The world is such an amazing place, with so many unique destinations to explore. But time after time, we hear of people traveling to the same popular tourist destinations instead of venturing out and exploring lesser-known spots. Unfortunately, this has led to overtourism in some areas, which may end up hurting these destinations rather than benefiting them.
But there are some things that we can all do to become better travelers and help prevent overtourism from happening. While we aren’t saying that you should never visit popular tourist destinations, we recommend seeing travel from a different perspective and going off the beaten path from time to time to help reduce overtourism in some spots and bring tourism to the places that need it the most. From visiting lesser-known destinations to finding tourist attractions off the beaten path and more – here are some tips to help prevent overtourism.
1. Consider Lesser-Known DestinationsÂ
One of the easiest ways to help combat overtourism is to visit destinations that are leser-known. A lot of times people want to visit the spots that they see on social media or places that are well known tourist destinations. But instead, we higihly recommend that you do your research and plan trips to places such as smaller towns that have that local charm, or towns that many people haven’t heard of before. Who knows, you may just find your new favorite destination!
2. Take Day Trips to Smaller Towns
If you are going to stay in a big city or a place that is popular amongst tourists, try to go and explore small towns surrounding that location. During one of the days of your trip, plan to go to a local town near your destination and explore. A lot of times, these towns are overlooked, but they are very charming and have a lot to offer. Not to mention, you’ll be helping support the town’s economy.
3. Find Attractions and Restaurants Off-the-Beaten-Path
When you plan a trip, your first instinct may be to do an internet search of the best attractions and restaurants at your destination. And though this is one of the easiest ways to do your research, the search results are usually full of the popular tourist attractions and restaurants located in already overcrowded locations. Instead, we recommend that you travel a bit outside of town, and find an area that is less crowded and that could use your business. There are so many hidden gems just waiting to be found!
4. Visit Popular Destinations During the Off-Season
Most destinations across the globe have high tourist seasons, which is the part of the year in which they see the most tourists. For many places, the high season tends to be when the weather is the most comfortable, or during the holidays. If you can, try to avoid these times and visit popular destinations during the off-season. This way, you can escape the crowds and enjoy everything your destination has to offer, without adding to overtourism.
5. Respect the Locals
Last but certainly not least, if you are going to visit a destination that frequently sees a large number of tourists, make sure that you are respecting the locals who live there. A lot of times, locals get frustrated because tourists may not be showing them or their home the respect it deserves. You are visiting a place that someone else considers to be home, so be sure to pick up after yourself and show kindness to the locals and everyone else around you.
There are so many things that you can do to combat overtourism, and every little bit helps. Try your best to follow some of these tips and see what a world of difference you can make when it comes to preventing overtourism.
If you have plans to travel in the future and need a passport or visa, Swift can help! Please visit our website to get the application process started. Further, if you have any questions along the way, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be happy to help! No matter where you plan on going, we’ll get you there.
