Chapter 6. Overtourism

In recent years, numerous countries, including Indonesia, have witnessed a surge in tourism, resulting in some very popular destinations becoming overwhelmed with visitors. However, the exponential growth in tourism has led to negative consequences, forcing these countries to address the issue of overtourism. Not only does overtourism inconvenience travelers, but it also has detrimental effects on the lives of local communities. This includes pollution, increased trash, traffic congestion, and housing problems, among other challenges.

To combat overtourism, many countries have already taken or are planning to take drastic measures. However, it is essential to adopt long-term strategies that not only address overtourism but also align with sustainability initiatives. The objective is to strike a balance between tourism growth and maintaining the well-being of the environment and local communities.

In this lesson, we will focus on the overtourism situation in Indonesia and explore the various sustainability initiatives that local authorities have implemented to effectively manage and mitigate the impacts of overtourism.

At the end of this lesson, the students are able to:

• analyze the underlying factors responsible for overtourism,
• formulate and substantiate perspectives on the concept of sustainable tourism,
• examine and employ phrases and expressions associated with tourism and sustainability,
• create compelling and persuasive arguments focusing on this subject matter.