Cities worldwide are grappling with the negative effects of tourist overcrowding, a challenge that threatens local communities, infrastructure, and the environment. As the pressure to manage the influx of visitors grows, Amsterdam and Copenhagen have emerged as pioneers in developing innovative strategies to address the problem. Over-tourism solutions

These cities are not just limiting access or imposing new regulations; they are taking a more creative approach by ‘hiding’ major landmarks from tourists. This unconventional tactic is part of a broader effort to steer visitors away from overburdened hotspots and towards lesser-known, yet equally enriching, destinations.

A New Approach: Steering Tourists Away

Over-tourism has become a pressing issue, impacting communities and cities globally. To address this, Amsterdam and Copenhagen are developing innovative plans to redirect tourists away from popular landmarks and towards lesser-known destinations. By doing so, they hope to alleviate overcrowding while offering visitors a more authentic experience.

The Power of AI: A Game-Changer in Tourism

In 2021, Ondrej Mitas, a senior lecturer at Breda University of Applied Sciences, conducted an experiment that laid the foundation for this approach. He used AI-powered tools to suggest lesser-known tourist attractions to visitors in the Dutch province of Overijssel. The results were promising: tourists who visited these hidden gems reported satisfaction levels equal to those who visited popular spots.

Building on this success, Mitas and his team are now collaborating with the tourism boards of Amsterdam and Copenhagen to replicate the experiment on a larger scale. AI-powered tools are being employed to guide tourists towards undiscovered attractions, reducing the strain on well-known landmarks.

Rewarding Good Behavior: Copenhagen’s Eco-Friendly Initiative

Copenhagen is taking another step to combat over-tourism by rewarding visitors who demonstrate responsible behavior. Through a month-long pilot program, tourists who engaged in climate-friendly actions, such as using public transportation or participating in volunteer activities, received special rewards. The initiative not only promotes sustainability but also enhances visitor satisfaction and community well-being.

The CopenPay pilot program in Copenhagen, which ran from July 15 to August 11, 2024, has concluded successfully and is currently under evaluation. This initiative was designed to encourage sustainable tourism by rewarding visitors for eco-friendly actions, such as cycling, using public transportation, or participating in environmental clean-up efforts. Participants could redeem rewards like free meals, museum entries, and other cultural experiences in exchange for their green actions.

Initial feedback indicates that the program was well-received, with tourists appreciating the opportunity to contribute to environmental sustainability while enjoying the city’s attractions. The simplicity of participation and the variety of rewards made the program accessible and engaging. Copenhagen’s tourism board is now analyzing the results to determine the program’s impact and plans to potentially expand CopenPay into a year-round initiative in the future.

The Future of Tourism in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is also making significant changes to curb over-tourism. Starting in 2026, the city will reduce the number of cruise ships allowed to dock, with plans to move the terminal out of the city center by 2035. Additionally, Amsterdam is introducing stricter regulations on short-term holiday rentals by the end of the year.

The city’s ‘Stay Away’ campaign is targeting party tourism, particularly in the infamous Red Light District. While it hasn’t eliminated the issue, measures such as banning public cannabis consumption have helped reduce reckless behavior. Over-tourism solutions

Comparing Barcelona: A Different Strategy

While Amsterdam and Copenhagen are taking bold steps to manage over-tourism, Barcelona has adopted a different approach. The Catalan capital focuses on improving infrastructure and enhancing the visitor experience without resorting to ‘hiding’ landmarks. Barcelona‘s strategy emphasizes balancing tourist influx with local life, ensuring that both residents and visitors can coexist harmoniously.

Venice’s Regulatory Approach

Venice, on the other hand, has been dealing with over-tourism for years, particularly due to the influx of day-trippers and cruise ship passengers. In response, the city has implemented more direct measures, including a controversial entrance fee for day visitors, which is set to begin in 2024. This fee is designed to manage the number of tourists entering the city each day, to reduce the overwhelming crowds that often congest the historic city center.

Moreover, Venice has restricted the size and number of cruise ships allowed to dock near the city, with larger ships now rerouted to a nearby industrial port. This move is intended to protect the delicate lagoon ecosystem and preserve the city’s cultural heritage. Over-tourism solutions

In the battle against over-tourism, Amsterdam and Copenhagen are leading the charge with creative solutions that might just redefine the future of travel.

Will other cities follow suit, or will they chart their paths like Barcelona? Only time will tell.

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