The Attitude of Tourist Destination Residents towards the Effects of Overtourism—Kraków Case Study

Adam R Szromek,Bartłomiej Walas,Zygmunt Kruczek

doi:10.3390/su12010228

Abstract

Scientific research into the effect of tourist traffic in a tourist area have shown that the excessive concentration of tourist traffic leads to overcrowding in attractive locations, over-advertising, and aggressive commercialization, which lower the aesthetic quality of tourists’ experiences and result in the degradation of natural and cultural resources. The effect of excessive tourist numbers is an increase in the price of services, rental fees, and real estate. In historical cities, it causes the gentrification of historical districts. One of the social effects of an increase in tourist numbers is a change in attitude amongst residents towards tourists. This change is dependent on how residents perceive the positive and negative effects of tourism. The appearance of a negative attitude among residents towards tourists is a result of exceeding the social carrying capacity limits, that is, the ability to accept changes as they take place. This article assesses the attitudes of residents and tourist service providers in Kraków with regard to increasing tourist traffic and the ongoing process of change in the cityscape leading to the gentrification of districts most often visited by tourists. On the basis of a study of 518 respondents, including 371 city residents and 147 representatives of the tourist industry (hotel owners, restaurateurs, and tourist service providers), an assessment is made of their attitudes towards the specific problems of tourism development in Kraków. The research results indicate a variety of attitudes among interested parties, thus confirming the research hypothesis that actors display varied approaches with regard to the further development of tourism in Kraków. The conclusions drawn could prove useful in shaping the city’s policy on tourism according to the idea of sustainable development, by taking into consideration the current and future needs of all interested parties.

Highlights

Scientific research into the development of tourism generally looks from the perspective of the positive effects of such development
The research results show varying attitudes among residents towards tourism and tourists, even in the Old Town district most affected by the phenomenon, which confirms previous research conducted by the authors using different methods [47]
The trends and structure of the tourism market require changes in the approach to tourism development from quantity to quality, without disturbing the state of relative balance experienced by residents and the urban space

Summary

Introduction

Scientific research into the development of tourism generally looks from the perspective of the positive effects of such development. This research often omits the negative impact of tourism, which may only appear after a long period of time and which can result in uneven development among various groups within the local community. One example of this is the term ‘overtourism’, developed in the last few years in media reports on the negative impact of mass tourism on host communities and/or the natural environment. A key problem is defining the permissible size of traffic, above which it may be considered excessive. For cities that are large centers of tourism and are faced with an invasion of tourists, proposed indicators define the optimal level of socio-psychological capacity [3]

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Conclusion