Several European tourist destinations are grappling with severe overtourism, where the number of visitors significantly surpasses the local population. Data compiled by Eurostat and analyzed by Greek Reporter highlights regions experiencing intense visitor saturation, leading to crowded attractions and strains on local infrastructure.
The South Aegean islands, which include popular destinations like Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes, recorded the highest tourist density in the European Union for 2024. These islands, with a resident population of approximately 326,000, saw 127.2 tourist overnight stays for every resident, totaling 41.5 million overnight stays. In contrast, most other EU regions recorded fewer than 15 overnight stays per resident.
Another Greek region, the Ionian Islands, also reported significant visitor numbers. With a local population of 200,000, the area, which includes destinations like Corfu, registered over 20.5 million overnight stays. Observations in June on Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian Islands, noted long queues at attractions like Melissani Cave, even before the peak summer holiday period.
In Italy, Bolzano in South Tyrol logged 68.9 tourist overnight stays per resident. Known as a gateway to the Dolomites, the region attracts numerous visitors drawn to its scenic mountain surroundings. Italy as a whole has experienced substantial crowds, with viral videos showing packed streets in Rome, long ferry lines at Lake Como, and crowded platforms in Cinque Terre.
Croatia's Adriatic coast ranked as the fourth most tourist-dense region, with 67.5 overnight stays per resident. Officials in Makarska have implemented early morning patrols to clear beaches of items left by holidaymakers attempting to reserve spots.
The Balearic Islands in Spain, including Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza, recorded 60 overnight stays per resident. The high volume of tourism has led to resident concerns about rising housing costs and congestion. In Mallorca, residents of Soller recently protested against mass tourism.
Crete, another Greek island, saw 55.6 overnight stays per resident. Approximately 6.6 million visitors arrived on the island last year. The port of Souda is a common disembarkation point for cruise ship passengers visiting Chania.
In contrast, Mayotte, a French island territory in the Indian Ocean, registered the lowest ratio of tourist overnight stays per resident, with 0.5 stays per resident in 2024.
