- Ask any economic expert or, for that matter, any government across the globe, and all would be voicing in unison about the importance of strengthening the tourism sector to make it more attractive to the local as well as global community. Not for nothing, every government would go to any extent to ensure some of the most important tourist destinations are not only accessible, attractive, endearing, people-friendly, and secure/safe but also a memorable experience for the holidaymakers who would eventually become the ambassadors for spreading good words about the venue. The revenue generated from the visitors would be good for the eco-tourism, and also the soft power on display will be of immense help to build the image of the country too.
PC: Bloomberg
- Thus, emphasis is always placed on sprucing up the tourist infrastructure by dishing out top-notch amenities for the paying visitors/holidaymakers to soak in the experience. However, what’s happening in the changed scenario is the struggling tourist destinations around the world with the massive influx of tourists flocking to such places, thereby stretching the resources to their limit and beyond. Too many tourists in the same places are becoming a big challenge for the local as well as national administration. Everyone loves going on vacation. Who does not wish to visit beaches, hills, and snow on a leisurely holiday with family and friends to soak in the fun? However, what happens when too many people go to the same place? Chaos ensues.
PC: AARP
- That’s what’s happening in popular places like Hawaii, Spain, Italy, Greece, Belgium, Bhutan, and some parts of India with uncontrolled crowds thronging unabated. As reported, in Hawaii’s island of Maui, homes meant for local people are now being rented out to tourists. This became an even bigger problem after a wildfire destroyed houses – now locals are struggling to find a place to live. In Spain, people in cities like Barcelona and Mallorca sprayed water guns at tourists to protest! Why so? Because many visitors are making daily life hard: houses are too expensive, traffic is chaotic, and local culture is disappearing. The above countries are worried that too many tourists are damaging nature, wasting water, and changing their towns forever.
PC: Zee News – India.Com
- Back home, our hill stations like Pahalgam, Mussoorie, and Landour are also struggling. These small places were not built for huge crowds. In 2024, more than 20 lakh people visited Mussoorie and Landour – that’s way more than the number of people who live there! The roads are jammed, water is running out, and landslides are happening more often, like the one in Sikkim this June that trapped 1,600 tourists. After COVID, people now travel year-round, not just during holidays. But we haven’t built enough new places for them to go. Some places tried to limit how many people came in, but that’s not enough. We need to find and build new vacation spots, spread tourists out, and protect the places we already love. Holidays should be fun, not harmful.
