Title: Overtourism: a systematic review of global issues and management strategies

Authors: N.W.T. Dilshan; Chieko Nakabasami

Addresses: Graduate School of International Tourism Management, Toyo University, Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8606, Japan ' Graduate School of International Tourism Management, Toyo University, Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8606, Japan

Abstract: The study investigates the empirical gap of overtourism issues through a systematic literature review using 57 identified papers from Scopus and Web of Science databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method was used for the review process, which mainly examined the academic literature on overtourism issues and destination management strategies. The results revealed that predominant issues occur due to increased prices of daily essentials, environmental destruction, and loss of cultural identity in destinations, respectively, in economic, environmental, and socio-cultural issues. However, tourism carrying capacity is managed by employing various unique strategies like technology integration and taxation at destinations, even though overtourism disrupts the local life in many destinations. Accordingly, the study recommends implementing sustainable tourism-related regulations by prioritising the local community since the socio-cultural issues result in community displacement at the final stage of tolerance.

Keywords: overtourism; systematic review; PRISMA analysis; overtourism destinations; overtourism issues; destination management; sustainable tourism; socio-cultural effects; community displacement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2025.144178

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2025 Vol.15 No.1, pp.50 - 66

Received: 06 May 2024
Accepted: 25 Aug 2024
Published online: 30 Jan 2025 *

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