Avoid summer mass tourism: the best insider tips for travelers!

Avoid summer mass tourism: the best insider tips for travelers!

Dubrovnik, Kroatien - Summer is not only the most popular travel time, but also the high season of mass tourism. According to Petra Leiden many popular travel destinations on the Mediterranean, especially below the high number of visitors. In Croatia, 70% of annual tourists are eliminated to the summer months, with 30% of holidaymakers traveling in August alone. This is an enormous challenge for the infrastructure and the quality of life in the destinations.

A clear example is Dubrovnik, where only two cruise ships can be created a day to regulate the rush. Other European countries are also affected: Montenegro and Bulgaria have 57% of annual tourists between July and September, while Greece, Italy and France are 56%, 47% and 46%.

The effects of mass tourism

The high number of tourists not only disturbs visitors, but also the resident inhabitants. More and more travelers are therefore looking for alternatives to the overcrowded hotspots. Recommended more relaxed travel destinations that have been largely spared by mass tourism. These include Finland and the Baltic Sea cities of Riga, Tallinn and Stockholm, which are ideal for a city trip without great tourist quantities.

The Greek mainland is also mentioned as an attractive alternative to the crowded islands. The recommendation to travel outside of the main travel time, i.e. in autumn or spring, could help both travelers and locals reduce the pressure through the annual tourist flows.

The roots of mass tourism

But where does this mass tourism come from? The beginnings can be traced back to the 19th century when industrialization and the development of the first mass transport, especially the railway, brought about a change. This form of travel was initially reserved for the upper class.

The establishment of first travel agencies, which were also accessible to lower social classes, led to the standardization of tourism. After the Second World War, the number of travelers increased significantly because more and more people with high incomes and leisure were able to use this opportunity. Access to cheaper and faster means of transport, such as passenger aircraft, as well as the rapid development of the automotive and aviation industry in the 20th century contributed to the creation of tourism as an independent industry that has now developed a special dynamic.