overtourism

American  

[oh-ver-toor-iz-uhm] / ˌoʊ vərˈtʊər ɪz əm /

noun

1. a situation in which too many tourists travel to a popular destination, causing the place to suffer negative environmental, economic, and sociocultural impacts.

   From packed viewpoints to water shortages, Santorini is the most visible face of overtourism in the Greek islands.

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Etymology

Origin of overtourism

First recorded in 1990–95; over- ( def. ) + tourism ( def. )

Example Sentences

The city is so synonymous with overtourism that some travelers have sworn off it completely—yet even amid cruise ship bans and entry fees for day-trippers, crowds keep coming.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

However, authorities say the number of visitors in recent years has "increased dramatically, exceeding the city's capacity and resulting in overtourism, which is having a serious impact on the living environment of local residents".

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Gualtieri said the vast numbers created a "gridlock" caused by "the famous problem of overtourism".

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

Getting past the fear means travel that is not merely transactional or feeding into overtourism.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2025

This week, John Dickerson returns and joins Emily Bazelon and David Plotz to discuss the Democratic National Convention; presidential polls; and overtourism.

From Slate • Aug. 22, 2024