Greece, Croatia, And Austria’s Overcrowded Tourist Destinations, Like Zakynthos And Lanzarote, Are Feeling The Strain Of Unprecedented Visitor Numbers

Published on September 22, 2025

Greece, Croatia, and Austria’s overcrowded tourer destinations, for illustration Zakynthos and Lanzarote, are emotion nan strain of unprecedented visitant numbers. This surge successful tourism has been fueled by nan rising fame of these regions, driven by their stunning landscapes, humanities significance, and vibrant cultures. However, nan sheer measurement of visitors is now outpacing nan capacity of section infrastructure, causing postulation congestion, rising costs, and overwhelming nationalist services. For galore residents, nan influx of visitors has led to a alteration successful value of life, pinch section businesses progressively catering to visitors astatine nan disbursal of nan community’s needs. As a result, these erstwhile serene destinations are becoming overcrowded, and their charm is being overshadowed by nan challenges that wide tourism brings.

According to nan latest investigation from Which?, nan Greek land of Zakynthos, besides known arsenic Zante, is Europe’s astir overcrowded tourer destination. Situated successful nan Ionian Sea, Zakynthos is celebrated for its breathtaking beaches, melodramatic limestone cliffs, lively nightlife, and reasonably priced resorts. These factors make nan land a favourite among travelers seeking a relaxing yet nosy getaway. However, its increasing fame has travel astatine a cost, arsenic nan number of visitors visiting each twelvemonth has skyrocketed, turning what was erstwhile a serene flight into a bustling and overcrowded destination.

In 2023, Zakynthos welcomed astir six cardinal overnight visitors, which is staggering fixed that nan island’s organization is only astir 40,000. This results successful a singular ratio of 150 visitors for each section resident. Although it does not clasp nan grounds for nan astir visitors successful total, nan island’s overwhelming visitor-to-resident ratio has earned it nan title of Europe’s astir overcrowded destination. The surge successful visitors has put tremendous unit connected section infrastructure, nationalist services, and regular life. Local businesses progressively cater to tourists, leaving less options for nan residents who erstwhile enjoyed a much balanced measurement of life.

Zakynthos is not nan only destination successful Europe grappling pinch nan challenges of overtourism. The study compared nan number of visitors successful various regions pinch nan size of their section populations, revealing a number of different hotspots facing akin issues. Among these are respective islands successful Greece, arsenic good arsenic celebrated Spanish and Croatian destinations. The study paints a image of an unsustainable tourism exemplary successful which nan number of visitors acold exceeds nan capacity of these areas to negociate them.

Here are nan astir overcrowded destinations crossed Europe based connected nan report:

1. Zakynthos/Zante (Greece)
2. Istarska Zupanija (Croatia)
3. Fuerteventura (Canary Islands)
4. Lanzarote (Canary Islands)
5. Dodecanese Islands (Greece) – including Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kos, and Rhodes
6. Tiroler Oberland (Austria)
7. Pinzgau-Pongau (Austria)
8. Cyclades Islands (Greece) – including Mykonos, Santorini, and Naxos
9. Corfu (Greece)
10. Außerfern (Austria)

These destinations are each experiencing nan antagonistic effects of excessive tourism, including rising accommodation costs, accrued traffic, and overloaded nationalist services. For residents, nan beingness of truthful galore visitors often creates a consciousness of disruption and diminishes nan value of life. Local communities are uncovering it harder to equilibrium nan economical benefits of tourism pinch nan semipermanent sustainability of their measurement of life.

The accelerated maturation of tourism successful these areas has sparked calls for amended regularisation and guidance of tourer numbers. While tourism is undoubtedly an important portion of these regions’ economies, section residents and business owners are progressively advocating for solutions that would thief administer visitors much evenly, alleviate unit connected cardinal infrastructure, and guarantee that section cultures and communities are not overwhelmed by wide tourism.

For those readying to sojourn Europe successful nan coming years, it’s wise to see destinations that are little affected by overtourism. While nan allure of celebrated spots for illustration Zakynthos and Mykonos is undeniable, location are galore hidden gems crossed nan continent that connection a akin charm without nan overwhelming crowds. By choosing to research lesser-known regions, travelers tin bask a much relaxed and authentic acquisition while besides helping to easiness nan load connected nan astir crowded destinations.

Greece, Croatia, and Austria’s overcrowded tourer destinations, for illustration Zakynthos and Lanzarote, are struggling pinch an overwhelming surge successful visitors, putting a strain connected section infrastructure, driving up costs, and affecting nan value of life for residents. This unprecedented influx is outpacing nan capacity of these celebrated spots to negociate nan increasing crowds.

In conclusion, overtourism is simply a increasing rumor that needs to beryllium addressed if Europe’s astir beloved destinations are to stay viable for early generations. By becoming much mindful of wherever and really we travel, some locals and visitors tin activity together to guarantee that tourism remains a affirmative force, benefiting some nan system and nan group who telephone these beautiful places home.