Overtourism has quickly become undertourism in many cities and regions.
The coronavirus pandemic not only had a dramatic impact on the modes of transport travelers use and where they sleep but also the destinations that covet their business.
Cities that once teemed with tourists or happily catered for thousands (sometimes tens of thousands) of visitors to events were now empty.
Alongside the attractions and landmarks that visitors flock to, ecosystems of local businesses that support the arrival of travelers were also decimated.
But, as destination management expert Doug Lanksy outlined in a
series of videos produced for PhocusWire
at the beginning of the pandemic, such a time is a useful one for destinations to consider how they emerge with a different approach to toursm.
In short: now is the time for destinations to build strategies to manage the recovery and avoid some of the problems that developed as a result of too many tourists flooding popular areas.
Six months on from the outbreak of the coronavirus, Lansky joined Pete Comeau during The Phocuswright Conference 2020 to explain further.
The full discussion is below.
The Future of Destinations - From Overtourism to Sustainable Tourism - The Phocuswright Conference