Conclusion: local communities’ quality of life: what strategy to address overtourism?

Abstract

Purpose

This concluding paper filters out smart and sustainable strategies drawn from a rich variety of articles presented throughout the theme issue. This paper aims to provide a summary of the key points related to the perverse impacts of overtourism and smart and sustainable strategies to overcome the phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological design is based on empirical evidence and case studies analysed by practitioners and academics.

Findings

The overall findings unpack different types of strategies based on collaborative input from tourists, locals, government, NGOs, DMOs and service providers. Based on the realities of today’s tourism environment, the outcome reveals that it is possible to address overtourism, but smart strategies are required as both tourists and residents (including relevant stakeholders) are sophisticated, emancipated and connected enough to understand the dynamism of overtourism.

Originality/value

The articles in this theme issue address a theoretical and practical gap while proposing innovative strategies to tackle overtourism in an era of “connected tourism.” The value of this paper lies in the fact that it draws from a variety of original case studies, each unique in their own right and proposes smart strategies that may be sustained in the future.

Citation

Gowreesunkar, V. and Seraphin, H. (2019), "Conclusion: local communities’ quality of life: what strategy to address overtourism?", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 11 No. 5, pp. 627-633. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-06-2019-0042