As temperatures soar across Europe, so do tourist numbers, with popular destinations experiencing record-breaking influxes of visitors.
This summer’s travel boom is putting pressure on local communities and infrastructure, sparking debates about sustainable tourism and the impact of short-term rentals on housing markets.
Sun-seekers flock to Belgian coast
With temperatures reaching up to 30°C, Belgium’s coast is bracing for a massive influx of visitors.
According to provincial company Westtoer, the Belgian coast is expecting around 350,000-day tourists this weekend alone.
Hotels are already 90% booked, with last-minute reservations still pouring in due to the favorable weather forecast.
To accommodate the crowds, Belgian railway operator SNCB is running extra trains to coastal destinations.
On both Saturday and Sunday, 22 additional trains will serve Blankenberge and Ostend.
The railway company advises travelers to check their route planner and avoid peak hours if possible.
Brussels Airport sees passenger numbers soar
The summer holiday rush is not limited to the coast.
Brussels Airport reported its highest monthly passenger count since 2019, with approximately 2.5 million travelers passing through in July. This marks a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Airport officials noted that departing passengers outnumbered arrivals, a typical trend for the start of the summer holiday season.
Each flight carried an average of 152 passengers, setting a new record and surpassing last year's figures by two passengers per flight.
The most popular destinations for travelers departing from Brussels Airport in July were Spain, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Germany, Morocco, the United States, Portugal, France, and the United Kingdom.
(Image courtesy of stellelevi via iStock)
Online booking platforms fuel tourism boom
The surge in travel is not just a Belgian phenomenon.
Across the European Union (EU), online booking platforms are seeing record numbers of reservations.
In the first quarter of 2024, platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia Group, and TripAdvisor recorded 123.7 million nights booked – a staggering 28.3% increase from the same period in 2023.
This boom in “platform tourism” is raising concerns about overtourism and its impact on local communities.
Tourism expert Bart Neuts from KU Leuven explains, “The increase is a double phenomenon. On the one hand, there is just a worldwide growth in tourism after Covid-19. On the other, we see a shift in booking behavior, which increasingly is done using online platforms.”
Housing market feels the pinch
The rise of short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb is putting pressure on local housing markets.
Studies show that Airbnb listings are taking up scarce real estate in major cities and are directly linked to higher neighborhood rents.
In Brussels, for example, Airbnb concentrations are highest in the city center, the European district, and neighborhoods like Ixelles and Saint-Gilles.
A study by VUB found that for every Airbnb per 100 households, there is an average increase of 1.6% in local rental prices.
The situation is even more pronounced in Mediterranean cities like Barcelona, Malaga, and Lisbon, where the impact on local housing markets is reaching critical levels.
(Image courtesy of T6 Adventures via Pexels)
Cities fight back against overtourism
In response to these challenges, many European cities are implementing measures to curb overtourism and regulate short-term rentals.
Amsterdam, for instance, has introduced strict rules that have led to a stagnation and even slight decrease in Airbnb listings.
Barcelona has seen improvements thanks to rigorous controls on short-term rentals.
However, not all cities are equally successful in their efforts.
Neuts points out, “In cities such as Lisbon – where on paper there are rules but there are no controls – the situation is becoming untenable.”
Venice is taking a different approach by imposing a tax on day-trippers entering the city.
However, Neuts is skeptical about the effectiveness of such measures: “At that point it’s too late. People are already there, they are not going to turn back because they have to pay €10. That's (the equivalent of) two coffees at Starbucks.”
EU visitors and migrants navigate shifting tides
The surge in tourism and the resulting pressures on local communities could lead to stricter regulations for short-term visitors to EU countries.
While the upcoming European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is primarily designed to enhance security, it may also be used as a tool to manage tourist flows more effectively.
For long-term visitors and migrants, the housing market pressures caused by short-term rentals could make it more challenging to find affordable accommodation in popular urban areas.
This might push newcomers to seek housing in less central or less touristy neighborhoods, potentially affecting integration patterns.
(Image courtesy of Paulo Cerqueira via Pexels)
Immigration policies evolve amidst tourism boom
The overtourism debate is likely to influence EU countries’ broader immigration policies.
As cities grapple with the impacts of mass tourism, there may be increased pressure to develop more comprehensive approaches to managing both short-term visitors and long-term migrants.
Some countries might consider implementing quotas or seasonal restrictions on tourist visas to better distribute visitor numbers throughout the year.
Others may focus on promoting alternative destinations to relieve pressure on overtourism hotspots.
For labor migration, EU countries might prioritize attracting workers to areas less affected by tourism, as part of efforts to achieve more balanced regional development.
This could lead to targeted immigration schemes that direct migrants to specific regions or sectors of the economy.
Looking ahead
As Europe faces another record-breaking summer of tourism, the challenge of balancing the economic benefits of visitors with the needs of local communities becomes increasingly pressing.
The continent is grappling with the complexities of managing mass tourism in the age of online booking platforms.
The solutions will require cooperation between local authorities, national governments, the tourism industry, and online platforms.
As we move forward, finding sustainable ways to welcome visitors while preserving the quality of life for residents will be crucial for the future of European cities and their diverse communities.