In 2024, travel and tourism contributed around $10.9 trillion to global GDP, accounting for 10 per cent of the world economy. The sector also supports 35.7 crore jobs worldwide, providing a major boost to employment. Domestically, tourism contributes about 6-7 per cent to India’s GDP and sustains the economies of several regions. It is thus a strong pillar of both the domestic and global economy.
Travel, adventure, and exploration aren’t just pastimes, but also ways to grow and learn. Protected by the right to freedom of movement, it has become a necessity for self-discovery, growth and solitude in recent times. As the tourism sector grows, it has also boosted hospitality and infrastructure to cater to the needs of tourists. Recent geopolitical events involving the Maldives and Lakshadweep have highlighted tourism’s role as a powerful instrument of soft power, playing a strategic part in diplomatic relations.
Yet a crucial question arises: What happens when one citizen’s right to travel begins to infringe upon another’s right to life and liberty? This question lies at the heart of the over-tourism debate. When tourism surges, visitor numbers overwhelm natural ecosystems, strain public infrastructure, and erode local quality of life. The debate often swings between extremes, but without scientific measures, it risks distracting from the real challenges facing global tourism.
Consider these two examples. The Great Smoky Mountains in the US are degrading year after year under pressure from trailers, hikers, and waste. Thailand’s Maya Bay was closed in 2018 due to threats to coral reefs. Both these cases tell a sad story — of beautiful, natural, and cultural creations turned into spectacles of entertainment and thrill to fuel human adrenaline.
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‘Too many tourists, too little space’
The global population is projected to surpass 8.2 billion in 2025, which is one of the reasons behind the increase in tourism. International tourist arrivals have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with 2025 on track for a record high. India, often at the centre of overpopulation debates, faces renewed concerns about stress on resources in the post-pandemic period. The pandemic intensified discussions around equitable distribution of resources rather than sheer numbers.
Over-tourism has become a global axiom, raising concerns about environmental damage, climate change, community displacement, cultural dilution, and price inflation. Venice is sinking under the weight of cruise ships and tourist crowds.
Who bears the brunt? The native residents.
Why should local communities suffer in order to facilitate someone else’s adventures?
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Impact of excessive tourism
This issue is not confined to developed countries; developing nations also face severe consequences. Travellers don’t just go to top global destinations; they are also drawn to natural beauty, hospitality, and safety. For example, the Galapagos Islands, a small archipelago in Ecuador, host more than 3 lakh people during peak season, which is now threatening endangered flora.
A major impact of excessive tourism is ecological strain. Fragile ecosystems degrade, while air, water, and noise pollution rise. Small communities are impacted by strain on their resources. Waste generation pollutes oceans, and heritage sites — from the Taj Mahal to Machu Picchu — are wearing out due to tourism and air pollution.
The impacts are also visible on the lives of native residents. Housing pressure increases as landlords, blinded by short-rentals of high-paying tourists, refuse long leases to locals, pushing them out of city centres. Families are uprooted and forced to build lives elsewhere.
The trickle-down effects reach the economy, society, and industry. While travel, hospitality, and local markets undoubtedly thrive, the environment and residents pay the price. Landslides, flash floods, droughts, and famines are all visible effects of over-tourism. Landslides in Mussoorie and Nainital, the imposition of green tax in Manali, and recent floods in Mandi all bear testimony.
Even global hotspots like Barcelona and Santorini are facing the heat. Several tourists arrive at the same time and engage in similar activities — cruising, boating, shopping — overloading ecosystems. Rentals spike, and essential shops like groceries and laundries vanish, replaced by souvenir stalls and bike rentals.
In India, Coorg and Wayanad face similar struggles during peak seasons. Coorg, known for its coffee and landscapes, bears the brunt of over-tourism. Homestays and resorts are putting huge pressure on ecology, resources, and local residents. “Local farmers, like me, now face severe water shortages. The region is in drought, which has been exacerbated by the tourism boom. The government is dormant regarding this situation,” said Anushka, a coffee farmer.
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Managing and mitigating
With the burden on Earth’s resources increasing, solutions are imminent and necessary. Primarily, governments can issue passes and e-permits to limit tourist inflows, restrict access to fragile areas such as trekking trails, lakes, and national parks, and promote lesser-known destinations to ease pressure. Price regulation for goods and rentals would go a long way in safeguarding local residents’ well-being. Permit systems, advance booking, and restrictions on caps on daily visitors — as seen in the Galapagos — are effective measures.
Climate-conscious steps like building sustainable walkways, recyclable products, and makeshift infrastructure can also be implemented for key events, festivals, and gatherings, much like arrangements at the Kumbh Mela.
Government action should be complemented by private and industrial sectors. Dynamic pricing and peak pricing can spread demand across longer periods. Ultimately, this is a cumulative issue being faced by people all over the world and requires a sustained cumulative action by all stakeholders.
The issue lies on the intersection of the right to travel and the right to life and liberty. If over-tourism is left unchecked, then the world’s greatest asset would become its greatest liability. The line between economic growth and environmental and cultural preservation is thin. Progress on both fronts is necessary, but not at the cost of either. Tourism should be a bridge between cultures, not a weight that sinks the very shores it seeks to admire.
Karti P Chidambaram is a Member of Parliament for Sivaganga, and a Member of the All India Congress Committee. His X handle is @KartiPC. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)