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overtourism

American

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

noun

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.

Etymology

Origin of overtourism

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A cherry blossom festival boasting a highly Instagrammable view of Mount Fuji was cancelled this year after residents complained of overtourism.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

City officials have a similar plan to avoid the overtourism trap.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 4, 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

The so-called "overtourism" phenomenon has prompted several cities around the world to make changes to the way they welcome tourists.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2024

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023