Speakers
Description
The concept of "overtourism," introduced by Claudio Milano in 2017, is defined as the increasingly unsustainable development of mass tourism practices (Milano, 2017). This phenomenon addresses the unsustainable social, economic, physical, and environmental impacts of tourism activities on destinations, particularly focusing on the perceptions of local communities. The effects of overtourism include the disruption of local spatial usage habits, overcrowding and traffic in public spaces, economic dependency on a single season or sector, rising property prices, environmental degradation, and reduced contributions to the local economy. These issues lead to local residents feeling discomfort with tourists, a decline in their sense of belonging, and eventual abandonment of residential areas. Although the concept of overtourism is considered a relatively new phenomenon in the literature, studies on the impacts of tourism on settlements have been conducted in various fields since the 1960s. Initially, this body of literature was limited to examining the economic effects of tourism, but by the 1980s, it began focusing on the environmental impacts of mass tourism. However, the social impacts of tourism on community structures were less frequently studied during this period. In the 2000s, studies addressing the social effects of mass tourism from the perspective of local perceptions gained momentum. The introduction of the concept of overtourism into the literature in 2017 has since gained significance as a contemporary field of research, emphasizing the viewpoint of local communities. According to Dods and Butler, the emergence of overtourism is driven by the tipping point of public resistance to tourism and the transformation of almost every area into a tourist destination. The increasing ease of travel has created a flow of visitors on an unprecedented scale, further complicating the lives of local residents (Dods, Butler, 2019). This study analyzes the social, economic, physical, and environmental dynamics of Bodrum, an internationally significant sea-sun-sand destination. International overtourism indicator sets were examined and adapted to the region using data from national tourism statistics. Subsequently, local perceptions were investigated through surveys and in-depth interviews. Combining theoretical and practical approaches, this study aims to contribute to understanding the multifaceted impacts of overtourism. By focusing on systematic issues in tourism and local-level challenges, the study seeks to present an adaptable framework for similar contexts. The findings aim to identify tourism activities' carrying capacity, determine areas requiring limitation or development, and provide strategic inputs for future measures.
References
This work has been supported by Yildiz Technical University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit under project number FYL-2023-5567.
| Keywords | overtourism; resident’ perceptions; social impacts; sustainable tourism |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
