What Is Overtourism — And Why Should You Care?

You’ve likely felt it.

That uneasy moment in a charming old town where the crowd is so thick you can barely move. The buzz of camera shutters. Locals pushing through throngs of visitors just to get home. Streets that feel more like stage sets than lived-in places.

That’s overtourism — and it’s changing the way the world’s most beautiful destinations look, feel, and function.

So, what exactly is overtourism?

Overtourism happens when the number of visitors to a destination exceeds what that place can handle — environmentally, culturally, economically, or socially. It’s when the experience of being there is no longer enjoyable — not for locals, and not for travelers either.

It’s not about tourism being “bad.” It’s about too much, too fast, in places that aren’t built to absorb it.

What does overtourism look like?

Venice, where massive cruise ships loom over the canals and souvenir shops replace bakeries

Barcelona, where long-term residents are priced out by short-term rentals and party crowds

Santorini, where 3 million visitors a year clog streets made for a village of 20,000

Hallstatt, Austria — a quiet Alpine town overwhelmed after going viral on Instagram

Amsterdam, where officials are now actively telling tourists to stay away

What these places have in common: they’re not anti-tourist.

They’re anti-overload.

What does it feel like?

For locals:

A rising cost of living

Daily life disrupted by crowds

Cultural traditions diluted for tourist entertainment

A sense of losing their home

For travelers:

Long queues and packed streets

Higher prices, lower authenticity

A gnawing feeling that maybe… this isn’t what travel was meant to be

Why should you care?

Because tourism isn’t just a vacation — it’s a global force.

When done mindlessly, it can drain water in drought-prone regions, fuel gentrification, and reduce cities to caricatures.

But when done wisely, it can be transformative. It can support artisans, preserve traditions, and fund conservation.

Overtourism isn’t someone else’s problem.

It’s the result of choices made by millions of us, one trip at a time.

What’s next?

We don’t need to stop exploring.

We need to shift how we travel.

This space — No More Miles — is where we unpack these issues.

It’s where we explore the cities, islands, and stories behind the headlines.

And it’s where we imagine better ways to move through the world — with context, care, and curiosity.

Because if travel is about connection, it should start with understanding.

Let’s make room for that.

Let’s wander wisely.