The metaphoric rise of overtourism and why we should stop using the phrase
Although there are numerous problems associated with tourism, journalists have focused on the issue of perceived overcrowding of destinations by tourists. The term “overtourism” gained widespread use after an article on SKIFT.com reported on excessive tourism in Iceland in 2016, and it was shortlisted by Collins Dictionary as word of the year in 2018 after been nominated by a journalist. This term became widely applied due to the growing perception that tourism is becoming hegemonic and dominant in more and more destinations and attractions. According to Responsible Travel, 98 destinations in 63 countries are affected by overtourism, including Barcelona, Kyoto, Venice, Berlin, Budapest, Bali, Madrid, Bruges, Dubrovnik, Santorini, Reykjavik, Mallorca, Prague, Srinagar, and Florence.