WTM 2016: Capping visitors vital for over-popular destinations

World Travel Market London research released on 7 November revealed that three-quarters of the 2,000 industry professionals surveyed agreed with the statement that ‘tourism caps are a practical solution to the problems of overcrowding’.

Only 5% said tourism caps are ‘not at all’ a practical solution to overcrowding. These findings highlight a growing problem faced by destinations and attractions that are becoming a victim of their own success and are finding themselves having to cope with overcrowding.

Iceland’s experience was a particular focus of the subsequent WTM debate on the subject. The destination admits that it cannot keep pace with the large increase in visitors in recent years. Against a population of 335,000, it expects to welcome 1.6 million visitors in 2016, which is a massive 29% increase on 2015.

It means that what people come to Iceland for, an experience of being in an unspoilt and uncrowded destination, is increasingly being eroded.

“We can’t just endlessly receive more and more people at any particular tourist site and live under the assumption that we are offering the type of experience that people have paid for,” has said Iceland Tourist Board Director General Ólöf Atladóttir.

Much of the increase in Iceland’s popularity is down to airline marketing. Many longhaul flights to and from the US and Europe operated by Icelandair and Wow Air stopover in Iceland, giving paassengers the opportunity to explore the country. With some fares on these routes at extremely low prices, demand is guaranteed to be high

“Icelandair plans to bring 10,000 passengers per day, but there’s not a huge choice of things to do once you’re there,” said travel author and expert Doug Lansky. “Everyone wants to visit the Blue Lagoon, but it doesn’t have the capacity for 85% of those 10,000. “It results in huge queues at attractions and visitors walking like penguins down the crowded street.”

This is to help save the coral reefs

Thailand is a destination actively capping visitor numbers, having banned visitors from four islands: Koh Khai Nok, Koh Khai Nui, Koh Khai Nai and Koh Tachai. This is to help save the coral reefs from permanent damage. Before the ban, more than 60 speedboats would typically visit the islands daily. The ban has resulted in shops and cafes closing, resulting in local traders have no income from tourists.

In Italy, tourists have been capped at Cinque Terre, a pretty set of five villages along the Ligurian Sea. This is because officials want numbers reduced from 2.5 million to 1.5 million annually.

The Seychelles is another destination considering curbing visitor numbers as the current 250,000 visitors is six times the number of residents.

“Destinations and attractions have a tricky job getting the balance right between attracting more visitors, but not attracting more than can be accommodated,” says WTM London Senior Director, Simon Press. “With a growing worldwide population and more people wanting to travel, this issue is one that will not go away.

“As well as affecting local communities, putting a huge strain on infrastructure and even threatening wildlife, too many tourists lead to huge queues and being hurried along at sites of interest that visitors really want to see. Experiences like that can really spoil a holiday and that is not in anyone’s interest.”