Bourton-on-the-Water, a village in the Cotswolds with a population of just 4,000, has been given the new nickname 'Blackpool-on-the-Water' as locals say it is being 'destroyed' by crowds of visitors. During peak periods, between 5,000 and 10,000 tourists descend on the village, according to residents.
Charlotte Joynes, chair of Bourton Residents Voice, told the Independent: 'We want to share it, but at the moment, the hordes of people that are coming means we are just being destroyed by it. It's no longer the beautiful village that people think it is – it's more "Blackpool-on-the-Water".'
Financial impact questioned
Joynes, who has lived in the village for more than 30 years, said the influx does not bring significant economic benefits. She noted that many tourists bring their own picnics and only purchase ice cream, coining the term 'picnic-and-paddlers' for visitors who contribute little to the local economy. 'They are coming with their own picnics, and all they're buying is an ice cream,' she said. 'It's the "picnic-and-paddlers", as I call them, that aren't bringing anything to the economy. We now have tourists moaning about tourists in Bourton.'
Edinburgh introduces tourist tax
Bourton is not the only UK destination grappling with overtourism. Earlier in July, Edinburgh became the first city in Scotland to introduce a tourist tax: a five per cent levy on overnight stays in self-catered accommodation, hotels, and bed and breakfasts, effective from July 24. The City of Edinburgh Council estimates the charge could generate up to £50 million annually, with funds reinvested into the city. Council leader Jane Meagher told the BBC: 'Visitor numbers in Edinburgh, as anyone who lives here will tell you, have risen, not just confined to summer. It inevitably costs us more to maintain the city to the high standards needed and it didn't seem fair that residents had to pay for that, so it seems fair that visitors should contribute.'
