In some ways, we are a victim of our own success when it comes to tourism across the board globally. In some ways, we are all contributing to the problem via a million ways and some of our modern way of living.
These type of conversations are being had literally everywhere that has a strong amount of tourism and what a lot of people argue, is over tourism.
It's all connected and I know what I am about to say may be controversial but doesn't mean it's wrong. We have become a society obsessed with social media and living a life on a phone for Instagram. Naturally, beautiful spots and stunning scenery make for excellent photos and memories. Our issue is we are literally taking thousands of pictures, videos, posses for every aspect of life. People are literally doing anything and everything for likes and followers. Younger people mostly want to stay at short term rentals, staying at hotels seems "old fashion" Well with taking housing supply out of the market, it causes issues for locals and local services/employee's.
I get that certain arguments are to the contrary but we have an issue with excessive tourism, either dealing with growth, expanding opportunities or making sure we do it properly.
As a personal example, a relative of my families is a majority owner of a private hospital in Athens and Santorini, Greece. Santorini is literally bursting at the seams with tourists and the need to supplement the existing medical facilities for the island are well known. It becomes a super connected problem with the medical needs of tourists, a need for proper housing for the medical and hospital workers (very seasonal) hospital employee's who are expecting accommodations that are reasonable given their incomes and status (Dr's not wanting to share rooms/ toilets with other Dr's)
The island is trying to limit growth, needs housing, has significant shortages of workers but is also being presented with opportunities for development for incredible projects. This island is one of the top destinations for Instagram pictures , on the verge of a cliff, people who take incredible risks for a picture or photo and literally. My uncle tells me the volume of people who have fallen taking high risk photos is staggering. They come in with injuries as if they have been ran over by a bus and he can't convince enough of his Athens based staff to go to Santorini for a few weeks because of the housing shortage. He has taken to building some accommodation for staff and paying for others but everybody has turned their home into an VRBO or Air B&B, he can't be competing with people who are willing to pay through the nose for some Instagram shot and cave pool.
It's a wild situation everywhere.
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