Short answer

When designing for tourism, consider the potential for over-tourism and integrate strategies that promote sustainability, community well-being, and authentic visitor experiences from the outset.

Field: Sustainability
Source: Journal of Tourism and Services (2025)
Method: Systematic Literature Review with Descriptive and Thematic Analysis
Sample: 645 articles and review articles
Evidence: Strong effect

Effectively managing over-tourism necessitates a holistic approach that simultaneously tackles its underlying causes, acknowledges its diverse consequences, and actively involves all relevant stakeholders in developing and implementing sustainable solutions. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Journal of Tourism and Services. Using Systematic literature review with descriptive and thematic analysis with 645 articles and review articles, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing for tourism, consider the potential for over-tourism and integrate strategies that promote sustainability, community well-being, and authentic visitor experiences from the outset.

Study

SustainabilityNew This WeekStrong effect

Over-tourism mitigation requires integrated strategies addressing root causes and stakeholder involvement.

Journal of Tourism and Services · 2025

Key Findings

01Over-tourism research predominantly focuses on European urban areas.
02Key stakeholders and policymakers are actively involved in over-tourism research and funding.
03Mitigation strategies are intrinsically linked to the causes and consequences of over-tourism.

Application

Design takeaway

When designing for tourism, consider the potential for over-tourism and integrate strategies that promote sustainability, community well-being, and authentic visitor experiences from the outset.

How to apply

When planning a new tourism development or redesigning an existing one, conduct a thorough analysis of potential over-tourism drivers and impacts, and actively engage local communities and authorities in developing mitigation strategies.

Project actions

01When researching a design problem, consider if it relates to broader societal issues like sustainability or resource management.
02Look for research that synthesizes existing knowledge, as it can provide a strong foundation for your own project.

Method & Evidence

AimWhat are the primary causes, consequences, and effective mitigation strategies for over-tourism, and how are these elements interconnected?

MethodSystematic Literature Review with Descriptive and Thematic Analysis

ProcedureA systematic review of articles published from 2004 onwards in the Scopus database was conducted using the PRISMA framework. The selected articles were then analyzed descriptively and thematically using Vosviewer and Excel to identify trends, key stakeholders, and funding strategies related to over-tourism.

Sample645 articles and review articles

ContextTourism and Destination Management

Variables

IV["Causes of over-tourism (e.g., increased accessibility, marketing, global events)","Stakeholder involvement (e.g., policymakers, local communities, businesses)"]

DV["Consequences of over-tourism (e.g., environmental degradation, social disruption, reduced visitor experience)","Effectiveness of mitigation strategies"]

CV["Publication date range (2004 onwards)","Database used (Scopus)"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Comprehensive synthesis of existing literature on over-tourism.
+Systematic methodology (PRISMA framework) ensuring rigor.
+Descriptive and thematic analysis providing in-depth insights.

Limitations

The study's focus on European urban areas might not fully represent the challenges faced by destinations in other regions or different types of environments.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of this study is enhanced by its systematic review methodology (PRISMA) and the use of quantitative analysis tools (Vosviewer, Excel). Validity is supported by the comprehensive scope of the literature search and the thematic analysis, which aims to capture the breadth of research on over-tourism.

Think critically

How might the findings regarding the focus on European urban areas influence the applicability of these mitigation strategies to destinations in developing countries or rural settings?

Design Principles

"Sustainable tourism design must be systemic, addressing the interconnectedness of causes, consequences, and solutions, and involving a wide range of stakeholders."

Understanding the complex interplay between the drivers of over-tourism, its negative impacts on communities and environments, and the potential mitigation strategies is crucial for designers and researchers. This knowledge allows for the creation of more resilient and responsible tourism experiences and infrastructure.

What This Means for Your Design

To stop too many tourists from visiting a place, we need to understand why it's happening, what problems it causes, and work together with everyone involved to find solutions that are good for the environment and the people who live there.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the need for sustainable design practices in tourism or urban planning, highlighting the interconnectedness of issues and the importance of stakeholder engagement.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the critical need for integrated strategies in addressing over-tourism, emphasizing that effective mitigation requires a comprehensive understanding of its causes and consequences, alongside the active involvement of diverse stakeholders. This systemic approach is essential for developing sustainable tourism practices that benefit both residents and visitors while ensuring the long-term viability of destinations.

Source

Journal of Tourism and Services

Exploring the Nexus of Over-Tourism: Causes, Consequences, and Mitigation Strategies

journal · 2025

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about over-tourism mitigation requires integrated strategies addressing root causes and stakeholder involvement?: When designing for tourism, consider the potential for over-tourism and integrate strategies that promote sustainability, community well-being, and authentic visitor experiences from the outset. Evidence: Journal of Tourism and Services (2025).
Why does "Over-tourism mitigation requires integrated strategies addressing root causes and stakeholder involvement." matter for design?: Understanding the complex interplay between the drivers of over-tourism, its negative impacts on communities and environments, and the potential mitigation strategies is crucial for designers and researchers. This knowledge allows for the creation of more resilient and responsible tourism experiences and infrastructure.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing for tourism, consider the potential for over-tourism and integrate strategies that promote sustainability, community well-being, and authentic visitor experiences from the outset.
What were the main findings?: Over-tourism research predominantly focuses on European urban areas.. Key stakeholders and policymakers are actively involved in over-tourism research and funding.. Mitigation strategies are intrinsically linked to the causes and consequences of over-tourism.
What research method was used?: Systematic Literature Review with Descriptive and Thematic Analysis with 645 articles and review articles.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Journal of Tourism and Services.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When planning a new tourism development or redesigning an existing one, conduct a thorough analysis of potential over-tourism drivers and impacts, and actively engage local communities and authorities in developing mitigation strategies.
What are the limitations?: The focus on European urban areas may limit the generalizability of findings to other geographical contexts or types of destinations.