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

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

Summer is not only the most popular travel time, but also the peak season for mass tourism. Loud Petra Many popular travel destinations on the Mediterranean suffer particularly from the high number of visitors. In Croatia, a full 70% of annual tourists come in the summer months, with 30% of holidaymakers arriving in August alone. This represents an enormous challenge for the infrastructure and quality of life in the destinations.

A clear example is Dubrovnik, where only two cruise ships are allowed to dock per day to manage the rush. Other European countries are also affected: Montenegro and Bulgaria record 57% of annual tourists between July and September, while Greece, Italy and France are at 56%, 47% and 46%.

The effects of mass tourism

The high number of tourists bothers not only the visitors, but also the local residents. More and more travelers are therefore looking for alternatives to the overcrowded hotspots. More relaxing travel destinations that have largely been spared from mass tourism are recommended. These include Finland and the Baltic Sea cities of Riga, Tallinn and Stockholm, which are ideal for a city trip without large crowds of tourists.

The Greek mainland is also cited as an attractive alternative to the crowded islands. The recommendation to travel outside of the peak travel season, i.e. in autumn or spring, could help both travelers and locals reduce the pressure of annual tourist influxes.

The roots of mass tourism

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

The establishment of the first travel agencies, which were also accessible to lower social classes, led to the standardization of tourism. After World War II, the number of travelers increased significantly as more and more people with high incomes and free time were able to take advantage of this opportunity. Access to cheaper and faster means of transport, such as passenger aircraft, as well as the rapid development of the automobile and aviation industries in the 20th century contributed to the emergence of tourism as an independent industry that has now developed a particular dynamic.