The Walls of Athens, Echoes of Denial of the Tourism Boom

In the last two years the number of tourists has approached pre-pandemic numbers. The issue of excessive tourism is emerging again.

AP PHOTO/THANASSIS STAVRAKIS

Tourists crowded the Acropolis, a tourist area in Athens, Greece, on July 4, 2023. Local residents protested the impact of excessive tourism in the city on May 16, 2024.

Local residents in various world tourist destinations are increasingly tired of the tourism boom (overtourism). A wave of rejection has hit a number of countries because excessive tourism actually harms them.

The latest rejection appeared in Greece. As reported on the page The Greek City Times, Thursday (16/5/2024), graffiti appeared demanding an end to the tourism boom on the city walls of Athens. The content is more or less the phrase "Tourists, go home" or "Tourists, enjoy your holiday in a European cemetery".

Residents complain about the flood of tourists occupying their neighborhood. Most of the homes have turned into seasonal accommodations. Property owners are aware of the detrimental effects of the tourism boom and emphasize the importance of preserving Greek cultural heritage for tourists who are genuinely interested in it.

Greece heavily relies on tourism for their national income. This sector contributes around one-fifth of the gross domestic product in 2022. The Greek Tourism Business Association stated that last year, there were 33.4 million tourists visiting Greece. They mainly came to Acropolis, the location of Parthenon, Erechtheion, and Propylaea. At least 17,000 people visit that site per day.

Also read: Tourism Boom: Tourists Happy, Residents Suffer

It is no surprise that Athens is referred to as one of the areas where historic residences have been eroded and damaged due to uncontrolled tourism. In April, local residents took to the streets to protest against this tourism boom.

AFP/DESIREE MARTIN

Members of the Canary movement protest against hotel construction and excessive tourism in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spanish territory, on April 13, 2024.

The movement in Greece echoes various similar actions in various tourist destinations around the world. In mid-April 2024, residents of the Canary Islands, Spain, went on a hunger strike, demanding the cessation of construction of two hotels. Previously, in March, residents of Malaga demonstrated.

At the same time, residents of Kyoto, Japan, are protesting the abundance of tourists who often behave inappropriately. According to NHK television station, Kyoto residents have even felt the threat of excessive tourism since 2018.

Fastest growing

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) states that tourism is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world. Currently the volume of tourism business is equal to or even exceeds the volume of exports of oil, food products or cars. Tourism is becoming a major player in international trade, as well as a major source of income for many developing countries.

The global tourism industry was hit hard during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2022. As the pandemic subsided, major tourist cities began to seek strategies to attract tourists again. In the past two years, the number of tourists has approached pre-pandemic levels. The issue of excessive tourism has once again surfaced.

AFP PHOTO / NATIONAL PARK, WILDLIFE AND PLANT CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

A photo released by the Department of Conservation, Wildlife, and National Parks of Thailand on October 3, 2018, showed the area of Maya Bay Beach closed to the public.

National Geographic's September 7 2023 edition states, overtourism is a term to highlight the increasing number of visitors to a city, famous buildings and natural landscapes. There are no exact numbers that determine the number of visitors, but an accumulation of economic, social, and environmental factors determines whether and how the number increases.

What is clear is that there are impacts from excessive tourism, including climate change. UNWTO projects that carbon emissions related to tourism transportation are expected to grow by 25 percent in 2030.

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Excessive tourism reduces environmental quality. Coral reefs and Maya Bay Beach, which is surrounded by high cliffs in Thailand, for example, are experiencing degradation. This beach is popular thanks to the film The Beach, starring actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Mainly due to snorkeling, diving and coral touching activities by visitors, as well as tourist boats anchored in the waters.

Excessive tourism has brought up local problems. Tenants are evicted by landlords in order to turn properties into vacation spots. As a result, house prices increase. Because the number of visitors and rental properties exceed the population of the local community, the community disappears. The tourism boom causes skyrocketing prices, excessive queues, high noise levels, damage to historic sites, and impacts on the environment.

KOMPAS/ILHAM KHOIRI

The atmosphere at the port in the Arsenale area, Venice, Italy, Saturday (11/5/2019).

Due to the numerous negative impacts it causes, a number of cities and tourist destinations have imposed rules such as bans, fines, taxes, and time slot systems. In some cases, several cities have even launched anti-tourism campaigns to curb the number of visitors.

For instance, Venice in Italy has started implementing a rule that requires every visitor to pay 5 euros (Rp 86,000) when entering the city. The community in Barcelona, Spain, has put up fake warning signs to drive away tourists. Meanwhile, Kyoto has closed off city streets to prevent them from turning into playgrounds.

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Unfortunately, this is not a solution. Venetian residents instead protested their city government when entrance fees were implemented. They believe their city is not just a museum.

Harold Goodwin, an emeritus professor at Manchester Metropolitan University, said that excessive tourism is not only caused by the volume of visitors, but also by conflicting behaviors, crowding in inappropriate places, and privacy concerns. "To manage crowds, first we need to analyze and determine the causes," he said.

KOMPAS/KRIS MADA

The Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, Japan on October 3, 2023. The temple is a world cultural heritage site as well as one of Japan's main tourist attractions.

Justin Francis, one of the founders and CEO of Responsible Travel, a sustainable travel operator, said that to address the tourism boom, local communities must be involved in discussions. "We must be careful not to repeat the same problems in other places. The most important thing is to form a clear strategy, consult with local communities about what a place needs or wants from tourism," he said.

The approach taken by the Kyoto government in 2018 can serve as a reference. They dispersed the density of visitors based on time, region, and season. For example, opening tourist attractions earlier in the day, promoting tourism agendas in less crowded areas, and vigorously promoting that Kyoto is not just about cherry blossoms and autumn. (REUTERS/AP)