Strategies to combat overtourism and protect public space

Bertram Niessen argues that combating overtourism requires action on three levels. First, diversifying local economies beyond tourism monoculture by investing in high-value sectors requiring research and advanced knowledge. Second, regulation: limiting tourist access to specific sites (like Parc Güell in Barcelona), discouraging 'hit-and-run' tourism with taxes, capping short-term rentals and second homes (Amsterdam requires residency in new purchases), and heavily penalizing irregularities (Barcelona eliminated nearly 6,000 illegal short-term rentals in 2022 with a team of 70 costing €2 million). Seasonality must be smoothed by redistributing flows across the year. Third, addressing destructive side effects: massive public funding for public housing, accessible social housing, support for cooperative housing with undivided ownership, and draconian regulation of private rentals. Civil society organizations used as attractors then expelled by tourism monoculture must be supported and funded, including through tourism taxes. Niessen calls for a new public discourse on tourism with accessible data and cultural debate.