While European destinations are making the most noise about overtourism, it is worth considering if it is mostly a European problem.
The US remains a prime destination in the global travel market but does not seem to have encountered the same issues or inspired similar mass demonstrations by local residents.
This is not to say that the country doesn’t have its own problems, communities are often overwhelmed by spring breakers while reports in the past revealed that the country’s national parks are often packed in the peak summer months.
State of the market
While a spokesperson for the US Travel Association agreed that any overtourism issues in the US are limited to certain destinations, he added the US inbound travel market which saw 66.5 million visitors to the country in 2023 has far bigger issues.
He said: “Of note, while other nations have fully recovered their levels of visitation and are gaining market share, the US has lost market share of global travellers and has yet to fully recover the volume of international inbound visitation that we experienced pre-pandemic.
“US inbound visitation was just 84 per cent recovered (as of 2023) and our market share has declined (5.3 per cent in 2023, down from 5.4 per cent in 2019).”
However, while UNESCO expert on sustainable tourism Peter DeBrine agreed that Europe might be feeling the pain more, he added other destinations like the US need to start planning for such problems in the future.
He said: “Europe is particularly vulnerable to overtourism due to its high population density and the concentration of iconic sites within relatively small geographic areas. The continent’s well-established tourism infrastructure also makes it a prime target for mass tourism.
“However, the issue is not exclusive to Europe. Other destinations in all continents are beginning to experience similar pressures, particularly in places like natural sites and cities with significant cultural landmarks.
“As global travel continues to rise, overtourism could indeed become a more widespread issue, necessitating a global response, notably through forums such as UNESCO.”
DeBrine added while the Chinese mass market might not have returned to international travel post Covid, there are more than enough emerging markets to fill the empty beds and keep piling on the pressure.
He said: “As global wealth increases and more people gain access to international travel, the pressure on popular destinations is likely to intensify.
“Emerging markets represent significant growth in global tourism, which, while positive for economic development, can strain destinations that are already experiencing the impacts of overtourism.”
New York’s new laws
One US destination that is already responding to certain overtourism concerns — the availability of long-term housing — is New York, which saw 7.1 million visitors in 2023 and which in September 2023 started enforcing the Local Law 18 legislation to limit the number of short term lets available in the city.
The new legislation limits the number of guests staying in a residence to two, bans the use of internal locks and insists the owners of the residence stay there at the same time as their guests for all short lets.
In addition, anyone wishing to rent out a property without staying with their guests must do so for a minimum of 30 days.
One year on, data showing that the number of Airbnb rentals in the city for fewer than 30 nights has dropped by more than 80 per cent year on year in the summer months suggests the plan is working.
Unsurprisingly, Airbnb has also reviewed the impact of the ban on the New York hospitality industry a year after its introduction and claimed that it has been detrimental to the city.
It said New York hotel rates grew by 7.4 per cent in July 2024 year on year to $307.75 compared to a 2.1 per cent national increase while the anticipated decrease in apartment rental prices for New Yorkers has failed to occur with rents rising by 3.4 per cent in the 11 months following the law’s introduction.
Similarly, the amount of vacant apartments in the city remains the same at 3.4 per cent, Airbnb added, while the city’s outer boroughs have been hardest hit, along with the residents who depended on the extra income generated.
Airbnb VP, Public Policy Theo Yedinsky said: “New York City’s short-term rental regulations have backfired—disproportionately impacting outer borough communities, driving up travel costs, and doing nothing to solve the housing crisis.
“Instead of improving affordability, these regulations have priced out everyday consumers and left former hosts struggling to make ends meet.”
While New York might be grappling with these issues, Michael O’Regan, a lecturer in tourism and events at Glasgow Caledonian University’s Glasgow School for Business and Society, said other US destinations avoid the problem through careful management.
He cited the example of Las Vegas, where the city’s 656,000 strong population welcomed 40.8 million visitors in 2023.
O’Regan said the city, which ended 2023 with 154,662 available beds, has been built with tourism in mind and its infrastructure can handle the numbers its conventions, casinos and other attractions generate.
He added the city also benefits from the US’s mobile workforce who frequently move to where the jobs are and which allows it to deal with the ebbs and flows of mass tourism.
However, O’Regan said: “I’m not saying Las Vegas is a utopia. In downtown Vegas there are concerns about poverty levels and other issues.”
Future planning
Whatever the future holds for the US as a destination, UNESCO’s DeBrine said it should be planning now to try and avoid the problems engendered by overtourism.
He urged the travel industry to shift to more sustainable practices including developing and marketing lesser well known destinations and encouraging off-season travel.
He added governments can do their bit by regulating the flow of tourists, supporting local communities and preserving cultural and natural heritage.
DeBrine said: “Comprehensive management strategies that balance the needs of locals and visitors are essential to dressing the root causes of overtourism.”
Whether or not this balance can be achieved remains to be seen, but if destinations are to deliver an experience that benefits all involved then it surely remains worth targeting.