From restrictions in Seoul to protests in Barcelona, overtourism is causing fierce resistance. But Singapore is emerging as an exception!
Restrictive measures
The Seoul government said it will restrict visitors to the historic Bukchon Hanok Village in the heart of Seoul, South Korea, starting in October. Residents have complained for years about noise, trash and invasion of their privacy. They have also expressed discontent that the influx of tourists, outnumbering them - just like Hoi An! - has led to a significant decline in their quality of life.
Meanwhile, Barcelona has become a hotbed of anti-tourism sentiment. In July, people took to the streets, throwing objects, spraying water cans and canned soft drinks at tourists, telling them to “go home.”
Spanish protesters have gone further, using barricades to block the entrances to hotels and sidewalk cafes, forcing these overcrowded establishments to close. This hostility underscores the deep frustration residents have with tourists, who have disrupted daily life and strained community resources.
The cities of Amsterdam and Venice are also heavily affected because tourism has become overloaded again after the COVID-19 pandemic. To reduce tourism, Venice is applying a number of measures: Since August 1, this beautiful small city has limited the number of each tour group to a maximum of 25 people to reduce the number of tourists, protect the environment and the quality of life of local people. The use of loudspeakers by tour guides is completely prohibited. People or organizations that do not comply with the new regulations will face fines ranging from 25 to 500 euros (27 - 541 USD).
There are exceptions: Children under 2 and students visiting as part of an extracurricular activity are exempt. The Italian city also imposes a $5 tax on each tourist. Amsterdam has restricted cars from entering the city center to reduce pollution and create more space for pedestrians and cyclists. Major tourist areas have sought to distribute visitors over time, as well as to spread them out to reduce the load on places like the central canals. By 2035, cruise ships are expected to be banned from the Dutch capital’s canals altogether.
Priority to customers with money
Closer to Vietnam, some Japanese businesses are considering a dual pricing system: charging foreign tourists more than domestic ones. This has emerged after incidents such as barricades being erected at popular photo spots to block views of Mount Fuji near Tokyo due to unruly crowds.
In fact, amid the global storm of overtourism, Singapore’s approach to tourism has stood out. The island nation has focused on improving its infrastructure and prioritizing high-quality, deep-pocketed visitors over mass tourism, and has avoided the backlash that has plagued other tourist-heavy destinations.
Singapore's strategy is based on a report released by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 2018, which emphasised sustainable growth and quality tourism.
Mr Christopher Khoo - CEO of MasterConsult Services, a travel consultancy, said: "Singapore has been pursuing 'quality' tourism since 2013, aiming to attract tourists who spend more, instead of just aiming to increase the number of tourists."
Singapore’s commitment to sustainable tourism is also in line with its Green Plan 2030. Initiatives such as the upcoming Porsche Experience Centre and world-class wellness destinations have been designed to attract well-heeled visitors. The country also aims to distribute visitor traffic across the island, preventing overcrowding in any one area. Singapore is almost like a small city, not much bigger than Hoi An, but more modern, so managing visitors is hardly a problem.
Singapore tourism companies also contribute to the above strategy by scheduling visitors to popular attractions on weekdays and promoting lesser-known areas, helping to spread out the flow of visitors more evenly.
According to the Singapore Tourism Board, 19.1 million visitors came to the country in 2019. That number dropped sharply after that, during the two years of the pandemic, and started to rise again in 2022. Last year, the island welcomed 13.6 million visitors; the figure for the first five months of this year was 6.99 million, up 35.7% from the same period in 2023.
Don't forget that the responsibility for tourism lies not only with the destinations but also with the tourists themselves. Sayaka Kondo, a tourism researcher, commented: "Social media can be a useful tool. Tourists should research and be aware of local etiquette before traveling."
As Singapore continues to develop its tourism industry, it will be important to maintain a balance between attracting visitors and protecting the quality of life for its residents. By focusing on sustainable practices and high-quality tourism, Singapore aims to stay ahead of the curve and avoid the overtourism trap that other global destinations have fallen into, such as Hoi An.
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/khac-phuc-van-nan-du-lich-qua-tai-3139221.html
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