View image: ([link removed])
Caption:
———————————————————————————
View image: ([link removed])
Caption:
### **Too Many Tourists, Not Enough Management: The Overtourism Crisis of Summer 2024**
SINTRA, Portugal — In the picturesque hills of Sintra, Martinho de Almada Pimentel finds himself longing for the solitude his family home once provided. The doorbell to his ancestral mansion, a quirky rope that rings a bell on the roof, has become a source of annoyance rather than charm. With 5,000 visitors a day clogging the roads leading to the famed Pena Palace, Pimentel laments, “Now I'm more isolated than during COVID.”
As global tourism rebounds in 2024, the phenomenon of “overtourism” has reached alarming levels. Fueled by a surge in travel following the pandemic, the influx of tourists has overwhelmed local infrastructure and sparked frustration among residents. The chaos is palpable, with travelers stuck in traffic outside Casa do Cipreste, while Pimentel is left to inhale car exhaust and listen to the cacophony of scooters.
This summer, the consequences of overtourism are evident worldwide: traffic jams in once-idyllic locales, hospitality workers living in tents, and protests aimed at tourists in cities like Barcelona, where locals have taken to dousing visitors with water pistols. The message is clear: manage tourism better, or risk losing the very visitors who contribute $11.1 trillion annually to the global economy.
Critics may roll their eyes at the plight of affluent residents like Pimentel, but the issues extend beyond mere inconvenience. Matthew Bedell, another Sintra local, points out, “Not to be able to get an ambulance or to not be able to get my groceries is a rich people problem?” The reality is that overtourism affects everyone, regardless of wealth.
———————————————————————————
^~Advertisement~^
———————————————————————————
## Tweet of the Day
Tweet: ([link removed])
———————————————————————————
**5 Crazy Facts:**
* Calvin Coolidge enjoyed having his head rubbed with petroleum jelly while eating breakfast in bed. He believed it was good for his health.
* Jell-O salads, which often include bizarre combinations of gelatin, fruits, vegetables, and sometimes even meat, became popular in the mid-20th century and are still a staple at some potlucks and family gatherings.
* Earth's outer shell is divided into several large and small tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere, causing earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain formation.
* The Haines Shoe House in Hellam, Pennsylvania, is a shoe-shaped house built in 1948 by shoe salesman Mahlon Haines as a promotional gimmick. The house has several rooms inside and is a quirky tourist attraction.
* The pairing of fried chicken and waffles is a unique American comfort food, particularly popular in the Southern states. It’s a mix of sweet and savory that you won’t find in many other countries.
———————————————————————————
———
You are reading a plain text version of this post. For the best experience, copy and paste this link in your browser to view the post online:
[link removed]
