ETOA survey shows growing concerns about overtourism
Overcrowding in Europe’s most popular tourist destinations is becoming a growing concern for inbound tour operators to the region.
According to a recent survey by European tourism association ETOA, incoming operators are increasingly worried about capacity management and how to source new product in tourist hotspots.
Executive director Tom Jenkins said the survey had indicated growth in incoming tourism to Europe. A poll of 320 of the largest incoming operators handling Europe found 71% said business was more than 5% up on last year and 35% said it was up by more than 10%.
But he said over crowding is becoming a problem of that success.
"It’s very difficult to source product in established destinations like London, Rome, Venice, and Florence, which operators fear have all turned into sellers markets," he said.
"How we handle these issues is going to be one of the next big policy questions, but it’s a self-regulating problem rather than unfocused wailing on over tourism, which we have seen in the media."
He said the simple answer is for operators to sell low season product more aggressively and to add value by delivering a ‘different, exceptional’ product.
The problem of overtourism was tackled in a special session at this year’s World Travel Market.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025