WTTC to release expert findings on over-tourism

The new head of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) aims to address growing complaints of ‘over-tourism’ in key European destinations, acknowledging “there is an issue”.

Gloria Guevara, who took over as WTTC president and chief executive this month, said: “Our goal is to work with local authorities to find the best path.”

The WTTC has commissioned a study of over-tourism by business consultancy McKinsey.

Guevara, a former tourism secretary of Mexico, told Travel Weekly: “There is an issue.”

She said: “Our involvement [will be] to work with local governments and work with the local private sector to find a way forward.

“Travellers create jobs and millions of people depend on those jobs. But we have to protect destinations.

“We will release the findings of an expert study on this in the next weeks. We hope to work with destinations [on this].”

Recent protests in Barcelona and Venice have focussed attention on the high volumes of visitors to some of Europe’s historic towns and cities, with large cruise ships a focus of concern in Venice and in Dubrovnik where the new mayor has declared his intention to halve the number of cruise visitors to the town.

Amsterdam Marketing chief executive Frans van der Avert warned in May that Europe’s historic cities are “dying” from the pressure of tourism.

He told the World Tourism Forum in Lucerne: “A lot of smaller historic cities in Europe are being destroyed by visitors.”

Guevara said: “I don’t want to jump to conclusions, [but] I don’t think cruises are the issue. We need to understand the planning and zoning.

“McKinsey is looking at overcrowding in general – at what are the factors – and will make recommendations.”

She said the study would examine several destinations that “are having a challenge”. It is due to be published in December.

Guevara confirmed the WTTC’s headquarters will remain in London regardless of Britain’s plans to leave the EU.

She said: “We are not considering a move from London. Europe is important, but we’re a global organisation. We represent all countries. We happen to be in London.”

Guevara took over as WTTC president and chief executive from predecessor David Scowsill at the start of August.