Should tourists pay for the impact they have on a destination?
It’s a challenge faced by popular destinations all over the world: How do you cope with a growing tourism industry?
While authorities in Barcelona and Venice are desperately trying to manage disgruntled residents, New Zealand’s government is taking a proactive approach.
It’s hard to dispute tourists should in some way pay for the footprint they leave. With more people travelling, we’re inevitably affecting the environments we visit, so something must be done to redress the balance.
Milford Sound
Although there are many positives to be gained from introducing a tax in New Zealand, it might not be the answer for every destination.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to the problem of overtourism.” warns Justin Francis, CEO Responsible Travel. “It depends greatly on the area, infrastructure and particular pain points for locals. Cities such as Madrid and Berlin are limiting short-term holiday rental periods in an attempt to retain neighbourhoods, while others are looking at how to cut down on disruption by banning Segway tours and capping visitor numbers at big attractions.
“A tourist tax might be one possible solution to overtourism, and it could help to reduce demand. But it would be great to see any money raised going to fund projects that directly benefit the communities affected by the issue in the first place.”
What do you think? Should tourists pay for the impact they leave on a destination? Or should travel be open to all?
