Published on : Wednesday, April 10, 2019
The pledge urges the cities as well as private partners to discover the way tools like big data and creative business models can be utilized to “make tourism a true contributor to the development of inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities.” That comprises more evidence-based decisions and designing on problems like housing, mobility and resource management.
Even though tourism is a key revenue generator for cities, members said the flood of visitors could also damage the infrastructure, divert housing into short-term rentals and create anxiety with long-term residents.
A report of UNWTO that researched 18 popular tourist cities found “overtourism,” or when tourism outpaces a capacity of a city, creates several issues including a loss of “place” authenticity. Also, congestion is a problem, with tourists crowded in particular locations or arriving at certain times, which the group found is a common local problem rather than a citywide one.
As a result, UNWTO found, “the most common measures currently being implemented by destinations relate to the dispersal of visitors within the city and beyond.” That type of attempt can be supported by rental services like Airbnb that have made it even more reasonable to stay in neighborhoods rather than hotels. NYC & Company chief marketer Nancy Mammana informed Marketing Dive the city’s official tourism board is even “trying to get people to explore the neighborhoods and the boroughs and travel like a local.” On the other side, short-term rentals have distorted some housing markets, pricing out long-time residents.