A new report has highlighted the cities that were most prone to overcrowding with travellers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing attention to the issue of overtourism ahead of the 2023 European summer season.
The report, which utilises data from 2019, has found that Dubrovnik, Croatia was home to the biggest influx of travellers. Comparing the numbers of locals to visitors, the report finds that there were 36 tourists for every 1 inhabitant in 2019.
The report suggests that, along with the scenic attractions, the Old Town’s appearance in Game of Thrones might also have played a role in the high visitor numbers.
The other cities within the top five were Venice, Italy (21 tourists: 1 inhabitant), Bruges, Belgium (21:1), Rhodes, Greece (21:1) and Reykjavik, Iceland (16:1).
While the data utilised in this study comes from pre-pandemic travel, the report offers some insight into the European cities that may need to be managing the crowds throughout a busy summer season. Some of the top cities have reinstated tourist management strategies, as travellers have once again begun to crowd the streets.