Tourism Tsunami: Europe's Most Crowded Destinations Revealed!

Tourism Tsunami: Europe's Most Crowded Destinations Revealed!

The European Commission's latest analysis examined overcrowding in tourist destinations across Europe, with particular attention to pressure on tourism infrastructure in popular regions. Using three metrics – nights per resident, nights per square kilometer and seasonal concentration – a list of the most visited places was created. The results show that Mallorca, Zakynthos and Paris are at the top, achieving some overwhelming numbers.

Malorca leads the ranking with around 51 million overnight stays annually. This corresponds to around 54 overnight stays per 1,000 inhabitants out of a population of around 950,000. Especially in the high season, July and August, tourism pressure increases dramatically, with around 14,064 overnight stays per square kilometer. This highlights how heavily the island is visited during the summer months and the challenges this poses for the local infrastructure. Loud vol.at Mallorca is therefore the most frequently visited travel destination in Europe.

Popular tourist destinations under pressure

The second overcrowding scenario occurs on the Greek island of Zakynthos. This destination attracts around six million overnight stays every year and has around 40,000 residents. Although the tourism pressure is high here, it is spread over a longer period of time, mainly in summer. Overcrowding is also an issue for the local population, as the seasonally high numbers put a strain on the small island's resources.

Paris, the City of Lights, records 44 million overnight stays annually, resulting in a pressure of 418,280 overnight stays per square kilometer. Sights such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre attract tourists all year round, which is why the city also has to meet high tourist requirements. In the analysis of 20min.ch The high number of visitors to Paris is highlighted, which takes into account the challenges ahead, especially in the high season.

Other highly frequented cities

In addition to Mallorca, Zakynthos and Paris, Athens in Greece is also frequently visited by tourists. Copenhagen in Denmark follows as another example of urban tourism pressure. The analysis has provided clear indicators of overcrowding[20min.ch] by measuring the number of tourists in relation to the local population and finds that destinations such as Mallorca and Paris are suffering disproportionate pressure on their infrastructure.

The analysis also identified places that experience comparatively little tourism pressure. These findings invite discussion about sustainable tourism practices and a more equitable distribution of tourist flows to ease the pressure on Europe's congested destinations.