First, I want to thank everyone actively commenting on this hot topic here, only through open discussion can we understand the problem and find real solutions, rather than speculate on trendy terms.

A Million-Dollar Question

Imagine: tomorrow, Venice, Barcelona, or Dubrovnik launches an advertising campaign "For Rich Tourists Only".

What would happen?

• After a week: Political scandal, accusations of elitism, #TravelEquality hashtags
• After a month: Economic collapse, mass layoffs, pleas for tourists to return
• After a year, the same authorities who fought "overtourism" are begging airlines to restore flights

What's the Hypocrisy?

• Cities want selective tourism - money from mass tourism without the masses themselves. They dream of tourists who:
• Spend like millionaires
• Behave like museum curators
• Arrive invisibly and disappear without a trace

But economics doesn't work that way.

The Uncomfortable Truth

• 1.4 billion international tourists per year isn't much for a planet with 8 billion people.

The problem isn't quantity, but concentration:

• 70% of tourists go to 10 countries
• 80% travel during the 3-4 summer months
• 90% photograph the same places

Honest Conversation

Instead of complaining about "bad tourists," let's admit:

• Tourism is a conscious choice of economic development
• Popularity is the result of marketing investments
• Growth problems are the price of success, not tourists' malicious intent

Proposal

• Stop speculating with terms. If the problem is real, act honestly:
• Ensure tourist tax transparency - let every address see how €2-3 per day benefits residents (50% for infrastructure, 50% for address-based payments)
• Develop alternative regions (instead of concentrating everything in centers)

Important: These are reflections on the topic, not literal calls to action. The goal is honest conversation about contradictions, not specific recommendations.

Your opinion: Are popular destinations ready for an honest choice between revenue and comfort? Or is "overtourism" a convenient excuse for other problems?

Igor Repishevski - Follow
CEO | Eco-Glamping Innovator | Sustainable Tourism Advocate