Why Is Overtourism Happening? Blame Capitalism.

The campaign worked, and that’s putting it modestly. In fact, “The Mighty 5” was an instant hit and soon attracted millions of visitors – and their tourism dollars. In 2023 alone, the five National Parks of Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches welcomed nearly 11 million visitors. It set a new attendance record, and the National Park Service estimates that visitors to national park sites in Utah spurred $1.9 billion in direct spending the same year.

The campaign focused on picture-perfect shots of a family exploring Utah’s five national parks. Photo: Margaret.Wiktor/Shutterstock

Despite the financial gain, many local officials and residents – this writer included – have expressed a belief that the campaign may have worked too well. In peak season, the Mighty 5 are routinely overrun by visitors and borderline unvisitable, the crowds are so thick. Newly implemented reservation systems and permits for some of the more popular hikes and areas have eased the congestion a little. Still, with so many people wanting to see the Mighty 5 for themselves, the deluge of visitors is not only frustrating for everyone involved, but also threatens the very lands these popular parks are trying to protect.

“We did this to ourselves,” one tourism official recently told me.

We – not you. And that’s the royal we, as in “all of us.” Although each traveler contributes to the growing concern, damages, and frustrations of overtourism, the lion’s share of the blame belongs on good, ol’ fashioned capitalism. In an effort to boost our economies, share knowledge and cultures, and value experiences over things (which research shows makes us happier), most major cities, states, and entire countries have doubled down on growing tourism.

One reason why overtouris is happening can be attributed to average people having more discretionary spending. The Acropolis in Greece, 2023. Photo: Laurence Berger/Shutterstock

Utah isn’t the only place that has benefited economically. Over the last 20 years, international travel has more than doubled, according to the World Tourism Organization. These acute numbers are especially pronounced in places such as Italy, Thailand, Greece, small island states where visitors outnumber locals by as much as 20 to 1, and even in far-flung Antarctica. In heavily congested hot spots, overtourism results in wear and tear on buildings and the environment, community resentment (in spite of the economic uplift), and sharp price increases for energy, food, shelter, and more.

During a recent chat with one of my neighbors, we were talking about where our kids may live one day. She expressed that she loves living here, and wants her kids to be able to stay if they love it, too. “But how will my kids be able to afford a house here?” she asked, especially as the average home price in the state has increased by 200 percent since 2000, meaning home costs in Utah are rising higher than the national average. Although other factors contribute to driving up the cost of Utah housing, overtourism is certainly playing a part.

So why does overtourism happen? While capitalism is the notable catch-all, there are several factors that have led to a dramatic increase in tourism since the turn of the century.

Though capitalism is known for leaving some behind, it’s also really good at lifting a lot of people out of poverty. When that happens, the middle class grows, as has happened all over the world. That creates more disposable income for more people, and when coupled with modern society’s propensity to invest in experiences over things, that inevitably means people will cross borders in search of new experiences and new adventures. That’s the first big reason.

Bhutan is one of several countries that has introduced a tourism fee, designed to create income that can be spent countering the negative effects of overtourism. Photo: Vladmir Melnik/Shutterstock

Affordable air and cruise travel is another, both of which have made it more affordable than ever to see the world. This drop in pricing makes it even easier for people with more money to visit even more places. While hotels are being built at a record pace, there’s also a surge in short-term rentals, which have expanded overnight capacities to the places we want to visit.

Lastly, the internet, social media, and online bookings have made it easier than ever to see the outside world. We have literally become more globalized than ever before. Because of this, places such as Bhutan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Utah have ensnared global travelers with their good looks and effective marketing. In that way, each of us got what we paid for.

So that’s what’s driving record numbers. But overtourism is really a lack of regulation and planning. When Utah, for instance, launched the “Mighty 5” campaign after the turn of the century, few would have predicted just how successful the camping would become. No one could have predicted that the above ingredients would combine with one another so well to create such high demand.

In many ways, we are still in the Wild West of global tourism. While some countries and communities are more capable than others when it comes to balancing the demands of lots of visitors, others are still figuring it out.

Visitors in line at Peru’s Machu Picchu. Photo: prosiaczeq/Shutterstock

To overcome these challenges, many destinations are charging visitors a day tax, such as Venice, Italy, and the entire country of Bhutan. Amsterdam banned the construction of new hotels. Dubrovnik capped the number of cruise ships allowed to dock at its ports each day. Barcelona limited short-term rentals. And protected lands and famous landmarks ranging from Yosemite National Park to Machu Picchu have imposed time-entries and reservation systems to even out the numbers.

In that light, maybe overtourism isn’t inherently a thing that must be totally avoided. Maybe it’s just a growing pain from which the travel industry will adapt and recover. And if growth is always better than decline, maybe these are good problems to have – problems that we can overcome, if history is any indication. Travel has changed wildly in the last 20 years, and if you look at the last 200 years, it’s clear humans have made massive strides in interconnectedness and cultural exchange.

Moving forward, I don’t believe any responsible traveler should feel guilty for traveling, or even apologize for it. There’s no need to forgive yourself. Instead, you can be a part of the solution to travel’s overtourism hurdle.

While none of us can prevent the onward march of capitalism, globalization (in this writer’s opinion, another good thing, in most contexts), or even the speed at which destinations are getting easier and easier to reach , each of us can do several things on our next adventure to limit the bumps we encounter along the road.

Visiting destinations in the off-season can result in a more peaceful, less crowded experience that helps create year-round income for local businesses, instead of crushing them with unmanageable levels of tourists in peak summer. Photo: Ashley Hadzopoulos/Shutterstock

First, know before you go. Understand what growing pains a destination is undergoing and how you might navigate those in a considerate manner. That may mean visiting in an off-peak season, or not treating residents and locals like wild animals that need to be photographed. Maybe that means doing a better job of respecting private property, as you would want others to respect your home. Maybe that means packing out your waste and leaving a place better than you found it. Maybe that means accepting that reservations are actually a good thing.

Travel isn’t going away. It will continue to grow. But together we can make it even better. As our planning gets better, so too will our experience. And that should be celebrated.