Nearly 30 years ago, zoologist Desmond Morris warned that humans may be becoming an infestation on the planet. That warning resonates today as reports emerge of growing backlash against mass tourism across Europe and beyond. From Barcelona to the Isle of Skye, locals are protesting the sheer pressure of tourist numbers, suggesting the balance between visited and visitors has passed a tipping point.
In Venice, 28 million tourists this year overwhelm a city of just 55,000 residents. Massive cruise ships dwarf the ancient city, and daily life in summer becomes a humiliation of what the world treasures about Venice. Locals have had enough, mirroring sentiments in other hotspots like Barcelona, where anarchists held up tourist buses to protest rising costs driven by short-term rentals, and in Palma, where protesters declare 'Tourism Kills Mallorca'.
The problem extends beyond these hotspots. Globally, over a billion foreign trips are made annually, double the number 20 years ago. Britons took 45 million foreign holidays last year, a 68% increase since 1996. On Skye, traffic jams on the narrow road to Glen Brittle were exacerbated by European visitors attracted by the exchange rate. The industry is now the world's largest employer, with one in 11 people relying on it for work, making governments reluctant to curb this source of wealth.
Consumers are part of the problem. Despite indignities like overcrowded airports and price-gouging, millions continue to visit places like Venice. The European mass travel industry is not fit for purpose, yet few are deterred. Achieving a sustainable balance between visited and visiting is challenging, with the rise of Chinese tourism adding further pressure. Without significant changes, the tensions are likely to escalate.
