Taking responsibility for overtourism
Why Airbnb has made us angry, Responsible Tourism Awards news and the latest on our events and training around the world.
It’s surprising how many destinations we talk to which say: “we don’t have a problem with overtourism.”
There’s a perception that overtourism affects just a few congested cities in Europe. But there are examples all over the world. And it’s not just in cities. It could be too many surfers on a beach, or just ten people in a loud tour group in a rural village. What is clear is that it’s much easier to prevent overtourism than it is to address it once it’s become established.
Harold Goodwin defines overtourism as a destination where hosts or guests, locals or visitors, feel that there are too many visitors and that the quality of life in the area. or the quality of the experience, has deteriorated unacceptably. That causes them to rebel.
So our advice for all destinations is to take responsibility for it before it happens. Undertake an overtourism risk review and understand local community views and concerns before you get to the point of overtourism.
Some articles on overtourism that we think are interesting reading for this month:
· Why Airbnb has made me angry an article by our Chair Debbie Hindle pointing out the lack of responsibility in a recent report published by the short-term rental company.
· Is it time for digital nomads like me to leave Lisbon? Alex Holder writes in the Guardian her concern about the impact of digital nomads in Portgual.
· How to stop surf spot overcrowding an article by Jérémy Lemarié in Adventure.com including a focus on the importance of regulation
· Japan overhauls travel rules to protect heritage against over-tourism increasing regulation and differential prices for visitors and locals.
· And you can find more articles on Harold Goodwin’s site here Overtourism - Responsible Tourism Partnership
ICRT global runs a ten-week online Professional Certificate in Addressing Overtourism and Managing Success. Find out more and join us this autumn.
“The overtourism course run by ICRT global is an exceptional course covering the complexities of overtourism in a digestible format. It presented the problems and possible solutions and I would encourage any tourism stakeholder to enrol.” Ollie Payton ESG analyst at easyJet holidays.
Responsible Tourism Awards Update
Southeast Asia and LATA awards winners confirmed. India Europe and Global Responsible Tourism Awards to come
We’re now officially closed for entries for 2025. Thank you to everyone who submitted your exciting projects and the final judging sessions are underway!
New regional award winners confirmed:
· Latin America Responsible Tourism Award winners LATA Responsible Tourism Awards - ICRT GLOBAL
· Southeast Asia Responsible Tourism Award winners SE Asia Award Winners - ICRT GLOBAL
Awards to come:
· The Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards recognition list will be published shortly and the winners will be announced at the BLTM trade show in new Delhi on 13 September.
· Europe We’ll soon be announcing the recognition list and then the winners of the Europe Responsible Tourism Awards sponsored by easyJet holidays
· Global - The gold winners of all the regional awards including WTM Africa then go onto contend for a Global Responsible Tourism Awards sponsored by Sabre which will be announced in November. Check out the current contenders here Global Awards Shortlist Builds - ICRT GLOBAL
Be inspired by our Responsible Tourism Winners
We have launched a “four questions with” series of interviews with our Responsible Tourism Award winners to inspire you with more background about their work. We ask what they have taken responsibility for, why, how and what impact they have made. Check out our latest posts:
· Four questions with Quang Dai Tuyen, Sen Caraih - ICRT GLOBAL
· Four questions with Hannah Tranter, Imvelo Safari Lodges - ICRT GLOBAL
· Four questions with Michael Daiber, !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre, - ICRT GLOBAL
· Four questions with Valery Super, Emboo - ICRT GLOBAL
Responsible Tourism Professional Certificate - 10 week Course
Our final course date for 2025 is now open for bookings.
We start our next ten-week Responsible Tourism Professional Certificate on Thursday 2 October with meetings held at the beginning, middle and end of the course on 2 October, 30 October and 27 November. Find out more by pre-enrolling.
“I've rarely completed a programme that felt so purposeful, so human, and so timely. It's already helping me reframe what we're building.” Steven Keen, Corfu
Upcoming Events
· ICRT India Foundation and ICRT Sri Lanka BLTM Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards, 13 September, New Delhi
· ICRT Europe Announcement of the Europe Responsible Tourism Awards sponsored by easyJet holidays
· ICRT Finland – three day free webinars Enhancing Responsible Tourism in the Nordic Countries | Jamk
· ICRTH Southeast - ICRTH 202
Surfing image credit:Alex Fernando, Pexels.
Lily image credit: Sen Caraih