This research project deals with the question to what extent the Croatian port city of Dubrovnik is affected by overtourism and how this can be interpreted and mitigated.
Overtourism is a multifaceted phenomenon that is very much on the agenda of the tourism industry today. At the International Tourism Fair in Berlin in 2018, as well as in numerous newspaper articles, but also in general language use, the subject of overtourism is omnipresent. Due to the worldwide increase in travel behavior and the growing popularity of city tourism, urban areas are becoming increasingly congested. These include overcrowded streets and alleys, public places, accommodation facilities and numerous other facilities.
This often has negative social, economic and ecological effects. More and more often, headlines of disgruntled inhabitants, socio-cultural conflicts, infrastructural problems, as well as other grievances can be found in the media. In many cases, these are due to even more rapidly increasing numbers of tourists.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Research Question
1.2 Methodology
2. Overtourism and its Characteristic Features
2.1 Defining Overtourism
2.2 Emergences of Overtourism
2.3 Impacts of Overtourism
2.4 Current Examples
3. Travel Destination Dubrovnik
3.1 Dubrovnik - The Pearl of the Adriatic
3.2 Tourism in Dubrovnik
4. Impacts of Overtourism in Dubrovnik
4.1 Social Impacts
4.2 Economic Impacts
4.3 Ecologic Impacts
4.4 Possible Solutions
5. Conclusion and future prospects
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This research project investigates the multifaceted phenomenon of overtourism, focusing specifically on the Croatian port city of Dubrovnik to determine the extent of its impact and identify potential mitigation strategies.
- The definition, origins, and characteristics of overtourism in a global context.
- The historical and tourism-related development of Dubrovnik as a case study.
- The social, economic, and ecological consequences of excessive tourist numbers.
- Strategic approaches and future-oriented solutions to manage and mitigate overtourism.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Defining Overtourism
In common parlance, the terms "overtourism" and "mass tourism" are often considered to be the same thing. Although they deal with the same subject matter, they can be further distinguished from each other.
Mass Tourism is a widespread, negatively associated term that can be explained as organised or institutionalised tourism. It describes the volume of travel by people as a mass phenomenon and deals with the associated effects.1
Overtourism goes beyond the term mass tourism and describes a much more complex phenomenon. It is primarily concerned with the number of tourists, but also includes the type and period of the visit. This in turn is related to the sustainability of the destination. The term thus attempts to describe all these aspects and their interactions. Overtourism is not a new concept, but it is one for which there is no generally accepted definition and which deserves more scientific attention. There are different approaches of a definition that will be discussed in the following. In general, it can be said that overtourism is a subjective concept based on the perception of different groups of participants.2
Often overtourism is defined from the demand/supply perspective as a capacity and carrying capacity problem. From this it can be deduced that there is either an excess of demand or a lack of available capacity.3 The discussion focuses on the question of how many tourists a destination can (re-)support in socio-cultural, ecological and infrastructural terms.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Discusses the rising problem of overtourism, sets the research question, and explains the methodological approach based on desk research.
2. Overtourism and its Characteristic Features: Defines the concept of overtourism, distinguishes it from mass tourism, identifies "boom factors" in global tourism, and categorizes potential impacts.
3. Travel Destination Dubrovnik: Profiles Dubrovnik as a historical UNESCO World Heritage site and examines the specific evolution and current status of tourism in the city.
4. Impacts of Overtourism in Dubrovnik: Analyzes the specific social, economic, and ecological challenges facing Dubrovnik and presents potential management and mitigation strategies.
5. Conclusion and future prospects: Summarizes the findings, acknowledges the difficulty of establishing a universal definition for overtourism, and reflects on future development in light of global trends and challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic.
Keywords
Overtourism, Dubrovnik, Mass Tourism, Carrying Capacity, Social Impacts, Economic Impacts, Ecologic Impacts, City Tourism, Cruise Tourism, Film Tourism, Sustainable Tourism, Visitor Guidance, Gentrification, Urban Congestion, Tourism Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the phenomenon of overtourism, exploring its causes and impacts, and uses Dubrovnik as a concrete case study to evaluate how such destinations can manage visitor numbers.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the distinction between mass tourism and overtourism, the drivers of global tourism growth, the negative consequences for residents and infrastructure, and strategic solutions for sustainable urban tourism management.
What is the core research question?
The research asks to what extent the city of Dubrovnik is affected by overtourism and how these effects can be properly interpreted and mitigated.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The work utilizes desk research to analyze existing definitions, practices, and data related to the case study of Dubrovnik to provide an understanding of the current situation.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the theoretical definition of overtourism, the specific case study of Dubrovnik, an analysis of the social, economic, and ecological impacts, and a proposal for possible solutions and future strategies.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Important keywords include overtourism, Dubrovnik, carrying capacity, gentrification, cruise tourism, sustainable development, and urban management.
How does film tourism specifically impact Dubrovnik?
The research highlights that productions like "Game of Thrones" led to a significant increase in tourist arrivals and city wall ticket sales, attracting a younger demographic and creating specific hotspots that strain the city's infrastructure.
What specific measures does the author propose for Dubrovnik?
Proposals include improved visitor guidance, quota systems for historical attractions, price differentiation, restricting the number of cruise ships docking, and creating local-only zones to improve the residents' quality of life.
Does the Covid-19 pandemic influence the findings?
Yes, the conclusion addresses how the pandemic and related travel restrictions significantly impact the tourism-dependent economy of Dubrovnik, potentially forcing a reevaluation of future tourism strategies.
- Quote paper
- Anna Eickmann (Author), 2020, Overtourism in the City of Dubrovnik. Characteristic Features, Impacts and Possible Solutions, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1014392
