Protests in holiday destinations across Europe have been sparked by tensions over mass tourism, with locals claiming the overwhelming numbers of visitors are endangering their way of life.
But climate change means more visitors will leave to escape the continent’s rising temperatures and instead head to cooler climes for day trips.
Changing global temperatures are having an impact on the tourism sector in Wales, with a recent example Study by the European Commission a potential 3-4°C rise in global temperatures could lead to a 16% increase in visitor numbers to West Wales.
But after protests by residents in cities such as Barcelona, Mallorca and Venice against ‘overtourism’, are places like Wales also at risk of being overrun?
Linda Osti, senior lecturer in tourism management at Bangor University, said Wales could indeed face “overtourism” if visitor numbers continue to rise.
But she said the key to avoiding conflict with local people lies in finding solutions that benefit both residents and visitors to the area.
“There is no sustainable or regenerative tourism without host communities,” she added.
“We need to work together and ensure that tourism benefits all members of the community.”
Ms Osti said the term “overtourism” was first used by a journalist when talking about Iceland in 2016.
“International tourism has come to Iceland and what he saw was that the local people are resisting tourism. Hopefully Wales will take action before it gets to that point,” she said.
“There is also a trust that needs to be rebuilt – we have reached a point where there is no trust in government and therefore trust needs to be created, and ultimately tolerance. Tolerance between all stakeholders.”
Even before global temperatures rise further, Welsh businesses are already seeing an increase in foreign visitors, with Visit Wales reporting that the number of holidaymakers from Germany is set to double between 2022 and 2023.
The number of cruise ships calling at Wales has risen to 97 this year, up 25% on last year.
Among the tourists visiting North Wales this summer were families from France, keen to escape the heat in their home country.
Fabian Bars, who travelled from Paris to Ogwen Valley in Eryri with his wife Amelie and their children, said: “We prefer this temperature. In Paris it is too hot in summer.”
Mrs Bars said: “Before we came we were worried it would rain during our holiday, but now the weather is nice and not too hot. It’s perfect.”
Elisabeth and Benjamin Veloppe visited Dolgarrog in Conwy from their home near Nantes with their children Wilhelmina and Aziraphale. They said the extreme heat elsewhere was a factor in their decision.
Mr Veloppe said: “That is very important for children, because it is too hot at night and we cannot walk properly in the afternoon. That is really very difficult.”
Mrs Veloppe said: “There are lots of beautiful places in North Wales, you can go for walks and there are little parks for children.”
Phil Scott of Ribride, a boat tour company on the Menai Strait between Anglesey and mainland Wales, said it was always busy in summer but it would be better to attract people outside peak times or the so-called “shoulder season” between the summer months and winter.
He said: “We need the numbers of people in the shoulder seasons and older couples who don’t take children.
“It’s a different type of visitor, their demographics are different, they spend differently and their needs are different.”
Anna Hume, who grew up on Anglesey and works in Ribride in the summer, agreed that a longer season would create employment.
“It’s great to have a job in tourism or hospitality in the summer, but there’s nothing that keeps young people here all year round,” she says.
“There are not enough jobs to support young people, so we move and can no longer afford to buy a house here because there is not enough income.”
Frustrations over visitor numbers have been felt in recent times, albeit on a smaller scale, following the popularity of Llanddwyn Beach on Anglesey – helped by its role in the HBO series House of the Dragon – led to anger over traffic jams.
Neville Evans, the councillor for leisure, tourism and maritime, said visitors should be guided to places off the beaten track.
“Some of the more inland areas are left untouched. Maybe it’s a matter of trying to take the pressure off the hot spots and focus more on communities that don’t benefit, without actually having a negative impact on those communities.”
