Zakynthos: Where 150 tourists meet one local!

Zakynthos: Where 150 tourists meet one local!

Zakynthos, the picturesque Greek island, is the focus of discussion about overtourism in Europe. According to a study by the British portal “Which?” Zakynthos is the most crowded tourist destination on the continent. With around 150 overnight stays per resident, it is clear how much tourism affects the lives of the locals. The island, which only has around 40,000 inhabitants, experiences an influx of around 6 million holidaymakers every year. This puts the entire local infrastructure and the quality of life of residents to the test.

The pressure caused by the massive increase in tourists is obvious. Locals report rising rents and constant traffic during high season. The massive number of tourists leads to overloading of services and has a strong impact on local social life. A taxi driver in Zakynthos has complained about the behavior of British party tourists who cause noise until early in the morning, disrupting the sleep of locals.

Tourism and its consequences

The prevailing complaints about tourism are not limited to noise and traffic. Locals complain that local shops and cultural offerings are increasingly catering to the needs of tourists, thereby diminishing the island's authenticity. The disparity between the number of visitors and the resident population raises questions about sustainability. At the same time, concern for the environment and quality of life is growing in these overcrowded destinations. There are almost 150 tourists for every resident, creating huge problems in terms of affordability for locals and already strained housing conditions.

The study by "Which? Travel" also examined two other indicators: the density of tourists per square kilometer and the total number of overnight stays. In this context, Istria in Croatia takes second place with 133.5 tourists per inhabitant, while Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands follows with 118.7. These figures underline that the problem of overtourism does not only affect Zakynthos, but also affects other European destinations.

A look at other European cities

It's not just islands that are experiencing the pressure of mass tourism. Cities like Paris, Athens and Copenhagen also have alarming numbers. Paris has a tourist density of 418,280 tourists per square kilometer, followed by Athens with 88,535 and Copenhagen with 63,944. These values ​​highlight the challenges associated with unsustainable tourism policies.

For many regions in Europe, the urgent question arises: How many tourists are too many? Given the rising numbers and the problems that come with them, it is time to develop smarter tourism policies that take into account the needs of both travelers and locals. Overtourism therefore remains a pressing issue that cannot be ignored, especially on an island as visited as Zakynthos.

Overall, it remains to be seen what measures will be taken to strike a balance between tourism and quality of life on this idyllic Greek island and other overcrowded destinations. Like the reports from Swabian and Neo's cosmos show, the challenge is great, but discussions about solutions must begin urgently.