Combining efforts to mitigate the adverse impacts of overtourism

WTM London is perhaps the best-known event of its kind — focused on tourism and destination management across Europe.

Each November, London hosts experts, professionals, and representatives from innovative companies, industry startups, and pioneers, all gathering to transform the way the world explores, communicates, and travels.

In the upcoming edition, there will be numerous discussions about sustainability and the obstacles posed to it by the tourism industry. The Data Appeal Company is one of the speakers that will be adding insights to this theme.

Our world is finite. Although Earth may seem boundless from our perspective, the truth is far from it. Destinations and resources are not endless; they have limits. It’s no surprise that over the last decade, worries about overtourism and its impact on communities have escalated.

This raises a vital question: how can destinations effectively handle and mitigate the consequences of mass tourism and, in turn, transform it into a platform for sustainable development?

This pressing issue takes centre stage on November 7 at WTM London at 3:45 pm during the panel discussion titled ‘Managing Destinations: Overcoming Overtourism.’ The discussion will be expertly moderated by Harold Goodwin — a prominent figure in sustainable tourism, founder and director of the International Centres for Responsible Tourism.

“Responsible Tourism is not the same as sustainable tourism. Responsibility requires that we say what we are doing to make tourism better and that we are transparent about what we achieve. Responsible Tourism is about using tourism to make better places to live in and better places to visit. Overtourism is the opposite, a consequence of a failure to manage tourism sustainably.”

Harold Goodwin

Harold Goodwin will be joined by a panel of esteemed industry experts, including our consultant Silvia Moggia. The panel includes:

• Emanuele Moggia, Mayor of Monterosso and VP Cinque Terre National Park
• Silvia Moggia, Data Storyteller & Strategist, The Data Appeal Company
• Miquel Rodriguez Planas, Manager of the Economic Promotion Area. Barcelona City Council
• Vincent Nijs, Chief Strategist, Visit Flanders

“Travel is, and has always been, a give-and-take. It involves money, culture, and people connecting. The connection between the local community and travellers should create a win-win situation, ensuring stability and even growth.

We hear the expression ‘this isn’t Disneyland’ more often, underlining the need to understand how to effectively handle the influx of tourists and available spaces. That’s the key.”

Silvia Moggia