Identifying Overtourism Impacts on the Informal Sector’s Livelihoods in Urban Heritage Area

Abstract

Ever since UNESCO discussed the impact of revitalization on the urban environment and its heritage value, a new niche of urban heritage tourism has emerged. This niche of tourism was once a successful phenomenon before it reached a point where overtourism eventually produces volatility issues. The literature review has shown that research on the effect of overtourism on informal economies is inadequate. Many academics seem mostly interested in focusing on the economic aspects and the inhabitants, without addressing whether they are engaging in formal or informal sectors. Therefore, studies of overtourism on the informal sector in urban heritage areas are essential to bridge the knowledge gap. This article will identify the impact of overtourism on informal sectors’ livelihoods in the urban heritage area using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, with minor adjustments within the urban heritage context, as the primary tool to carefully understand the phenomenon and suggest a more suitable framework for this specific study. A qualitative data analysis software is used to conduct the necessary processes in this article. Informal markets and disadvantaged communities are seen to find ways to develop and merge the resources they already have innovatively to ensure their well-being. A modified framework to discuss the context of urban heritage is being developed by evaluating the informal sectors of urban heritage from the viewpoint of the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach during the overtourism phenomenon. The proposed framework may potentially be used to address other issues relating to urban livelihoods in different contexts.