Overcrowding at popular tourist destinations is often attributed to travelers, but Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, argues it’s more about inadequate management. Speaking on “Squawk Box Asia,” Durband, who has four decades in the travel industry, notes that governments traditionally haven’t seen tourism management as their responsibility. He advocates for a paradigm shift where Destination Marketing Organizations focus on management rather than just marketing. This shift is beginning, albeit slowly, as governments come to realize that effective management is crucial for sustainable tourism.
Durband cites China as a leader in managing visitor flows, using the Leshan Giant Buddha as an example. The Chinese government built attractions nearby to disperse crowds and use technology to monitor visitor numbers proactively. He suggests that other iconic cultural sites could benefit from similar strategies, such as preliminary attractions to prevent overcrowding at main sites. Additionally, implementing technology to track visitor flows can significantly aid in this process.
He illustrates successful tourist flow management with the case of Saint Guilhem le Désert in France, where traffic rerouting followed a tragedy. In Barcelona, a city facing mass tourism challenges, officials focus on managing visitor flow rather than reducing visitor numbers. While challenging, given that tourists and locals flock to the same areas, Durband believes strategic dispersion is feasible.
As the global population and middle class expand, particularly in Asia-Pacific, the demand for travel will only increase. Thus, enhancing capacity and improving visitor management strategies are essential to tackle overtourism effectively.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/15/what-causes-overtourism-its-not-people-its-government-mismanagement.html
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