankhamun tomb, Chauvet-Pont- d’Arc , France.
Overtourism: Solution 80% (City University NY) But, what value authenticity? replica …………………..or remains?
Overtourism: Solution Facilitation - DMOs Marketing : • Spread visits seasonally • Spread visits more widely across the destination • Information (apps) to aid visitor planning • Technology – big data management • ‘ Demarketing ’ – rely on social media? (e.g. Amsterdam) Product : • Develop off-season products & offers • Work with local authorities & businesses to manage visitor flows
Overtourism: Solution Facilitation (cont.) Policy & Planning: • Destination Management Plan (DMP) Awareness: • Explain issues • N.B. tone Education: • Info for visitors: online, print, signage • Training for guides, tour ops et al • Appeal to visitors’ better nature
Cinque Terre, Italy: Visitor Management 5 fishing villages (UNESCO) connected by cliff trails Challenge: • 2.5 m visitors in 2015 – cruise & coach pressure • Environmental damage • Congestion – residents’ & visitor tolerance Solution: • Cinque Terre card: access to paths & sites + train & bus • Conservation guidelines for tourists • Limit = 1.5 m visitors (2016) – counter devices on roads • Advance ticket sales • App for visitors showing congestion levels by time
BUT……It’s Not All Bad Consolidated sentiment for Amsterdam, Barcelona and Paris - 800+ interviews conducted online in sept 2017, spread over touristy and non touristy districts in each city. Source: TCI Research France, Newsletter - Sept 2017
Overtourism: Solution Destination management: “the virtuous circle” Responsible tourism development
‘ Overtourism ’
Overtourism: Conclusion Overtourism is an issue But……… • Mostly only in certain places, at certain times So……... • Destination management planning is required Otherwise…… • Policymakers may turn their backs on this critical economic driver
Thank you ! Tom Buncle Managing Director www.yellowrailroad.com @TomYellowRail
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