Overtourism: A Source of Revenue or a Waste of Resources?

"Tourists Go Home" and the Growing Backlash Against Overtourism

In Greece, graffiti reads, "Tourists go home." In Spain, locals at luxury tourist destinations have taken to soaking wealthy tourists with water guns and chasing them away. This year, thousands of people in Spain marched with the slogan "Your vacation, our misery."

Countries like Greece, Spain, Italy, and other European nations experience a surge in tourists, especially during certain seasons. The number of tourists far exceeds that of refugees—who, fleeing war, disasters, and extreme poverty, often have no means to obtain passports or visas and are forced into perilous journeys, only to find doors shut in their faces. However, tourists, being seen as a source of revenue, are not met with the same 'racist' rhetoric that refugees often face.

Claims that refugees "drive up rents" and "drain resources" are frequently dismissed as racist urban myths, but in the context of mass tourism, these concerns are all too real.

Migrants and refugees are only welcomed as long as they provide the cheap labor that capitalists demand. Obstacles are placed in their way to prevent them from becoming citizens or tourists. The threat of deportation hangs over them like a shackle, and the racist danger is kept as a heavy chain around their necks to ensure they do not exceed the needs of the state.

A clear example of the class divide in border crossings can be seen in our report from the UK, which reveals that private jets are not subjected to passport checks.

Saving Tourism Before the Forests

To understand the phenomenon of mass tourism, or overtourism, we spoke with journalist Yannis Elafros, who has been covering similar issues in Greece.

Two images of Greece during the summer stand out globally: tourist convoys that make it impossible to move on the small "Instagram islands" and vast forest fires, often resulting in deaths. When these two events coincide, it seems the Greek government prioritizes saving tourism over the forests. Last year, the conservative Mitsotakis government offered tourists who left Rhodes Island due to fires a week of free vacation. Meanwhile, hundreds of refugees trying to reach these beautiful islands to save their lives are still being pushed back into the sea by the coast guard.

Elafros notes that this year, the number of tourists and tourism revenue in Greece increased by 10% compared to last year. The Central Bank estimates that 35 million tourists will visit Greece in 2024: "2023 was a record year with 33 million tourists and €20.5 billion in direct tourism revenue. The increase is significant: in 2010, this revenue was €9.5 billion. The most tourism-heavy regions are the Cyclades and Crete, the Aegean islands, the Ionian islands, and in recent years, Athens."

While 60% of Workers Can't Afford a Vacation...

Just as in Turkey, the people of Greece are increasingly unable to benefit from the country's tourism boom: "The real problem is that 60% of workers will not take a vacation and certainly won’t be able to travel to the islands. They will either stay in the city or go to their villages... This is a tragic situation for a country that depends on tourism."

So, are the criticisms of overtourism justified?

Elafros responds: "The consequences of the massive wave of tourists are numerous."

"Tourists Go Home" and the Strain of Overtourism

A few weeks ago, a municipal council member on Santorini Island asked the local population to "reduce their movements as much as possible" due to the influx of tourists arriving on cruise ships. Elafros notes that "locals and tourists can no longer fit into the narrow streets of Santorini."

Santorini is visited by 3.4 million tourists annually, while the local population is about 20,000. During peak season, up to 17,000 cruise passengers can arrive in a single day. Mayor Nikos Zorzos has proposed reducing the number of cruise passengers to 8,000 per day. However, some tourist hotel owners, speaking to CNN, find even this number too high.

Water Shortages and Waste

A serious issue is water scarcity. On a Facebook group for fans of Crete, a prospective tourist asked, "I'm coming to Crete, but there's talk of water shortages. Is it true?" A Cretan responded, "There are water cuts in the villages, but the hotels in the centers are not affected, so don't worry!"

Elafros highlights that water scarcity is a significant problem during the summer months: “Climate change is causing water shortages. While some islands experience water cuts, large hotels and villas waste water in their swimming pools. Additionally, large tourism buildings are destroying the views and harming the environment. In Athens and other places, the allocation of thousands of apartments for Airbnb has driven up housing prices. Restaurants and taverns have also become very expensive for tourists. Ferry tickets to the islands are also very costly.”

Labor and Tourism

Tourism is a major employment sector in Greece, with 60% of workers unable to afford a vacation this summer. Elafros reports that the number of workers in tourism peaks at 700,000 during the summer, with about 350,000 working continuously. The main issue is the intense workload coupled with low wages. Many workers work 12 hours a day, seven days a week, for three months without any days off. Due to poor conditions, many hotels have struggled to find staff this year, with 60,000 out of 260,000 positions unfilled.

Lack of Movement Against Overtourism

Elafros notes that there is currently no strong movement against overtourism in Greece, though there are sporadic protests and actions. Last year, successful large-scale actions were held against the privatization of beaches by private companies on many islands and coastal areas. In Athens and other places, protests are being held for stricter regulations on affordable housing and Airbnb. Many areas are fighting to protect the environment from 'concretization,' and the labor movement is advocating for better vacation rights, humane working conditions, wage increases, and protection against the uncontrolled growth of the tourism industry.

Class Transformation and Tourism

'Overtourism' also creates class transformation in tourist regions. A vivid example is Oaxaca, Mexico, where the number of local and international tourists increased by 77% from 2020 to 2024. Bloomberg’s report highlights that after teacher strikes in 2006, administrators began transforming the city with new festivals and events, a process referred to as "Disneylandization." Rents have more than doubled in the last five years, and central neighborhoods have become too expensive for locals.

'Is the Solution Just to Let the Richest In?'

Some countries are limiting the number of tourists to avoid losing revenue. For example, Italy introduced a daily fee for day-trippers in Venice (€5), earning €2.2 million in two months. However, such "measures" could accelerate the transformation of international travel into an exclusive privilege for the wealthy, making it increasingly inaccessible for many.

In Barcelona, Spain, rents have increased by about 70% and housing prices by 40% over the past decade. Mayor Jaume Collboni has announced plans to cancel 10,101 licenses for vacation rentals by November 2028.

This decision could mean that tourism revenue and luxury accommodations become monopolized, leading to a reduction in affordable tourist lodging. The long-term effects of these measures will become evident as they are implemented.

The 'Sustainability' Veil

The solution to 'overtourism' is often discussed under the banner of "sustainable tourism." Capitalism, which recognizes its unsustainable nature, likes to label issues as "sustainable" when it pretends to address them but does not truly resolve them.

Discussing alternatives to capitalism, which regulates who can cross borders, how urban spaces are organized, who can access natural beauty, and who has legal travel, could potentially lead to more "sustainable" outcomes.