24 May 2025

Overtourism: ruining it for everyone

From Saturday Morning, 10:45 am on 24 May 2025
Woman at the airport with her suitcase and passport.

A new trend has passengers arriving at their destination even more glamorous than when they set out. Photo: Unsplash

Photo: Griffith Institute for Tourism

The OE is considered a rite of passage for many, and Instagram boasts all the hot spots. But many locals are feeling squeezed out.

Spain's Canary Islands have seen protests against mass tourism, demanding a curb of visitor numbers to protect residents from soaring housing costs, traffic congestion and overburdened services.

Dr Susanne Becken is Professor of Sustainable Tourism at Griffith University, Australia, and founder of the Griffith Institute for Tourism. She speaks with Susie Ferguson.