Summer 2024 Sees Surge in Overtourism

Martinho de Almada Pimentel, a resident of Sintra, Portugal, is feeling increasingly isolated due to a surge in overtourism during the summer of 2024, with 5,000 daily visitors causing traffic jams and disruptions near his home. He expresses frustration over the lack of privacy and the overwhelming number of tourists drawn by revenge travel and digital nomadism, leading to protests from locals demanding better management of tourism. As global tourism is expected to hit record levels post-COVID, the consequences of overtourism are becoming evident, including strained infrastructure and rising housing costs. In Malta, the Hotels and Restaurants Association has echoed similar concerns, criticizing the government's focus on quantity over quality in tourism policy, which has led to unsustainable practices and damage to local communities. Calls for a shift in tourism strategy are growing, with comparisons drawn to past successful efforts in other regions to manage tourist capacity sustainably. The situation underscores the urgent need for better management and a rethink of tourism strategies to protect both locals and visitors.