“Why did I come here???”

This is what travel influencer Bhuvani Dharan, who has visited more than 51 countries, thought to himself when he set foot in Bali for a ‘brand trip’. For a person like him, whose passion and work revolves around travel, he often chooses destinations that are not crowded.

However, three months ago, when he visited Bali to see what the hype was about (without spending a dime), he never imagined that a place known for its leisure would make him feel like Like he “wasn’t able to relax”.

“It was very crowded, and everything seemed like it was built for tourists, not real culture. You can’t even relax properly in such places,” he says.

Bhuvani shared that he has experienced similar situations in Himachal Pradesh’s Kasol and Manali – places that are often “over-hyped”.

Recalling his visit to Kasol, Bhuvani says India Today He did not expect the traffic to be so bad that “it would be difficult to reach on time”. He says that even after arriving, it became difficult to enjoy the place due to the crowd.

While these destinations remain popular, Bhuvani’s experiences highlight a growing concern: Has overtourism stripped away the soul of these places?

scene-apocalypse

During the pre-pandemic era, precisely in 2016, there were some media organizations that started discussing what they called ‘over-tourism’, when too many people visit a destination. This overtourism is said to have a negative impact on the environment, local communities and the visitor experience.

However, when the pandemic hit, the entire tourism industry came to a halt. But when the world once again opened its borders, people started traveling more than ever. The numbers show that by the end of 2024, international tourist arrivals are expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels.

This ‘Badla Yatra’ has once again started the discussion of ‘overtourism’.

Take Bali, for example. Niluh Verdiani, managing director of TRIA UMA WISATA Tours & Travel from Bali, tells us that overtourism has significantly changed the cultural and environmental landscape of the island.

She explains that this leads to iconic attractions like Ubud’s rice terraces or Seminyak’s beaches being constantly overcrowded, leading to soil erosion and stress on local ecosystems.

“Even traditional Balinese ceremonies and rituals are disrupted by unsuspecting tourists, creating a tension between preserving cultural authenticity and catering to tourism. Tackling these challenges is important to ensure that Bali maintains its identity while welcoming visitors,” she explains.

The latest Indian example that has suffered serious effects of overtourism (also known for its beaches) is Goa. India’s smallest state, with a population of about 1.6 million, is expected to achieve 8.5 million in 2023. This has led to pollution, litter on its beaches, traffic jams, improper waste disposal, water scarcity and degradation of its delicate ecology.

Due to which the number of foreign tourists in Goa has been affected and arrivals have decreased by 60 percent.

Overtourism has also affected the mountains. In 2023, Joshimath, Uttarakhand, which has gained fame as a location on the Badrinath Circuit, is often referred to as a “sinking city” after experiencing a significant land subsidence. Large tracts of land began to sink, causing cracks in homes, roads and other infrastructure. The worrying development highlights the fragile ecology of the region, raising questions about the impact of overcrowding, overdevelopment, unplanned construction and climate change on the sensitive Himalayan environment.

Aman Shah, CEO of Wild Whispers, a tour group that manages trips in Africa, tells us the crowds remind him of the Maasai Mara. According to him, the national reserve, which has gained popularity through social media, is also becoming a victim of overtourism. This is disrupting its delicate ecosystem.

“The huge number of vehicles in the reserves not only affects the behavior of the animals but also damages the habitats due to excessive use. Wildlife corridors are often encroached upon by uncontrolled development, threatening biodiversity. Overcrowded safari lodges compromise the unique wilderness experience that visitors seek. For local communities dependent on tourism, the economic benefits outweigh the long-term costs to their environment and culture,” he says.

But,

Why is overtourism happening?

There are many reasons for the rise in travel; a little too much.

1. The rise of budget airlines and cheap travel

The explosion of low-cost airlines and budget-friendly travel options has made exploring the world more affordable and accessible than ever. Destinations that were once expensive or remote are now just a cheap flight away, leading to a surge in visitor numbers that often exceeds the capacity of these destinations.

2. Impact of social media

Jatinder Paul Singh, CEO and co-founder of travel startup Vacation, explains that social media significantly contribute to overtourism as they expose destinations to millions of people, allowing tourists to visit popular destinations as well as previously quiet spots. Let’s come.

According to him, influencers and travel bloggers multiply this effect, making destinations appear more attractive. Although this increases tourism, it also results in overcrowding, environmental degradation, and displacement of local communities as people try to cover the same “Instagrammable” spots, compounding the effects of overtourism.

3. Increase in middle class tourism

With the rise of the global middle class, especially in countries like China and India, millions of people now have the means to travel internationally. Popular tourist destinations often bear the brunt of this influx, as travelers seek the same iconic sites and experiences.

4. Seasonal congestion and lack of management

Many destinations are seasonal, attracting large numbers of tourists during peak times. Without proper crowd control or regulations, this can lead to overcrowding, environmental damage, and stress on local communities. Governments and officials often fail to implement systems such as visitor limits or spread tourism throughout the year.

How to solve this problem?

Bhuvani comments that overtourism is losing the charm of many beautiful places.

He says, in India, the crowd has increased in places like Manali, Shimla and especially Kasol due to social media.

He says, “Kasol is all over Instagram and now a lot of people are coming to see it. The roads are always filled with heavy traffic and even after reaching there, it becomes difficult to enjoy because of the crowd.”

However, experts agree that there are a number of ways one can deal with overtourism, and top among them seems to be promoting alternative destinations.

Bhuvani says, “The best way to deal with overtourism is to avoid popular destinations and choose lesser-known areas. For example, instead of going to Kasol or Shimla, I like to explore small villages in Himachal. There are homestays in many places, which not only provide a unique experience but also support the local economy.”

Niluh agrees. She says that to tackle overtourism, community involvement is another important strategy – training local people to manage tourism sustainably ensuring that benefits are shared equitably.

It is also important to enforce ban on vehicles in sensitive areas for environmental protection. He also mentioned that one should promote ecotourism initiatives that emphasize low-impact travel, and we help reduce the effects of overtourism.

So next time, if you are planning your holidays, instead of choosing the “promoted places”, try giving them a breather and explore the unexplored places.